The NY Yankees have a major move to make in 2015 with Derek Jeter retiring and there are a number of players that are potential options at SS, with a Troy Tulowitzki trade at the top of the list along with players like Hanley Ramirez, Elvis Andrus, JJ Hardy, Starlin Castro, Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera.
The Yankees just spent a boatload of money this offseason so there is a chance they will peel back a bit next season, but replacing Derek Jeter will be no easy feat. After spending on Carlos Beltran, Masahiro Tanaka, Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury, the team could look to do that again with a move for names like Tulowitzki, Ramirez and Andrus. The Texas Rangers shopped Andrus this past season and offseason so that could be an option, while Tulo could serve the same type of purpose for the Rockies that A-Rod did for the Rangers, as they could look to get out of a big contract and a team like the Yankees could help.
Reyes has been mentioned by many, including Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports, as potential option for Jeter, as he regretted leaving NY in the first place and then was traded by the Marlins and now he is wasting away in Toronto. Stephen Drew and Cabrera are solid options and Drew is a free agent now, but the team likely wants to keep its options open and Cabrera comes onto the market next season and he could possibly be had for less than expected after a couple down seasons since he broke out in 2011. Tulowitzki has the age, skills and power to take over for Jeter, but the Rockies may decide not to give him up, while Hardy has shown that he is one of the best power hitting shortstops in the league after the way he has played in Baltimore.
Castro is a pipe dream as the Cubs never will give him up and that is something the Yankees would love, as he is young and talented, but it's not going to happen. Hardy is an interesting option and so are names like Jed Lowrie and Stephen Drew, as they are not flashy names, but solid ones and that could be a direction the team goes. The Yankees have defensive wizard Brendan Ryan as the backup SS and the 31 year old could play himself into a starting job as long as he doesn't hit his usual .200 this season like he did with the Mariners.
Tulo remains the best option and the most likely one the Yankees will pursue, as they are above the tax threshold and may as well say eff it some more. Tulo is signed through 2020 and that could be a reason to move him for the Rockies and he has over $100 million left on his deal after this season, making the Yankees the only ones that could probably pick up the tab. Tulo and Hanley are the most obvious options and Ramirez could hit the market next season without an extension and despite some injury issues, he would be a perfect replacement.
