New York Yankees News: Yankees Acquire Dustin Ackley from Mariners

Dustin Ackley, the second overall pick by the Seattle Mariners in the 2009 amateur draft, is headed to the Yankees in exchange for Yankees outfielder Ramon Flores and pitcher Jose Ramirez. Jack Curry at the YES Network first reported the deal.

Ackley, a 27 year-old second baseman and outfielder, is hitting .215 this season with six home runs and 19 RBIs. Although he is struggling this season, he will certainly be an upgrade over Stephen Drew and Brendan Ryan if the Yankees put Ackley at 2B. The platoon of Drew and Ryan this season are ranked last in the American League in 2B WAR.

All along, it was believed the Yankees were mostly in the market for a starting pitcher, and the news today that Michael Pineda is headed to the disabled list contributed to that speculation. But with big names such as David Price, Cole Hamels, and Scott Kazmir already dealt, the options became thin.

The acquisition of Ackley, who won’t become a free agent until 2018, is consistent with what seems to be the philosophy of the Yankees organization under the leadership of Hal Steinbrenner. From the beginning, the Yankees have been unequivocal in their refusal to part ways with their top prospects: Luis Severino, Greg Bird, Aaron Judge, and Jorge Mateo. Unlike years past, the Yankees seem to put a premium on young talent.

The Yankees took a safer route by dealing Flores and Ramirez. While the Yankees were impressed with Flores in his brief stint in the majors earlier this year, the Yankees outfield is a crowded place looking forward, with Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Judge expected to be major contributors for years to come. Ramirez, on the other hand, has failed to impress the Yankees over the past two seasons: in 11 major league appearances, he has pitched to a 7.62 ERA.

With Ackley now on the roster, the questions now turn to the fate of Rob Refsnyder, the top second baseman in the Yankees minor league system. The Yankees are still believed to be in the market for a pitcher – including Padres reliever Craig Kimbrel and Reds’ starter Mike Leake – and the Ackley deal makes it more likely that Refsnyder would be a part of any package.