Related: Update on Pete Alonso sweepstakes offers new hope New York Mets could re-sign slugger for preferred price
According to The Athletic's MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, it appears the Yankees are moving away from trying to sign Alonso or Christian Walker and looking for a more inexpensive option.
"The free-agent alternatives include Paul Goldschmidt, Carlos Santana, Justin Turner, Anthony Rizzo and Josh Bell. The Yankees also could trade for the Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor ($12 million in final year of club control); Texas Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe ($10.7 million with one year of arbitration remaining); or the Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz ($10 million with a $12 million club option for 2026)," Rosenthal reports.
The big reason why the Yankees likely won't sign Alonso or Walker is because they would lose two draft picks. After signing Fried, the Yankees gave up their second- and fifth-round picks, including $1 million in international bonus pool space, according to Rosenthal. If they sign Alonso or Walker, the Yankees would then lose their third- and sixth-round picks.
Rosenthal also points out that the Yankees could move Bellinger to first base and find another outfielder, or go with in-house candidate Ben Rice.