SAN DIEGO — When the final out of a second consecutive disappointing Yankees season was made at Fenway Park on Sept. 28, there were two things abundantly clear: Derek Jeter's Hall of Fame career was complete and the Yankees were looking at an offseason smothered by holes.
"Our needs as we entered the winter was the left side of the infield, the starting rotation, the bullpen and obviously a fourth outfielder who could hit from the right side,'' general manager Brian Cashman recalled. "As we continue our efforts to improve the club, we are going to evaluate every opportunity that comes our way and how they present. If it's something that seems to fit with all the other moving pieces that we have going on, I think we have to take serious interest.''
When Cashman arrives Monday at the Manchester Hyatt for the Winter Meetings, he no longer has a hole at short or as deep of one in the bullpen after trading for Didi Gregorius and signing Andrew Miller on Friday.
While those two moves likely improve the roster the Yankees ended of the season with, Cashman is far from finished trying to put together a team that can avoid missing the postseason for a third straight year.
If Miller signing a four-year deal worth $36 million means closer David Robertson lands someplace else, the bullpen needs help. Though the Yankees have their fingers firmly crossed that Gregorius, he of the off-the-charts defensive skills and suspect bat, is the answer at short, third base, second base and the rotation remain neighborhoods that are loaded with questions.
At the beginning of the offseason, the Yankees made it clear they wanted switch-hitting third baseman Chase Headley back. They loved Headley's steady defense and his clubhouse presence. In a little over two months Headley grew to like The Bronx and said he could see staying.
Since then, the Yankees have been reluctant to give him a four-year deal, something Headley might get from another club for $65 million. If he doesn't return, the Yankees can insert Martin Prado at third or hope against hope that Alex Rodriguez can play the position at 39 with two surgically repaired hips and having played in just 44 games in the past two years, due to injuries and suspension.
Brandon McCarthyPhoto: Getty Images
If Prado has to move to third, the Yankees say they are willing to give neophytes Jose Pirella and Rob Refsnyder looks in spring training, but surely Cashman will be looking for second base help.
As for rotation help, the Yankees have been clear they would welcome right-hander Brandon McCarthy back after he went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts after being acquired from the Diamondbacks.
Yet, until free agents Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields sign, it's not likely McCarthy, who doesn't carry draft-pick compensation because he was dealt during the season, will commit to any team.
With CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka question marks due to knee and elbow problems, Ivan Nova coming back from Tommy John surgery Hiroki Kuroda a free agent and Shane Greene sacrificed for Gregorius, questions abound from all corners of a rotation whose best starter today is Michael Pineda.
Nobody should be shocked that Cashman spends a good deal of his time this week looking for a starter. And though it would be surprising if that led to Lester, Scherzer or Shields surfacing in The Bronx, only fools unequivocally rule the Yankees out of anything.
The Yankees also could use somebody who can play first base behind Mark Teixeira, who has experienced wrist problems the past two seasons.
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