The New York Yankees are beginning preparations for Spring Training, but there's still plenty of free agency rumors buzzing around the team with the on-the-field portion of the calendar set to begin. With that being said, here's our Yankees Rumors Roundup For Feb. 18th.
Yankees 2018 offseason targets
The Yankees spent just under $500 million on free agents during the 2014 offseason, utilizing the tried-and-true "George Steinbrenner method" in hopes of revamping and rejuvenating the franchise's roster construction.
Two years later, the Yankees are taking a much more budget-conscious tact -- partially due to a glut of high-price veteran contracts, and partly due to a different front office philosophy under new owner Hal Steinbrenner. More Yankees rumors inside the Chat Sports iPhone and Android apps!
However, don't be fooled -- it appears New York is sorting their ducks for a massive spending spree after the 2018 MLB season.
According to Pedro Gomez of ESPN, there are four targets who will pique New York's interest that winter: Miami Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez, New York Mets RHP Matt Harvey, Baltimore Orioles 3B Manny Machado and Washington Nationals OF Bryce Harper.
Gomez sees Harper as the most intriguing of all free-agent candidate for New York, pointing to the short porch in right field as an attractive recruiting tools. In fact, he puts a potential Harper signing on the level of a Reggie Jackson-type move, given Jackson's proclivity for peppering the short porch with regularity.
Matt Harvey is also a name to watch. While he's said recently that he's open to long-term extension talks with the New York Mets, it's hard to believe that he'd pass up the chance for a bidding war mega-deal during the 2018-19 offseason. He's the type of anchor arm the Yankees will be looking for to top the rotation, and he'd come with the added benefit of weakening the cross-town Mets.
Alexei Bell an insurance policy?
According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees were one of 13 teams to send scouts to Cuban outfielder Alexei Bell's showcase in Mexicali, prompting speculation that the team could target Bell as a depth options behing the aging trio of Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Carlos Beltran.
"International players always create buzz when they become available to big league teams in the States and while Bell isn't a huge name because of his age, the Yankees, if the price is right, may very well find a place for him in their outfield that's anything but sturdy these days," NJ.com's Randy Miller posits.
Bell, 32, has played 10 seasons in Cuba. Because of his age, he's not a "bonus pool" player and can be signed as a regular free agent. Possessing great speed, Bell has also crushed 130 home runs and hit .319 over the course of his career.
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