NEW YORK – The Yankees find themselves in a familiar spot this February. Spring training is around the corner. The roster still leans heavily to one side of the plate. And Brian Cashman is working the phones, searching for a right-handed bat to balance Aaron Boone’s lineup.
The club explored several options. A reunion with former Yankee Miguel Andujar seemed possible just days ago. Decision makers in the front office reportedly loved the veteran outfielder. Then San Diego swooped in Wednesday with a one-year, $4 million deal.
That door has now closed. The Yankees must look elsewhere. And that search has led to an unexpected name across town.
Mets face an infield logjam
The Mets have spent this winter stocking up on talent. Bo Bichette arrived via trade. Jorge Polanco signed to fill a DH role. Marcus Semien joined Francisco Lindor to form one of the best middle infield tandems in MLB.
All those additions created a problem. The Mets now have too many infielders on their 40-man roster. Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos all need at-bats. With Lindor, Bichette and Semien locked into starting spots, someone has to go.
That glut has made Vientos available. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter owns one of the biggest bats in the Mets’ system. He crushed 27 home runs during his breakout 2024 campaign. His barrel rate ranked in the 92nd percentile that season.
His splits against southpaws have always stood out. During his 2024 breakthrough, Vientos slashed .300/.338/.546 against left-handed pitching. At Triple-A, he posted a 1.140 OPS against lefties while belting 13 home runs in limited action.
Sherman floats the cross-town swap
New York Post MLB insider Joel Sherman raised the possibility in a February 3 article. He suggested the Yankees could target Vientos in a trade that would benefit both sides.
The logic makes sense on paper. Vientos could play first base against left-handed starters. He could spell Luis Gil starts at third base since Gil is a flyball pitcher. The Mets could receive bullpen help in return.
Sherman quickly noted he does not see the trade actually happening. A Subway Series swap remains unlikely. But the idea has merit.
“It’s tough to imagine that Vientos is getting traded this winter, let alone to the Yankees,” Sherman wrote. “But it’s not the most absurd scenario in the world, and perhaps one that both New York front offices should consider.”
Yankees need grows more urgent
The Yankees ranked first in MLB against left-handed pitching in 2025. They posted a collective .797 OPS against southpaws. They led the league in slugging and home runs against lefties.
But that success came largely from players who have since departed or declined. The current roster features six left-handed hitters in the everyday lineup. Ben Rice and Ryan McMahon cover the corners. Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham patrol the outfield. Austin Wells handles catching duties.
Aaron Judge provides the only consistent right-handed threat. Jasson Dominguez switch-hits but performed much better from the left side last season. His wRC+ was 116 from the left and just 66 from the right.
Rice struggled against lefties in 2025. He hit just .208 in 119 plate appearances against southpaws. Cashman knows he needs help.
Andujar reunion slips away
Miguel Andujar seemed like a logical fit. The 30-year-old spent his first six MLB seasons in the Bronx. He finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2018 behind Shohei Ohtani after smashing 27 home runs.
His 2025 campaign showed he still had plenty left in the tank. Between the Athletics and Reds, Andujar slashed .318/.352/.470 with 10 home runs in 94 games. His .822 OPS was 25% above league average.
More importantly, Andujar destroys left-handed pitching. He posted a .986 OPS against southpaws last season with a .389 batting average. In 2024, those numbers were even better: .995 OPS and a .411 average against lefties.
Sherman reported that Yankees decision makers “love” Andujar. The fit made sense on paper. Then San Diego signed him Wednesday for $4 million with another $2 million in performance bonuses.
The Yankees missed out just one day after reports linked them to a potential reunion.
Vientos brings power and questions
Vientos had a down year in 2025. His home run total dropped from 27 to 17. His OPS fell from .838 to .702. He slashed just .226/.291/.395 against right-handed pitching.
His defense at third base remains a concern. The Mets replaced him in late-game situations throughout the season. Most analysts expect him to move to first base or DH long-term.
But the raw power remains. His 91.4 mph average exit velocity ranked among the league’s best. His barrel rate stayed at 11.5%. He can still crush mistakes from southpaws.
A platoon role in the Bronx could unlock that potential. He would face fewer right-handed pitchers. He could focus on exploiting his splits against lefties. Yankee Stadium’s short porch would reward his pull-heavy approach.
The trade landscape shifts
Newsweek’s Just Baseball recently proposed a different Mets trade idea. They suggested Vientos and Douglas Orellana could go to Colorado for relievers Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen.
“One thing that the Mets lack in their currently constructed bullpen is high-velocity arms,” the site wrote. “Both Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen provide serious gas and would be a huge shot in the arm for this Mets’ bullpen.”
That proposal shows Vientos is on the market. The Mets are listening to offers. The question is whether the Yankees will make one.
Pitchers and catchers report to Tampa in less than two weeks. Position players follow shortly after. Cashman’s window to address the lineup imbalance is closing fast.
With Andujar now off the board, the free agent market has thinned considerably. A cross-town trade for Vientos would solve multiple problems at once. He brings youth, controllable years and proven production against left-handed pitching. The Mets would clear roster space and add pieces they need.
Sherman called it “not the most absurd scenario.” For Yankees fans hoping to see their team address a glaring weakness, that might be the best news they have heard all winter.
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