Although the New York Yankees have had a fairly active offseason, they still have some work to do and decisions to make. The second base position and starting rotation are two areas that the team needs to address in some capacity.
The Yankees' infield was appeared to be set when they acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius from the Arizona Diamondbacks and re-signed third baseman Chase Headley. That settled the left side of the infield after the right side had Martin Prado at second base and Mark Teixeira at first. But New York traded Prado to the Miami Marlins for starter Nathan Eovaldi, leaving them with youngsters Jose Pirela and Rob Refsnyder to compete for the position during spring training.
However, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the Yankees like Pirela and Refsnyder, but will "peek at trade/free agent options," which may include Stephen Drew. New York played Drew at second base for 34 games last season (he was with the team for 46), but the free agent is seeking a $9 million to $10 million salary for 2015. New York is likely exploring all options before inserting an inexperienced minor leaguer at the position. Their middle infield once boasted Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano, but the franchise has been forced to move in a different direction.
The 25-year-old Pirela began his career in the minors when he was 17. He spent all of 2014 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and slashed .305/.351/.441 with 10 home runs, 60 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 130 games. Refsnyder, 23, split the 2014 season between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 60 games with Trenton he batted .342/.385/.548 with six home runs and 30 RBIs. In 77 with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he maintained a .300/.389/.456 stat line with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. Some within the organization believe he's the best hitter they have in the minor leagues.
As for the starting rotation, New York has many questions to answer on that front. General manager Brian Cashman has added some depth in acquiring Eovaldi from Miami and re-signing Chris Capuano, but the front-end appears to be troublesome. C.C. Sabathia and Ivan Nova are coming off season-ending surgeries and Nova isn't expected to return until July; the health of Masahiro Tanaka's right elbow is still a lingering issue after he partially tore his UCL; and Michael Pineda's health has been a big problem for the past three seasons.
"There is a sense that the Yankees are not done adding just yet," Yankees' beat reporter Bryan Hoch writes. "I would expect to see a few more names in that mix come Feb. 20 ... Thus far, the Yankees have been adamant that they have no interest in adding another nine-figure salary to the books, resisting the outside cries to get involved with the chases for top free agents like Max Scherzer and James Shields."
Shields currently has a five-year, $110 million offer on the table from an unknown team, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. The Yankees have been linked to both Shields and Scherzer simply because they are a big market franchise that is already above the luxury tax threshold and desperately needs an established starting pitcher. Perhaps Cashman can work out another trade for a starting pitcher if he's serious about not adding another $100 million contract to the books. Or he can simply use what's at his disposal and wait until after the season when Jordan Zimmermann, Jeff Samardzija, Rick Porcello, Mat Latos, Ian Kennedy, Johnny Cueto, Doug Fister and others become free agents.
Right now, the Yankees will continue to be patient and see what develops as spring training gets closer.
