What SHOULD The Yankees Do This Off Season?

Shortstop: Low Cost Over High Risk

Aug 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees second baseman

(33) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Troy Tulowitzki is the cream of the crop when it comes to shortstops. He has a power bat, decent speed, excellent defense and drives in a lot of runs while hitting for a high average. The 30-year old Colorado Rockie has idolized the now retired Derek Jeter and has said how much he would love to be his heir to the Yankees’ shortstop throne. As much as Yankee fans would gladly jump up and say “Here’s our top prospects! Take them! Give us Tulo!” it’s a very risky proposition.

Tulowitzki has never be healthy. He has only played more than 140 games three times in his nine year career. Tulo is injury prone and it seems like whenever he gets hurt he’s out for a long time. Also, he’s owed about $130 million dollars through 202o and the Yankees would have to eat a significant amount of that contract in order to make the deal appealing enough to Colorado. They’d also ask for some of the best prospects in the Yankees improving farm system like Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Gregory Bird, Ian Clarkin, Eric Jagielo among others. The Yankees have worked very hard over the past few years to rebuild the farm system and Tulowitzki would be a risky person to sell them off for.

So who fits as shortstop? Get ready to yell at me because it’s a name you probably don’t want to here. No it’s not Elvis Andrus. He’s had far too many inconsistency problems and is owed too much money. No, it’s not Alexei Ramirez. He’s old and the White Sox may be looking for too much in return. The best fit is not Hanley Ramirez (Too injury prone and costly) nor is it Asdrubal Cabrera (Too inconsistent). The best fit is Stephen Drew. Yep, shaking your head may be warranted right now.

Drew didn’t have a good season in 2014. He batted just .162 with 7 home runs and 26 RBI between the Red Sox and Yankees. But he is not that bad and is horrid year could be attributed to him missing Spring Training. It threw off his whole routine. Drew is a better hitter than that (.256 career hitter) and his defense is superb. Drew would be a low cost option at shortstop while on a one or two year deal. With him at short and Martin Prado at second base the middle infield defense would be excellent. Drew may not be a sexy name like Tulowitzki or Hanley Ramirez but he is a smarter option for the Yankees.