5* More Free Agents The Yankees Should Avoid This Winter

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

#5. Alex Rios, Corner Outfielder

Let’s not beat around the bush. The Yankees could certainly use the outfield depth, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the rapidly-aging Carlos Beltran in right field. After struggling with bone spurs in his elbow, and having them surgically removed this winter, the Yankees aren’t sure how much Beltran will be able to give them in right during 2015.

Brian Cashman hedged his bets, by resigning Chris Young as the fourth outfielder. Young, who had a nice September after falling flat on his face with the Mets for most of the year, isn’t the guy the Yankees want to lean upon if Beltran is a no-go for any extended amount of time next season. Ichiro Suzuki will be gone, so the need for a solid right fielder is real, and Beltran could shift to spending more time as the team’s designated hitter going forward.

That’s where some have argued that free agent outfielder Alex Rios could become a valued member of the Yankees. Wrong. Rios’ batting average has remained relatively consistent over the past couple of seasons (.277 in ’12, .280 in both ’13 & ’14), his power numbers–a requirement of any legitimate right field candidate have fallen off the map. Peaking at 25 home runs and 91 runs batted in with the Chicago White Sox in 2012, Rios’ power vanished in Texas of all places, from 18, to 18 again in an injury-shortened season, to 4 in 2014. His RBI production the same: 91 to 81, to 81 again to 54. What’s the reason? Age? Injury? Motivation? A combination of all of it?

Regardless, Rios is trending too far the wrong way in too many offensive categories for the Yankees to consider bringing him in, even as a stopgap measure in right field. He’s coming off of a contract that was paying him an average annual salary of $12.5 mil per. The Rangers chose to buy him out at $1 million dollars and said go away. That right there should tell you something. The only way if I’m the Yankees, I would even consider Rios as an option, would be on a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp, where everything was incentive-based. If he made the team and can recapture some of the old magic, great. If not, then don’t give him half a season like you did Brian Roberts. Cut him loose at the first sign of trouble. But, in reality, there are better options, so steer clear of Alex Rios.