After losing out on the Robinson Cano sweepstakes to Seattle, the Yankees quickly saw Omar Infante head to Kansas City with a four-year deal on Friday.
So where does that leave the Yankees in their search for a second baseman?
“In the same place we were before he signed,” general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday. “We’re still looking for an upgrade at that position and others.”
Infante was the team’s first choice once it became apparent Cano wouldn’t return to The Bronx, something that became official Thursday in Seattle.
A versatile player who could have been used at third base, as well, Infante would have softened the blow of Cano’s departure.
With Infante off the board, the market for second basemen has become that tougher to find what the Yankees need.
Mark Ellis and Brian Roberts are available, and though Cashman declined to discuss any potential interest the Yankees might have in either player, they could go in that direction.
Ellis spent the last two seasons with the Dodgers. He missed more than a month of action in 2012 after suffering a leg injury after he was slid into during a double play. Last year, he played in 126 games and had a .674 OPS.
Though there is no way for the Yankees to replace Cano’s offense at the position — or perhaps anywhere else — Ellis is known as an excellent defensive second baseman and made just six errors in 2013.
Roberts hasn’t played more than 77 games in a season since 2009 with Baltimore and likely wouldn’t be able to be relied upon on an everyday basis.
On Friday, Cashman was asked about internal replacements at second and admitted there wasn’t much to choose from.
After declining Cincinnati’s offer of Brandon Phillips for Brett Gardner, the Yankees only have the recently acquired Kelly Johnson to play second. Since Johnson also can play third, he could wind up there occasionally. The Yankees also reportedly have had talks with the Cubs about their all-field, no-hit second baseman Darwin Barney.
The third base market is murky for the Yankees, as well. Juan Uribe appears set to go back to the Dodgers, although the Yankees didn’t express much interest in him. And Los Angeles is a possibility for Michael Young.
Cashman said he has been in contact with the agent for Mark Reynolds, who played well after signing with the Yankees last season.