5 free agents Yankees must sign to win World Series

1. Mike Moustakas

There have been rumblings that the Yankees are interested in All-Star third baseman Mike Moustakas. While they are trying to get under the luxury-tax threshold and gear up for the epic free-agent class coming onto the market next season, if the price continues to drop, Moustakas would be an excellent fit for the Yankees — especially if he is willing to take a one-year deal.

Scott Boras would typically never settle for a pillow deal for one of his top clients, but this is a year like no other when it comes to free-agent movement. Boras doesn’t have much bargaining power when it comes to Moustakas as there simply are not many contending teams in need of a power-hitting third baseman. The Los Angeles Angels would have been an interesting fit, but they for a cheaper option with a better glove in former shortstop Zack Cozart. The New York Mets also needed a third baseman, but went with Todd Frazier on a shorter deal.

The Yankees may very well emerge as the best landing spot for Moustakas if he is willing to take on some risk and take a pillow deal. The lefty swinger’s power numbers should see yet another jump up with the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium. If he can hit 38 home runs playing half his games in Kauffman Stadium, just think of the damage the 29-year-old would do in the AL East.

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It’s still a longshot that the Yankees can offer up enough cash to make taking a one-year deal worthwhile for Moustakas. With a lineup that skews mostly right-handed in the heart of the order — Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez are all righties — the Yankees could use a lefty slugger to help even things out. Moustakas is the best player remaining on the market for the Yankees, but the financials will have to be absolutely perfect for a deal to be made.