Rumor: Yankees Are Interested In More Than One Shortstop

It’s back to the drawing board for the Yankees. Brian Cashman said that that shortstop was an area of need that would have to be addressed but the Yankees are still without a shortstop. It’s frustrating when you see some of the big names sign with other teams, so now that some of the big names are gone….how is Cashman going to fix the shortstop problem?

There are still options out there, just not as flashy as before. The Yankees could still go after Carlos Correa even though I hate the idea because I can’t stand him and since Corey Seager just got a ridiculous 10-year, $325 million deal Correa will be even more expensive. So, who else are the Yankees looking at? Names they’ve already been linked to.

1. Isiah Kiner-Falefa
The Rangers surprisingly spent a lot of money after signing Marcus Semien and Seager and they also have a surplus of middle-infield prospects so they are shopping Kiner-Falefa. The Rangers are also going to lose second and third round draft picks next year so trading Kiner-Falefa for some prospects might make more sense for them in the long run. On paper, the Rangers and Yankees line up for another trade. Kiner-Falefa is only 26 and is under arbitration control through 2023. He doesn’t have a lot of power, but he did have a .271 BA last season and was successful in 20 out of 25 stolen base attempts last season. The Yankees could definitely use some speed on the bases and he can play third base which would give the Yankees some additional flexibility.

2. Andrelton Simmons
No surprise on this one, the Yankees have been interested in Simmons for a while now. The Yankees tried to get the Minnesota Twins to trade him at the deadline so now they could just sign him to a short term deal which they seem to prefer. Simmons could be a serviceable stopgap, he has won four Gold Gloves in his 10 year career. He is an elite defender and finished last season with 16 Outs Above Average and would be the solid defender that the Yankees have been missing. If the Yankees do choose to go with Simmons they would have to be comfortable with a great fielder and a guy that isn’t going to be a big offensive contributor. That may be hard to accept considering how much the Yankees have struggled with offense in recent years. Simmons also is a traditional everyday shortstop and has no experience playing other positions which does not offer the Yankees any flexibility.

Do either of these guys excite me? No, not really but neither does Clown Correa and I’m glad the Yankees didn’t match Seager’s stupid crazy 10-year deal from the Rangers. Cashman is gonna have to do something here, but we will have to wait and see what that is.