Should the New York Yankees Just Stand Pat This Off-Season?

Joel Sherman came out with a column last night about a strategy the Yankees could take this off-season; just standing pat. Re-sign Chase Headley, Brandon McCarthy, Stephen Drew, David Robertson and Chris Young instead of Ichiro Suzuki. Is this the correct approach?

McCarthy I would love to have back in a Yankee uniform. I just don’t see it happening though. One reason is that I think he actually may end up pricing himself out of the Yankees range. I think the Yankees, like they did with Robinson Cano last season, will have X amount to spend on McCarthy. A team may offer him Y and it may be in a place where the Yankees don’t want to go so they just move on. McCarthy isn’t attached to draft pick compensation which will make him that much more attractive.

If Robertson takes the qualifying offer (which i doubt) or maybe a two year deal, I think the Yankees welcome him back. Could another team up the ante? Very possible. Then you go into the free agent market and maybe target a guy like Jason Motte.

Headley is a no-brainer. Him, along with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira can rotate first and third and the DH spot. Headley was quite impressive defensively at the hot corner and he proved to be pretty good at first too.

Drew I don’t want any part of. Is it possible that actually signing before spring training will help? Yes, but he hasn’t hit in two years. The Yankees aren’t good enough to carry no offense at short. If they were, you would just give the job to Brendan Ryan, who is already under contract next year and give him the spot. Give me J.J. Hardy. Give me Asdrubal Cabrera. Not Drew.

I would take Young over Ichiro for two reasons. One, the Yankees need to get younger and having a fourth outfielder in his 40’s doesn’t do that. Secondly, Young showed a little bit of pop, something Ichiro didn’t have. You can’t keep running singles hitters out there like they did this year.

I like Sherman’s approach. I just don’t agree with all of it. I think the Yankees may spend more than we think and I could see them pulling off a trade that we don’t expect either.

It should be an interesting winter.