Yankees’ perfect Giancarlo Stanton replacement comes off the board in free agency

New York Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton doesn't have to be replaced for a long time, but the Yanks still had an opportunity to replace him for a good time this week following news of painful tendinitis in both elbows.

The state of the market gave the Yankees a final crack at a few different part-time DH options who also could've strengthened the bench long-term after Stanton's hopeful return. While JD Martinez (who's still out there) represented an imperfect fit, given that he's unplayable in the field and would've receded into the background upon Stanton's return, the remaining viable alternative came off the board on Tuesday, changing the Yankees' calculus again.

Or ... sorry, let me be clear. The Yankees are more than likely done adding offensive options on MLB deals until they move Marcus Stroman, which may or may not be plausible. Nothing probably actually changed when Stanton reported soreness or when Justin Turner found a new home in free agency.

Still, when Turner agreed to head to Chicago on a one-year, $6 million contract, it took the last viable temporary Stanton replacement/long-term insurance off the board for the Yankees. Now, if they do target an additional infielder, it'll likely be of the slick glove-first variety.

Yankees watch potential Giancarlo Stanton insurance in Justin Turner sign with Chicago Cubs

If it makes you feel any better, MLB insider Jon Morosi reported rumblings that Turner rejected more lucrative offers from other teams because he wanted to join the Cubs/mentor Matt Shaw. If that's true, there's nothing the Yankees could've done here. Offer more, and you're likely overpaying for a non-need. Match the deal, and he's not coming to the Bronx and shaving.

They could've also just signed Paul DeJong for $1 million last week. That might've been nice, retroactively, as well.

Whether this was a developing lose-lose situation or not, the reality remains that Turner, who posted a .354 OBP and 114 OPS+ last year in Toronto and Seattle, was probably the last name "on the market" who made any semblance of sense in Stanton's stead. Now, the Yankees will likely roll with what they have — and what they have is Dom Smith.