Yankees: No Surprise – Rob Refsnyder Is On The Trade Block

The Yankees, as I’ve previously written, simply have too much talent at the moment and something has to give. According to several sources, the first move to thin the ranks is on the way.

Yankees utility infielder, Rob Refsnyder, is reportedly being made available to other teams and will be traded if a suitor can be found.

Refsnyder, while not a certified member of the Baby Bombers, is only 26 and is probably the most versatile of all current Yankees. He’s started games at second base (his original position), third base, first base, and the outfield.

He is likely to attract attention for his ability to hit a baseball, and in the minor leagues, he hit for an average of .293. With the Yankees, he was never able to crack the regular starting lineup at any position and was limited to just 74 games over the last two years.

For Refsnyder, he will probably genuflect and say thank you to the organization as a trade will probably mean a significant increase in playing time with another club and a chance to resume a career that has become stalled.

Refsnyder Is Boxed Out Everywhere

Originally thought to be the primary backup for Greg Bird at first base for this year, that went to pieces the moment that the Yanks signed Chris Carter. The team has more outfielders than they can handle right now and, with Starlin Castro locked in at second base and Chase Headley at third, Refsnyder not only is expendable, he’s getting in the way.

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Refsnyder has one minor league option remaining, and the Pinstripes could have elected to send him to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre to start the season, but why prolong the agony, not only for Refsnyder but Joe Girardi as well because he would need to find at-bats and playing time for Refsnyder.

That minor league option also makes him attractive to a team that wants him as insurance in case one of their starters goes down with an injury.

The asking price for Refsnyder will not be high, but the Yankees are in the driver’s seat selling a proven major league talent as “someone we’d like to keep, but we just don’t have any room for him.”

That scenario is likely to become a familiar refrain as this season moves along and well into next season as well. And even with players like CC Sabathia, Brett Gardner, and Chase Headley on the way out, the Yankees will still find themselves in the awkward position of having to shed talent.

Yankees: It’s Beginning To Look A Little Crowded Around Here

The Yankees have a big problem. They don't have room for the talent they've assembled. The chance of having disgruntled players looms large.

Today, the team travels to Bradenton to meet the Pirates at 1:05 PM in a rematch of yesterday’s contest that resulted in a Yankees win by a score of 3-2.