5 bold predictions for the Yankees in MLB free agency

4. Two popular veterans will return on one-year deals

One of the reasons the Yankees have reportedly been “docile” in the free agent market for starting pitching is because they’re confident they can bring Masahiro Tanaka back on a team-friendly deal. When push come to shove, it’s difficult to envision him pitching for any MLB team other than the Yankees next season.

The key for the Yankees will be to avoid overcommitting to Tanaka in terms of years. There are legitimate questions about when his arm will start to feel the effects of pitching so many innings as a professional. That makes a one-year deal a good solution for the team. Something around one-year, $10 million should b enough to extend his tenure in the Bronx.

Tanaka isn’t the only veteran who will return on a one-year deal. Brett Gardner will get a chance to extend his tenure as the longest-tenured player on the team. The Yankees still need a quality outfield reserve like Gardner to bolster their bench. The fact that he also hits from the left side only makes him more attractive to the team.

Expect the Yankees to flirt with bigger names on the open market, but Gardner is going to prove to be the most cost-effective solution in the end. He won’t get quite as much money as Tanaka on a one-year deal, but he could get $7 or $8 million to return.