MLB Rumors: Yankees, Mets Eye RH Hitters; Don't Want to Add 'Significantly' to Payroll

The New York Yankees and New York Mets are reportedly hoping to add to their lineups ahead of the start of the season.

Per the New York Post's Joel Sherman, both teams want to bring in a right-handed hitter. Sherman added that the Mets prefer an infielder while the Yankees are searching for an infielder or corner outfielder.

Sherman also noted that both teams don't want to add "significantly" to the payroll.

Sherman pointed out that both teams are already above the top luxury tax, so adding to their roster would come with a penalty. Any player signed would trigger a 100 percent tax on that player's salary that the team would have to pay.

According to the projected lineup from FanGraphs, the Yankees have just five right-handed batters in their Opening Day lineup, though two of those batters, Oswaldo Cabrera and Jasson Domínguez, are switch hitters.

The Mets also have five righty batters in their projected starting lineup, with one, Francisco Lindor, hitting from both sides of the plate.

Sherman noted that both the Mets and Yankees had a chance to sign right-handed infielder Jose Iglesias this offseason, but he signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres and ended up making the team's roster, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Iglesias, who spent the 2024 season with the Mets, hit four home runs and 26 RBI with a .337 batting average in 85 games last year.

Both the Yankees and Mets are coming off strong seasons. The Yankees went 94-68 and reached the World Series, where they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers. While they have solid talent returning, they'll have to adjust to life without Juan Soto, who went across town to the Mets.

The Mets went 89-73 in 2024, taking the Dodgers to six games in the NLCS before losing to the eventual champs. The Mets got a major boost to the offense with the addition of Soto and they also managed to re-sign Pete Alonso.