The NY Yankees have a big decision to make with the retirement of Derek Jeter and options to replace him at shortstop could be costly and some potential options include Hanley Ramirez, Stephen Drew, JJ Hardy, Jed Lowrie as well as trades for names like Elvin Andrus, Troy Tulowitzki or Jose Reyes.
Jeter announced on his Facebook page that he would be hanging it up after this season and now the questions have already started to come up about who will take over in 2015. The Sporting News, SI.com, NY Post and Fox Sports all wrote articles detailing options and the consensus so far has names like Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes, Troy Tulowitzki as well as Stephen Drew and JJ Hardy as the most likely targets. All of the articles mentioned Ramirez, as the Yankees have shown once again their willingness to spend and also because Ramirez has stated his desire to one day play for the Yankees and now that the position is open, it could be a possible fit.
Eduardo Nunez is the only in-house option that came through the Yankees system, while hot-glove Brendan Ryan also could take over if nothing comes of one of the bigger deals. The team has always liked Nunez for his offense, but last season he showed he is not a good enough defensive shortstop to play everyday and while Ryan is a wizard with his glove (anyone who has watched any Mariners games over the past few years knows this) he is atrocious with his bat.
Lowrie, Hardy and Drew could be lower level options, while Ramirez could be a potential fit as long as he doesn't cost an inordinate amount of money. Ramirez was a durable player over the first stretch of his career, but over the past three seasons he has dealt with injuries and as he heads into his 30s, he will be looking for a long-term deal and he is right in the middle of his prime-ish years. The Yankees could spend a heavy amount on Ramirez to sway him to New York, but the injury history could be a concern. Reyes is an interesting option and after he was traded to the Blue Jays the former Mets star might enjoy a return to New York, which he has expressed regrets leaving in the past.
Reyes originally signed a five-year deal worth near $100 million when he signed with the Marlins and that could be what Ramirez is looking for when it's time for the Yankees to sign him and that could price them out after the spending this season with Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Masahiro Tanaka. Asdrubal Cabrera with the Indians could be an interesting option as well, especially with him hitting the market at the end of the season and it could be to their benefit that he has had two down years since a great season in 2011.
Hardy fits pinstripes and as he gets older that could be a move worth making along with Lowrie, who has played well since moving to the Astros and he probably would love to get out of that situation. The Rangers shopped Andrus over the offseason but nothing came of that, while Tulo was mentioned by both Tom Verducci and the Denver Post as options for the Yankees. Tulo has a huge contract with over $100 million coming to him through 2020, but that would lock the team in at the position for years with the top young player in baseball at SS.
