The Yankees are known to be looking for infield help and Bob Nightengale of USA Today relays that they have had discussions with free agent Brendan Rodgers, though it’s unclear when those talks took place or how serious they were.
Rodgers, 28, came up with a huge amount of prospect hype but he hasn’t been able to deliver on it thus far. The Rockies selected him with the third overall pick in the 2015 draft and he was the club’s top prospect for a while after that. Baseball America ranked him first in the system and in the top 25 prospects league-wide from 2017 to 2020.
In 2021 and 2022, Rodgers seemed to be cementing himself as a capable major leaguer, though something below a star. Over those two seasons, he put up a solid slash of .274/.326/.434, though that only amounted to a 95 wRC+, with that measure accounting for the hitter-friendly nature of Coors Field. Despite the subpar offense, Rodgers got strong marks for his second base defense, leading FanGraphs to credit him with a combined 3.1 wins above replacement over those two years.
Baseball Reference was even more bullish, giving Rodgers 4.3 WAR in 2022 alone. That discrepancy is due to BR using Defensive Runs Saved for its WAR, while FanGraphs uses a combination of Statcast and Ultimate Zone Rating. Rodgers had 3 OAA in 2022 but a massive 22 DRS, which is why the WAR tallies are so lopsided. But his DRS grade has been negative over the rest of his career, so that looks like a clear outlier.
Regardless of how Rodgers was evaluated at that time, he hasn’t been at that level since. He suffered a dislocated shoulder during spring training in 2023 and required surgery. He got into 46 games late that year but didn’t perform well, slashing .258/.313/.388 for a 78 wRC+. In 2024, he improved but not by much, producing a .267/.314/.407 line and 88 wRC+.
If one wanted to find a reason for optimism, they could look to Rodgers improving as the season went along. He hit .262/.306/.383 for a wRC+ of 79 in the first half and then .275/.325/.441 in the second half for a 100 wRC+, though that latter line was mostly buoyed by a huge August, as he had poor results in July and September.
Both in 2024 and in his career, the righty-swinging Rodgers has been better against lefties. He slashed .311/.364/.455 against southpaws last year for a 117 wRC, not far off from his career line of .298/.359/.484 and 120 wRC+ in that split. That could perhaps allow him to form a platoon with Jazz Chisholm Jr., who swings from the left side and has a line of .224/.281/.364 against southpaws in his career for a 76 wRC+.
The Rockies could have retained Rodgers for 2025, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting him for a salary of $5.5MM, but the Rockies opted to non-tender him instead. That means that Rodgers will be cheap, which is surely attractive to the Yankees. They came into the offseason with a number of big contracts already on the books and have since swelled their commitments by adding Max Fried, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.
RosterResource puts the Yankees’ competitive balance tax number at $303MM, which is already above the fourth and final tier of $301MM. As a third-time payor, the Yanks will be taxed at a 110% rate on any further spending. They are reportedly shopping Marcus Stroman, which could lower their commitments, but they would still have one of the top payrolls in the league.
The fact that Chisholm can play either second or third base gives the Yanks some flexibility in how they add to their infield in the coming weeks but the top options at the hot corner will be expensive. Alex Bregman is available in free agency but is looking for a big nine-figure deal of some kind. Nolan Arenado is available in trade but the Cards are reportedly looking to get rid of most of what remains of his contract.
Rodgers is less exciting than those guys but will be far cheaper and seems capable of at least being a short-side platoon guy. He’s also still young and a former top prospect, so there could be some possibility of a late-bloomer breakout.
thrilled to see this
I’d rather have Brandon Donovan. I’m tired of reading about the Yankees at the spending limit. They print money so go get a legitimate 2B or 3B once and for all. The time is now for Judge and Cole no more excuses.
I endorse this message.
They seem to have tried. Not someone they can buy. Bregman isn’t worth paying for, and I’m guessing you don’t want Arenado (though I’d be fine with him). I personally am hoping for a DJ LeMaiehu bounceback.
Cards aren’t moving him unless they get a spectacular return. They know how valuable he is!
@Spud
So that’s why your GMZ publicly stated he wanted to move Arenado to save money?
Arenado wants to play for a team trying to win in 2025, and the Cardinals are committed to finding out what they have, in this case Nolan Gorman and perhaps Saggese. Throw in the money NA is earning, and it only makes sense to move him if a fit can be found. Aside from NA, Cards would probably be willing to move a pitcher in the last year of their contract (Fedde, Matz and Helsley) but it’s not a firesale.
@mlbnybfan – Donovan or Luis García Jr. Tired of hearing about Arenado, Arraez, Correa etc
Rather roll with Cabrera & Peraza over Rodgers. He couldn’t hit in Coors and most of his defensive value was years ago.
The problem is Donovan and Garcia are going to cost significant prospect capital and Cashman has shown a strong unwillingness to make those types of trades in recent years. Rodgers probably isn’t an upgrade over the in-house options but on a minor league deal or incentive laden deal why not?
@Rsox – I hear you. But to keep salaries low and also get an above average regular, he is going to have to trade some of those guys. A lot of these guys won’t pan out so why not cash them in for a more proven asset.
You’re right. However trading with the Cardinals, a team looking to retool or the Nationals, a team steadily coming out of rebuilding it’s going to take more than players that haven’t played above single A or rookie ball like they gave the Marlins for Chisholm
This is the Cashman blueprint. He spends their entire wad on one big ticket item per offseason, and goes cheap filling out the rest of the roster. And every year he acts like it was just bad luck that there are gaping holes in the top-heavy roster he built. If he would spread it around and build a more balanced roster, they would be more competitive in October where their lack of depth keeps getting exposed.
The NYY make more money just barely getting to the playoffs then making it to the WS. They don’t care about willing. They just want to turn huge profits if they happen to get to the WS so be it. They will only trade for top tier players. They will not sign $250,000,000+ players. They will trade for them use them for a year and move on.
I have a bad feeling about this, mostly because he’s a hack. Keep looking, hard pass. Ahahahaha!
A career .227/.272/.356 away slash is thrilling?
& When he leaves Colorado this numbers will go down significantly.
Fine for a spring training invite to compete with Oswaldo but doesn’t address the team’s lack of a leadoff hitter or general lack of offense.
@Bronx
With Judge, Jazz, Goldy, Belli, Wells, Dominguez and Stanton you think they have a “general lack of offense”? I mean is like then to add another key bat but I think they’re pretty good right now.
Goldy (age), Wells (take next step?), Dominquez (live up to hype?) and Stanton (health and age) are all big question marks. Jazz is streaky too. That leads to inconsistent offense.and a lot of 2 run games,
There is definitely a world where these guys rake and the offense is top shelf next year, and I’m really hoping for that.
Yankees are dumpster diving again.
Because the Yankees had so much success with the last former Rockies middle infielder they got?
DJ? If Yankees get DJ numbers from those first couple years, sign me up! However, they won’t, which is why this isn’t particularly exciting.
I agree the first few years were great, but overall, it’s been pretty bad. Rodgers, production wise, looks like a later years LeMahieu.
I’m getting Deja vu. But yes I’d be interested if we’re going low cost/good upside.
Cardinals overplaying arenado hand
Should the Cardinals accepted Stroman?
You don’t know what’s going on stop acting like you do.
The Cards are not going to be enticed in moving Arenado for Stroman. I thought it was a ridiculous idea when, I first read about it.
Cards reportedly already said no to Stroman (can’t say i blame them). It’s hard to know exactly what they are looking for but i imagine it’s an Outfielder or 3B replacement among other things
I don’t think the return is going to be or needs to be that high or specific. But Stroman brings nothing but more headache.
Rodgers isn’t very impressive. Doesn’t walk a ton, doesn’t steal bases, not a lot of power. Meh.
Just make the trade for Luis Arráez. Don’t need any other infielder.
I like Arraez. Worker he be the starting 2b?
wouldn’t be be the starting 2b?
Good Glove, good platoon choice. Or starter. Sign on a 1 year contract with a team option on second year
Good ol Buck Rodgers
Is he really an upgrade over Cabrera?
My thoughts as well. Unless you’re going to get him cheap and use him mostly against lefties….im pretty sure if you give Waldo 500 AB’s he’ll get you .240 with 12-15 dongs, GG D and mix in a dozen steals. Let him play!
No. And Oswaldo can play the OF.
I think so, I like Cabrera but idk how high his ceiling is, he’s hit 088 in the playoffs (15 games). Rogers has been a good yet unspectacular player with a better avg and obp, former gold Glover. They could make a good platoon at the very least or flip Cabrera for some bullpen arm
@NYG4246 I don’t disagree but the problem is carrying DJL on the roster. They need add at least one lefty reliever so Rodgers creates a bit of a crunch. Then they need dump someone off the 40-man. Peraza is also out of minor league options.
Rodgers only makes sense on a minor league deal. Cabrera, Peraza, Vivas and possibly healthy DJL are all on the 40 already and have upside comparable to what you might expect from Rodgers.
They seem reluctant to give peraza a shot, last year would have made sense. I would like to see him and vivas get some real playing time. I like dj but he may very well be done and the other two are unproven lotto tickets, I get it but give me a proven player and let the youngsters supplant him if they’re ready. We need as much talent as we can get. Rodgers, is a proven commodity at the MLB level.
Career 90 ops+ playing in Coors is a proven MLB commodity that you want to hand the 2b job to? I don’t think plus defense at 2b is worth clogging the roster when you have 4 players already on the roster who may provide as good of value.
You know that OPS+ corrects for ballpark effects, don’t you?
He could be adequate as the #7 or #8 hitter in a good lineup like the Yankees if they wanted to save money for other needs.
Yes. Defense lost the world series last year. He can play 2B or 3B
And no, I didn’t say “hand him the job” I suggested a platoon with Cabrera as well as giving the young guys a shot to win the job. I’m not one to buy into prospect hype bc it rarely works out – add talent anywhere you can – especially if it helps a deficiency (dEfEnSe).
And clogging the roster? From who?
That makes DJL redundant and the Yankees have no plans to release him. Peraza also needs break camp or they’ll be forced to DFA him.
They don’t have to DFA Peraza, they can just keep him in the minors.
Peraza is out of options.
What amazes me about the current Yankees Front Office is the lack of pragmatism and creative thinking. DJ is done, can’t stay healthy and is a waste of a roster spot. Instead of DFA-ing him, ask him gently to retire from playing and promote him to a Front Office job – that way $30 million doesn’t go down the drain. The man’s won batting titles in each league. He could become a roving “Super Scout” that trains batting coaches in the minors. Problem solved.
Why would DJ do that? I doubt that NY is under any illusions that they can get away from the last 2 yrs of the deal. If he looks anything like he did last year I have little doubt they’ll cut him. Particularly if Peraza, Cabrera or Vivas look like they can approach average value as a starting 2b.
No Oswaldo would be the starter, he’d be Luis Soho
I had my eye on him when the off-season started for us. Plus defender that hits LHP very well. Sure peraza could develop into exactly that, but the cole/judge window won’t be open forever so maybe it’s not something to leave to chance. Also had my eye on Austin hays for LF insurance
Rodgers is a product of Coors. His OPS is 150 points higher at home vs. road. Maybe they want to create a platoon with Cabrera? Rodgers destroys LHP whereas Vs Cabrera, who is a switch hitter, is better vs. RHP as a lefty. But honestly, I think Cabrera can be just as productive as Rodgers on his own. Just give him consistent at bats.
Or just keep it a buck and just sign Jose Iglesias. His bat has been great over the last 4 years, he can handle both 3rd and 2b, as well as be a back up at SS.
He destroys left handed pitching at COORS !! Las 3 years his BA. away from Coors is .2.13
These feels like another ‘Diamond In the Rough’ Yankees reclamation project, but could be expensive for such a thing- I assume he is aiming for at least $5M if not up to like $8M? Expensive for a low profile utility infielder type signing- DJLM notwithstanding…
@YBC hence “diamond in the rough reclamation project” also plenty of guys get released because one team doesn’t want to pay them their final year of arbitration and then another team swoops in and matches or exceeds that final arb amount for them as a free agent.
@Trill He got released by one of the worst teams in baseball with a projected arb of $5.5M. He’ll be very fortunate to match that AND find a full-time job somewhere.
gets excited
realizes player is a rockie
checks home-road splits
curses self for getting excited
I wanted them to get him at the deadline. Hope they do this.
It’s time to also see what some of the kids can do. I’m talking about Pereza, Vivas, Cabrera, Arias, etc. Yankees player development and draft picks have been horrible. I don’t know how a top franchise can be so awful at player development.
Judge, Volpe, Gil, Schmidt, and Dominguez fresh off the playoffs and WS.
D. Best History.
Why not Ha-Seong Kim ? He is better than anyone in 2B,SS free agent.
Or just push Jazz to 2B, DJ/Cabrera could place on 3B.
His shoulder may not be ready until mid-season. Stanton is also entrenched as DH.
Had alot of prospect buzz coming up. I know he didnt do alot outside colorado, but there is a bit of potential there (not all star, but maybe regular player). Teams like colorado dont develop players well and i wonder if a different, more pressional organization could get more out of him. But hes probably not sexy enough for the yankees to commit to.
@Yanks. Great idea but probably not in the Budget. DJL and Stanton contracts are limiting them. These are no longer G Steinbrenner Yankees.
This is some dumpster diving if Cashman is kicking the tires on this guy. Cabrera would be a better player to give a shot at 2B…
Rather start Peraza.
I wonder what the market is for Jose Iglesias? .715 OPS and he’s still an above average glove? Has he signed with anyone?
If your payroll is well over $300 mill and Brendan Rogers is your starting 2B, you’re doing something wrong.
How many chips have been won with a “scrappy” glove first IF? Don’t need an all star at every position. They have elite players and they cost a lot.