Free Agent Profile: Mike Yastrzemski, OF

MIKE YASTRZEMSKI, OF

Position: OF B/T: L/L

Player Data: Age: 35 (8/23/1990)

2025 Traditional Stats: 588 PA, .233/.333/.403/.735, 122 H, 17 HR, 46 RBI

2025 Advanced Stats: 106 wRC+, 19.4% K%, 12.9% BB%, .263 BABiP, .327 xwOBA, 2.4 fWAR, 2.8 bWAR, -2 DRS (LF), 0 DRS (CF), 7 DRS (RF),  -1 OAA (LF), 3 OAA (CF), -2 OAA (RF)

RUNDOWN

In a free agent class with names like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, it is easy to overlook Mike Yastrzemski. He is not on the same level as those players and is quite a few years older than them as he enters his age 35 season, but he has been a very consistent player throughout his career. He has mostly hovered around 2.5 bWAR and 2 fWAR, an OPS+ around 110 and a wRC+ around 105. He has a career slash line of .238/.324/.447/.772, and since 2020, he has slashed .227/.316/.425/.741 with 92 HRs, 274 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and a 105 wRC+ across 680 games.

None of these stats jump off the page. They are all quite average. His defense largely grades out as average too. In terms of fielding run value, he was in the 54th percentile in 2021, 36th percentile in 2022, 63rd percentile in 2023, 42nd percentile in 2024 and 69th percentile in 2025. That roughly averages out to the 52nd percentile across his last five seasons.

So, what does he do well? For starters, he has plus plate discipline and contact skills. Last year he rated in the 86th percentile in chase rate (22.0%), 81st percentile in whiff rate (18.9%) and 68th percentile in zone contact rate (85.9%). Last year, he was also 90th percentile in walk rate (12.3%) and 89th percentile in pull fly ball rate (20.5%).

Across his power metrics, he mostly rates average to above average. Yastrzemski was in the 51st percentile in hard-hit rate (45.5%), 43rd percentile in barrel rate (7.8%), 47th percentile in average exit velocity (89.5 MPH), 30th percentile in 90th percentile exit velocity (103.7 MPH) and 19th percentile in max exit velocity (109.3 MPH).

Based on his metrics, he should be better than his numbers suggest. In terms of power, Baseball Savant ranks only Busch Stadium as suppressing his power more than Oracle Park. For instance, if he played his home games at Citizens Bank Park, Yastrzemski’s expected home run total doubles from 10 to 20 in 2025 and jumps from 96 to 141 in career homers. This doesn’t necessarily show up in his career home/road splits, though, as he has a .773 OPS at home and a .770 OPS on the road. With his contact profile and plate discipline, you would expect his batting average and on-base percentage to be higher. If he was a younger player, you would likely project him to take a step forward, but at 35 with 841 games in the majors, the version of Yastrzemski we have seen is very likely the version you will get.

CONTRACT

MLB Trade Rumors did not predict a contact for Yastrzemski, but Spotrac lists his market value at one year and $11.3 million. At his age, it is probably not likely he will sign more than a one-to-two-year deal.

RECOMMENDATION: STAY AWAY

The Mets do likely need to sign another outfielder, but Yastrzemski does not really check any of the boxes they need. He is not a plus defender in center field, even if he is capable of playing there. He is not a right-handed bat that crushes left-handed pitching. He is not a power bat to stick in a corner outfield spot. He also isn’t a fast runner or strong enough defensively to replace Tyrone Taylor as the fourth outfielder. As the Mets search for outfielders, Yastrzemski is likely not the man they should be looking at.

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