Could Starling Marte Be In Pinstripes Before Too Long?

The Yankees need outfielders in the worst way, and one of the game's most reliable contact-hitting outfielders could be available: Marlins center fielder Starling Marte.

And considering Marte becomes a free agent this offseason, he shouldn't cost too much.

Marte, however, is making $10.5 million in 2021, so if the Yankees want to remain under the tax threshold, they'll need some outgoing salary. Would they ship Brett Gardner out of town to make this deal work? It's not likely, but I'm sure they'll find a way if it means landing Starling Marte.

The numbers

In 36 games, Marte is hitting .321 with five homers and 10 stolen bases. Any player who is well over .300 in this era of velocity is an anomaly.

Marte might remind Yankees fans of DJ LeMahieu. A bat-to-ball type of guy who isn't focused on putting the ball in the seats. And what do the Yankees need more of? Contact hitters who can provide balance to free-swinging and inconsistent sluggers like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

What I'm most intrigued about with Marte is that he'd be replacing Aaron Hicks, who's out with a left wrist injury, for the rest of 2021. Any outfielder in the game is an upgrade over Hicks -- now the Yankees swap in a baller like Marte? If so, the Yankees might be cooking with gas and get back to World Series contention after all.

But like always, Brian Cashman has a habit of working passively, so we shouldn't count on him to get this done. We'll see, though.