Yankees Predicted to Acquire 40-HR Slugger in Offseason Coup

The New York Yankees definitely need to make some changes this MLB offseason, and perhaps one of their most notable moves could come at third base.

Ryan McMahon is currently starting at the hot corner for the Yankees, but he has been a massive bust ever since coming over from the Colorado Rockies at the 2025 trade deadline.

McMahon is under contract for $16 million next season, but how much longer can New York manage with such a meager bat at the position?

Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer envisions the Yankees making a drastic switch at third, predicting them to sign Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato in free agency.

Sato slashed .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs and 106 RBI over 614 plate appearances for the Hanshin Tigers this past season, and in 2025, he smashed 40 homers.

The 27-year-old began playing professional baseball in 2021 and owns a lifetime .273/.338/.516 slash line, breaking out over the last couple of years in particular.

Sato isn't the most agile fielder at third base, but he is at least passable and has the potential to develop into a plus-defender at the position.

But really, the Yankees just need some bats.

With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton sidelined for most of 2026, New York's offense went through far too many stretches where it struggled to produce, like in the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, for example.

There is no question the Yankees could stand to add some more lineup depth, and Sato could absolutely fit that bill for them.

The question, of course, is the cost.

Rymer likens Sato to Munetaka Murakami, who ultimately secured a surprisingly inexpensive two-year, $34 million contract from the Chicago White Sox.

The deal proved to be a steal for the White Sox, as Murakami played a major role in guiding them to a surprising playoff appearance.

Because of how impressive Murakami was in 2026, that could ultimately drive up the price for Sato, especially if some of the bigger market teams (like the Yankees) get involved.

New York has had a pretty solid track record when it comes to landing Japanese talent, as Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka comprise two of the better players to ever come out of Japan. Of course, the Yanks had a couple of swings and misses, such as Hideki Irabu and Kei Igawa, but Matsui and Tanaka cover for a multitude of sins.

It's been a while since the Yankees landed a player straight out of Japan. In fact, Tanaka was the last one over a decade ago.

We'll see if New York jumps back into the Japanese market this winter.