5 Players Who Could Replace A Legend

Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera (3) dives to catch a line drive by Miami Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee (not pictured) in the ninth inning to end the game in game one of a baseball doubleheader at Nationals Park. Washington Nationals defeated Miami Marlins 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Asdrubal Cabrera

Age: 28; Bats/Throws: Both/Right; Career Numbers: .268 batting average, 87 HR, 451 RBI

Asdrubal Cabrera isn’t exactly a first round draft choice in your fantasy league… or your second round choice… Okay fine! You’re never going to draft Asdrubal Cabrera. But in his eight seasons in the major leagues, Cabrera has showed flashes of big offensive ability, hitting .273 with 25 home runs and 92 RBI back in 2011. He’s hit double-digits in round trippers, and has 60 or more RBI ever since his career year and the small dimensions of Yankee Stadium along with a lot of solid protection in the lineup could help spark another monster season at the plate.

While his defense is pretty bad all around, Cabrera finds a way to step it up in big situations and turn himself into a human highlight reel. After being traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Washington Nationals before this past trading deadline, Cabrera will not cost the Yankees a draft pick  because players who are traded mid-season cannot be extended a qualifying offer. Signing Cabrera wouldn’t cost that much either as the 28-year-old isn’t as high profile as some of the bigger names on the market. As we all know, contracts are influenced by supply and demand. Cabrera is good, but other players are better and the Yankees should be able to get him on a low risk/high reward type of deal.

Sep 15, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) throws to first base during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Toronto Blue Jays 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Hardy

Age: 32; Bats/Throws: Right/Right; Career Numbers: .261 batting average, 167 HR, 579 RBI

Yankees fans have had a good look at Hardy during his four seasons with Baltimore and a few things have stuck out. One is Hardy’s excellent fielding, which has won him two Gold Glove awards in the past two seasons. While Hardy has seen his power disappear this season, he could easily pick up his power numbers again.

Remember, this is the same guy that hit 20 or more home runs in each of his three seasons before 2014, and had hit 20 two times before that. Camden Yards is a friendly ball park but… I mean come on… it’s Yankee Stadium. The friendly dimensions of Yankee Stadium should help with bringing some power back to his game. Hardy has been a leader on and off the field, and fits the type of overall player the Yankees are looking for to replace Derek Jeter.

Hardy is 32, and the Orioles will likely extend him a qualifying offer, meaning that the Yankees would have to forfeit a draft pick to sign him. But, luckily Hardy won’t break the bank as he bats for a mediocre batting average and the drop in power (especially compared to others at his position) won’t garner him a blockbuster contract. Many people see Hardy as a perfect fit for the Yankees and he’d definitely make the lower half of the Bombers’ lineup a lot more respectable.

Aug 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Stephen Drew (33) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Drew

Age: 31; Bats/Throws: Left/Right; Career Numbers: .256 batting average, 97 HR, 442 RBI

Yikes! I know this one won’t be popular. Let’s just come right out and say that Drew has been horrid at the plate all season. The Yankees traded Kelly Johnson for him before the deadline in hopes that he’d find his stroke at the plate, but that didn’t happen. His defense has always been superb, and that will likely continue for the foreseeable future.

Just one year ago, Drew batted .253 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI, but was signed after the season had already started. Yes, the lack of Spring Training could be the culprit as it could’ve thrown him out of rhythm. The good news is that Drew won’t cost a draft pick and he won’t cost a lot of money whatsoever (baseball-wise of course). Drew could easily be a place holder for a year or two until a more permanent solution comes around, but that would be a risk as Drew’s production could stay where it’s been this past season, and that wouldn’t be good at all.

The Yankees cannot have a shortstop batting .210 or lower because that is detrimental to the team no matter how good his defense may be. The Yankees already have that under contract in the way of Brendan Ryan. The Yankees will need to have some sort of idea about what they’ll be getting from the 31-year-old before committing to him in any way.

Mandatory Credit: zimbio.com

Jung-Ho Kang

Age: 27; Bats/Throws: Right/Right; Career Numbers: .299 batting average, 99 HR, 428 RBI (Korean Baseball Organization)

What’s an off-season without throwing an unknown wildcard of intrigue into the mix? Last season it was pitcher Masahiro Tanaka from Japan and his emergence into the baseball world caused an off-season string of rumors and speculation that ultimately ended with the superstar putting on pinstripes. This season it’s shortstop Jung-Ho Kang, who will be posted by his team over in Korea and there are a lot of interested teams.

Kang batted .360 with 38 homers and 107 RBI while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in 2014. Kang would fit well within a Yankees team in desperate team of getting younger, and his offense is exactly what the organization needs. However, the KBO is a very hitter-friendly league, similar to the PCL in Triple-A, and no position player has ever made the transition from Korea to Major League Baseball and Kang would have that hill to climb.

Also, it’s uncertain how much money Kang will garner as there is no previous contract to use as an example. The Yankees would have to bid aggressively with his team before even being able to negotiate with him (The KBO still operates under the old posting system). With so many shortstops available on the open market, it may be a smarter decision to just swipe up a proven ball player instead of having to deal with what could be an uphill battle.

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Hanley Ramirez

Age: 30; Bats/Throws: Right/Right; Career Numbers: .300 batting average, 191 HR, 654 RBI

As far as offense goes, Hanley is the best shortstop available on the open market. As for defense… he’s the worst by far. Hanley Ramirez has morphed himself into one of the best hitters in the National League, but still struggles mightily with his fielding (one of the highest error totals in baseball) and injuries have constantly plagued him (only 86 games last season and 128 games this year).

So what about Ramirez (Likely getting $100 million dollars or more this off season) possibly replacing the Captain?  Well he’d be perfect batting in the three hole of the Yankees lineup, and his reputation as a perennial star would be perfect for New York. But can they take the risk of signing another injury-prone star and have them end up like Carl Pavano?

They did so with Jacoby Ellsbury this past off-season and he managed to stay healthy and have a productive year. Also, can Ramirez be a leader? Can he finally put behind any and all maturity issues and help lead the Yankees? His defense will probably never improve and that would just be something the Bombers would have to live with. If he can stay healthy, Yankee Stadium would love to welcome his powerful bat to the American League with open arms.