Cross Mark Ellis off the list of available second basemen.
With the Yankees looking to find a replacement for Robinson Cano, two of the only everyday options at the position on the market signed elsewhere in recent days, with Omar Infante going to Kansas City and then on Sunday, Ellis agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cardinals.
And since the Yankees have so far been resistant to the idea of trading Brett Gardner even after the arrival of Jacoby Ellsbury in center field, there is a chance Kelly Johnson could be their best option at second.
The Yankees remain interested in bringing back Mark Reynolds, who could play third — even if Alex Rodriguez is around — and spell Mark Teixeira at first base.
Reynolds signed with the Yankees after falling apart at the plate in Cleveland last season. He rebounded well, with an OPS of .755 after getting to The Bronx.
With Rodriguez’s uncertain future as he and the Yankees wait for a ruling on his appeal of the 211-game suspension levied by Major League Baseball, management knows it needs help there.
When the season ended, Reynolds expressed a desire to stay with the Yankees, although he also said he wanted a full-time role, something that wouldn’t necessarily be guaranteed with the Yankees.
He has hit more than 20 homers each season since 2008 and although the Yankees have added power with the acquisitions of Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran, they’re still looking for the home runs lost with the departure of Cano.
General manager Brian Cashman has said he would prefer to act quickly to fill holes, but acknowledged last week that might not be possible and added the Yankees may have to wait until players are released during spring training or even until the trade deadline to get the kind of players he wants.
But with needs at second, third and in the bullpen — where they still lack an experienced closer — the Yankees still have plenty of work to do.