Bomber Bites With Jumping Joe–Search for Shortstop Continues Without JJ Hardy

The Yankees have some big shoes to fill at shortstop next season. Replacing a legend can be daunting, but if the right person is chosen the transition can be relatively smooth. The Yankees have replaced more legends than anyone and have had some successes and some failures as they have gone from Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.

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Recently David Robertson replaced the great Mariano Rivera, and did have a successful first session as the Yankee closer.  A decade and a half ago, Tino Martinez did a great job in the wake of Don Mattingly‘s retirement in 1996.  However, it took years for the Yankees to find a real replacement in right field for Paul O’Neill or catcher to replace Jorge Posada.

Mandatory Credit: Chad R. MacDonald.

One of players who seemed like a logical candidate to replace the Yankee Captain was Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy.  Hardy was due to be a free agent at the end of the season, but resigned with the Orioles yesterday for $40 million over three years.

Hardy would have been an ideal fit for the Bronx, especially on a similar type of deal.  While the 32-year-old Hardy had a down year at the plate in 2014 power-wise, knocking only 9 balls over the fence despite playing half his games at Camden Yards, his other numbers were closer to his career averages.  He has topped 20 home runs 5 times in his career and is a solid defender with two Gold Gloves.

With Hardy now off the board, the free agent crop leaves much to be desired.  The guys remaining all have major red flags on their resumes.  Hanley Ramirez is the best player available, but has a long injury history, is below average defensively and is better suited for third base, a position he does not want to play.  He will also be the most expensive. Stephen Drew is solid defensively but forgot how to hit in 2014.  Asdrubal Cabrera has declined steadily since his 2012 All-Star appearance.

It may still be early in the process, but it is starting to increasingly look like Jeter’s heir might not come from free agency but rather an internal stopgap option such as Brenden Ryan or via the trade market, which may see some intriguing names such as Troy Tulowitzki or Jose Reyes become available.

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