Yankees have a shortstop conundrum
Derek Jeter strikes out in the first inning of a Game 5 of the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. (Oct. 12, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
For the first time in nearly two decades the Yankees have a serious shortstop problem.
Franchise icon Derek Jeter was re-signed to a one-year, $12 million deal Friday afternoon. Even without that move (more a superficial tactic made for luxury tax purposes) Jeter would have likely remained a Yankee in 2014 since he possessed a $9.5 million player option.
But Jeter appeared in just 17 games in 2013, getting only 73 plate appearances after suffering a variety of ailments. Offseason surgery for a broken ankle and a lengthy recovery process delayed his season debut until July 11, 15 days after his 39th birthday.
Jeter is one of eight players in baseball history to start at least 50 percent of their games at shortstop at age 38 or older and play in 17 games or less.
four never played again.
The other three?
Notice a common trait? Each of these examples is almost a century old. Jeter has certainly bucked trends before, but coming back from a lost 2013 at his age, at the demanding position of shortstop would even be an astonishing feat for him.
And the Yankees, after missing the playoffs in 2013, are in no position to allow an important defensive position and precious lineup spot to be occupied by a subpar player.
The Jeter question is further complicated by this: There are solid replacements for him on the free agent market:
The Yankees don’t have a seemingly “good” primary option: They can either supplant a franchise star or ride out another season with a defensive liability who’s an injury risk. There’s a third option, which involves signing a backup middle infielder like Brendan Ryan – bad bat, great glove – as “Jeter insurance.” But in the event of an emergency that causes manager Joe Girardi to actually have to break that glass, the Yankees may have wished they were more proactive.
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