There is no doubt that this is the most important offseason for the New York Yankees in a long time after back-to-back disappointing playoff runs. The team could look somewhat different in 2027, which might be the right move.
The Yankees are looking into a potential signing to take over third-base duties after a season of underperformance at the position. Some type of improvement needs to happen at the hot corner.
“This is where Cashman needs to get creative and swing a surprise blockbuster deal for a third baseman, much like he did with Donaldson (even if that failed to work out). Right now, the Yankees’ best options at third are Jose Caballero, who didn’t see good results there in 2026, and Anthony Volpe, who is still learning the position and doesn’t have the ideal arm strength to handle it,” SI’s Joe Najarian wrote.
One potential option is Teruaki Sato, who was Japan’s best hitter last season. Sports Illustrated’s Nick Selbe believes he will sign with New York.
“Sato’s profile is strikingly similar to Munetaka Murakami’s. He’s a bat-first corner infielder with a ton of thump and plenty of swing-and-miss in his game, though he did not strike out nearly as much as Murakami during his NPB career. The holes in Murakami’s swing scared off enough teams last winter that he had to settle for a relatively modest $34 million deal with the White Sox—a pact he vastly outperformed with his electric rookie season. Sato will likely do better than that in the market,” Selbe wrote.
Sato is a proven hitter, and last season, he was the best in Japan, winning the Triple Crown. The slugger has been posted by the Hanshin Tigers, allowing him to pursue a contract with an MLB team.
“The best hitter in Japan is coming here next season. Sato is the reigning Nippon Professional Baseball MVP, and he won a hitting Triple Crown this season. Now the 27-year-old lefty slugger has been posted by his NPB club, the Hanshin Tigers, and has his sights set on the big leagues,” MLB.com’s David Adler wrote.
This would be an ideal scenario for the Yankees, as Ryan McMahon has not turned out to be the trade-deadline acquisition they hoped he would be. Sato may not be the long-term answer at third base, but he could hold down the position while the Yankees look for another option.
Unless McMahon makes significant improvements to his game, there is little reason for him to remain an everyday starter. The Yankees are expected to make a serious run at the Japanese superstar, but they will face competition from several other teams.
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