Despite having one of the greatest players of all-time in Alex Rodriguez at third base on their roster, the New York Yankees are on a desperate search to find a player to hold down the fort while the perennial All-Star recovers from hip surgery.
Rodriguez, who could miss up to six months, is a key component in the Yankees’ offensive output. With him absent from the lineup, the Yankees have been mulling over options during baseball’s winter meetings to find an answer.
Unfortunately, two of the Yankees’ potential options have already come off the board after signing with other teams on Wednesday.
Former Tampa Bay Rays’ infielder, Jeff Keppinger, inked a three-year, $12 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. Not long after, Rodriguez’s former backup, Eric Chavez, agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Either player would have been a serviceable fill-in for Rodriguez. The Yankees could not get a deal done, however, and this leaves them scrambling for alternatives.
Within the system there are limited options. Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman stated in an interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa on Monday that he preferred a third baseman with good power numbers. 25-year-old Eduardo Nunez appears to be the only in-house option for the Yankees, but his power numbers are nonexistent and his performance in the field is even less impressive. In just 64 games at third base for the Yankees, Nunez has committed nine errors.
The options out on the free agent market do not promise much more. But two players appear to have piqued the interest of the New York brass.
According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, the Yankees met with the agent for former Baltimore Orioles’ corner infielder Mark Reynolds. Reynolds has outstanding pop, averaging 30 home runs in six Major League seasons. He does not contribute much else at bat, though, coming off three consecutive seasons with a batting average below .250 and a penchant for being a strikeout machine.
Reynolds led the league in strikeouts in four straight seasons between 2008 and 2011. In the process, he did not drive in a substantial number of runs despite the high home run totals.
The other option is former Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox corner infielder, Kevin Youkilis. “Youk” is a talented hitter who ranks amongst the game’s best. Unfortunately, health has become a major concern for the former Gold Glove first baseman in the past three seasons.
Still, there is no denying the production Youkilis delivers when healthy. He can hit near or above a .300 clip while providing the batter’s box with power — he averages close to 20 homers per season. More importantly, he gets on to the bases. He earns walks better than most in the Majors, as noted by his nickname, “The Greek God of Walks.”
Neither player is ideal for the Yankees. Both are better suited at first base and Reynolds is a slight liability at third. By the same token, both players should be everyday players. When Rodriguez returns, some shuffling will be required and this may include the benching of any new teammates… a possibility that neither player may be willing to sign on for.
Rodriguez’s performance has been declining for a few years now and there is no way to know what shape he will be in when he returns from his injury. While there are minimal options for his replacement that totally fit what the Yankees are looking for, it still could be either Reynolds or Youkilis donning pinstripes in 2013 and playing in the Bronx until — or actually, if — Rodriguez returns to form.
Louis Musto is a contributor to the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.