Yankees Rumors: NYY Interested in Bringing In .207-Hitting Corner Bat

The New York Yankees are currently going with rookie Ben Rice at first base, after losing Anthony Rizzo for eight weeks with a fractured right forearm. In their perusal of the free agent market for a veteran first baseman, they are now apparently interested in Garrett Cooper, despite being released by two teams already this season.

The #Yankees are among the teams expressing interest in free-agent first baseman Garrett Cooper, per @ByRobertMurray.

Cooper, 33, was recently released by the #RedSox after starting the season with the #Cubs.

He made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2017 but appeared in just… pic.twitter.com/FZbqphItWY
— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) June 21, 2024

Cooper, now 33, actually got his start in the big leagues with the Yankees in 2017, but then went on to some reasonably successful years with the Miami Marlins, including an All-Star berth as recently as 2022.

But the veteran has had a brutal time of it this season, first catching on with the Chicago Cubs while on a minor league contract to start the season. He was seemingly off to a decent start, batting .270 in 37 at-bats. But he also struck out 13 times in 12 games against just four walks, and the Cubs decided to move on.

From there, Cooper caught on with the Boston Red Sox, but struggled mightily, hitting just .171 in Beantown with an OPS+ of 28. Once again, his strikeout to walk numbers were dreadful, whiffing 22 times against just three walks over 24 games. The Red Sox DFA'd him earlier this moth.