Yankees: 3 free agent replacements for DJ LeMahieu

2. Kolten Wong, 2B

If the Yankees go with a stopgap second baseman, it should be Kolten Wong.

At one point, I might’ve even suggested “trading for Robinson Cano” as an intriguing stopgap option at second base. But now I won’t!

If the Yankees intend to continue their Torres experiment at shortstop without LeMahieu’s aid, the elite defense of Kolten Wong (as opposed to the scrappy energy of Tommy La Stella) is really the only option.

This limited choice is why I don’t endorse such a maneuver — if the Yanks really want to let LeMahieu go, they should probably shift Torres back before the ink is dry. But Wong, who’s been targeted by both the Mets and Blue Jays with very little recent movement, is the best of the non-tender lot by a wide margin.

In 2019, he posted the best range factor/game in the entire National League (4.50), and regularly grades out with a positive DRS (+16 in 2018, +19 in 2019). His bat isn’t half bad, either. Wong’s a high OBP performer with moderate power (11 homers and 59 RBI in 2019), and finished 20th in the MVP conversation in his most recent full season.

Objectively, he’s a good fit for just about any team, and the Cardinals forfeited his services on what amounts to a one-year, $12 million deal. So the Yankees would simply have to beat that.

Signing Wong now would, frankly, be a lot like signing LeMahieu two years ago. Initially disappointing, but you’ll ultimately get to a valuable place.