The Yankees have a lot of uncertainty at multiple positions heading into the offseason, but there\u2019s one potential newcomer to the league who could solve third base.<\/p>\n
MLB insider Jon Heyman reported<\/a> before the final stretch of the regular season that Teruaki Sato could be a good fit with several MLB clubs, including the Yankees. The New York Post\u2019s Joel Sherman also said<\/a> that he could be \u201cin play\u201d for the Yankees, though they might want to be confident that he can handle third base.<\/p>\n Sato led the Central League in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, batting .306 with 39 homers and 106 RBIs, and became the first Hanshin Tigers player in franchise history to win the Triple Crown. The lefty hitter also finished the season with a .991 OPS, 383 OBP, and a .600 slugging percentage, so it\u2019s safe to say that he can easily conquer the Short Porch when the time comes. Once the free agency frenzy starts, there\u2019s no doubt that Sato will be one of the targets that the Yankees should keep an eye on (and we\u2019ll have more to come on him at that time as well).<\/p>\n For some context on how the system works<\/a>, NPB players who have fewer than nine years of experience can be posted to pursue contracts with MLB clubs during the November 1 to December 5 window. If they don\u2019t sign a contract with a team by the end of the 45 days, they\u2019ll return to the NPB and won\u2019t be eligible for posting until the following season.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old primarily played third base for the Tigers, but he also appeared in right field during the most recent World Baseball Classic. He went 3-for-10 combined through five games in the tournament, recording three doubles with two RBIs before Team Venezuela defeated Team Japan in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n His versatility could be just what the Yankees need to bolster confidence at third base, especially after the options this season were, to say the least, disappointing. With Rosario entering free agency, fans aren\u2019t eager to have Ryan McMahon in the starting role again, especially since he made little impact on offense and committed costly defensive errors <\/a>that put the Yankees at risk throughout the postseason. It is at least within the realm of possibility that the Yankees could outright cut ties with McMahon, as well.<\/p>\n Anthony Volpe and Jos\u00e9 Caballero, who also made appearances at the position this season, are eligible for arbitration<\/a>, and if either or both end up parting with the pinstripes, it could give the Yankees enough room to give Sato a decent deal \u2014 though neither salary figure will be so onerous that it should hamstring a pursuit.<\/p>\n Munetaka Murakami, who played alongside Sato at the World Baseball Classic, was a standout for Team Japan and hit a grand slam to secure their spot in the quarterfinals as the Pool C winners. After witnessing his inspiring success story with the White Sox this season, it\u2019s possible that adding Sato to the Yankees\u2019 roster could reignite a seemingly dying flame in the clubhouse and propel the Yankees to extend their postseason run next year.<\/p>\n