Yankees Potential Free Agent Target: Brian Dozier

The Yankees’ offseason has gone exactly as most fans hoped it would. Back in early December, the team signed the best player on the free-agent market, Gerrit Cole. Ever since that has been accomplished, Brian Cashman hasn’t been exactly active. With plenty of free agents still left on the board is there any room for some overlooked talent to squeeze onto the Yankees roster?

One direction the Yankees could look at is Brian Dozier. Now a World Series champion with the Washington Nationals, Dozier is someone who hasn’t gotten much attention yet. The power-hitting second baseman made $9 million last season, as he smacked 20 home runs and notched 50 RBI. Dozier has never been a great contact hitter, but he can knock it out of the park and also has a Gold Glove to his name.

Dozier’s best year came back in 2016 when he was with the Twins and had a WAR of 6.3. In that season Dozier hit an impressive 42 home runs, leading all second baseman in MLB in dingers. That year he also had 99 RBI (most in his career), and while he only boasted a batting average of .268, he had an impressive OPS of .886.

The second baseman had a similar season the following year, when the Twins played the Yankees in the AL Wild Card Game. Yankee fans may recall his leadoff home run in the first inning, one that would eventually be followed by a Yankees comeback in the bottom half of the inning.

From the outside looking in, Dozier is simply not a player the Yankees need. They have a full infield and a starting second baseman in DJ LeMahieu that is already cemented into place. Other players on the Yankees roster you might see play at second, however, are Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada. Neither are stand out players by any means so you could argue with Dozier as a backup the Yankees would indeed be better.

Dozier is now 32 years old, and his play hasn’t necessarily earned him a large contract. If the Yankees and Cashman are looking to cut off any loose ends, Dozier could be a nice acquisition, essentially acting as the Brett Gardner of the infield backing up for Gleyber Torres and LeMahieu.

Other than a good bat and glove, Dozier has also stayed healthy his entire career. Every year he has been a starter he has played in at least 135 games over a 162 game season. Dozier could certainly provide steady production and a mature presence in the clubhouse if he came to the Bronx.

There is no pressing reason for the Yankees to throw money at a guy like Dozier, but at the right price, I can’t see him negatively affecting the Yankees in any way.