The New York Yankees are one of the best teams in the league, but they’re still struggling to win the American League East, which should have been theirs to lose this season.
As the regular season comes to a close over the next few weeks, the Yankees may begin looking into potential free agent additions in the offseason. New York will likely have its eyes on a few top names on the market this winter.
Sports Illustrated’s Patrick McAvoy recently urged the Yankees to sign Shane Bieber in free agency. Bieber is a member of the Toronto Blue Jays and won the American League Cy Young award in 2020 with the Cleveland Guardians.
“Bieber is currently a member of the Blue Jays and has a player option for the 2026 season. If he were to opt out, he’s a guy who could take the rotation to another level,” McAvoy wrote. “He’s a former Cy Young Award winner with a 3.25 ERA. If available, he’ll be one of the top pitchers out there this offseason and get a much smaller deal than someone like Framber Valdez.”
Bieber returned from Tommy John surgery this season and has been solid with the Blue Jays.
In five starts, he holds a 3.72 ERA, 3.39 FIP, and 1.00 WHIP across 29 innings. The righty will only get better as he gets further and further away from his surgery.
In free agency, the Yankees could look to give him a solid one- or two-year contract to sway him away from the Blue Jays. This would be the perfect addition alongside a new deal for Cody Bellinger.