Should The New York Yankees Have Tried To Acquire Rickie Weeks?

Aug 6, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman

(23) strikes out against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at AT

Of all the available second baseman via trade or free agency, one that hadn’t really been talked about in connection with the New York Yankees that could be available is Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks. Weeks had been rumored in trade talks with the Miami Marlins in a potential trade for Logan Morrison, but he was shipped off to Seattle. Let’s take a look at Weeks.

First of all his contract. Weeks’ contract for this season is for $12 million. There is an option at $11.5 million for 2015 that can be voided if Weeks doesn’t make 600 plate appearances in 2014 or 1,200 between 2013 and 2014. The Brewers have talked about Scooter Gennett being their starting second baseman so Weeks could probably be had with Milwaukee picking up some of the freight.

Now the stats part. It’s an upgrade over Darwin Barney offensively (who we looked at last weekend) and over the newly signed Brian Roberts, but Weeks certainly isn’t what he once was.  In only 104 games, Weeks had a .209/.306/.357 line with 10 home runs and 24 RBI. Not exactly Robinson Cano numbers. Weeks’ average has declined since his All-Star year of 2011, but the power stayed consistent until last season.

He had a WAR of -1.1 last year which is, well, not good. He was a three win player back in 2011. Weeks is going into his age 31 season, and won’t be 32 until mid-September, so he should, theoretically, still be in his prime.

So should they have tried to acquire him? To me, I would’ve waited until we know what the suspension of Alex Rodriguez is. He’s a better option than Barney and Roberts but probably not better than Brandon Phillips. Weeks does have a better contract than Phillips and there’s always ways to not have the option vest if the Yankees wanted to.