Report: Yankees Showing Interest In Rangers' Shortstop Andrus
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- His contract is brutal, but, then again, when has that stopped the Yankees before?
It's no secret the Bombers need a shortstop, now that legendary Derek Jeter has retired. The New York Post's Joel Sherman speculated on Monday that the Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus could be their offseason target.
Sherman reported the Yankees are "intrigued" by Andrus, who is highly gifted but has yet to perform to the level many think he's capable, adding the Rangers would likely be more than happy to trade away Andrus and his $120 million, eight-year extension that kicks in next season.
With six seasons under his belt, Andrus, who finished as the runner-up in the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year voting, is a career .272 hitter capable of driving in a decent amount of runs despite not being a power hitter. Andrus drove in a career-high 67 runs and stole a career-high 42 bases in 2013, but dropped off considerably in most offensive categories this past season. Despite averaging a little more than 18 errors per season, he's proven to be a slick defensive shortstop.
The thinking in Yankees camp, according to Sherman, is with his skill set Andrus is still young enough to realize his potential and perhaps a change of scenery will get him going.
Shortstop is one of several positions the Yankees hope to upgrade off their second straight non-playoff season. They are reportedly considering their options at third base as well because they are concerned that aging and aching Alex Rodriguez will not be overly productive following a year away from the game due to a drug suspension.
The Bombers also plan to address their starting rotation. With Ivan nova and CC Sabathia each working their way back from serious injuries, the Yankees are reportedly interested in middle-of-the-rotation arms like Brandon McCarthy and Jason Hammel to pair with ace Masahiro Tanaka and the super-talented Michael Pineda.
The Yankees are also in wait-and-see mode in the back end of their bullpen. Closer David Robertson formally turned down the team's $15.3 million qualifying offer on Monday, the team announced. Robertson is reportedly getting interest from several clubs.
One position where the Yankees figure to have punch and depth is outfield, where they'll likely start Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran next season. They solidified their bench on Saturday, reaching a one-year deal with veteran outfielder Chris Young.
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