Everything the Yankees have their prints on comes with a catch.
How much of Elvis Andrus’ money will the Rangers swallow if they are serious about moving the 26-year-old shortstop who begins an eight-year deal worth $118 million in 2015 that houses a $23 million vesting option for 2023?
With the Yankees looking for Derek Jeter’s replacement, they are intrigued about adding a young player with six years of big league experience and a two-time All Star. Yet, several talent evaluators doubt the Yankees have what the Rangers are looking for — starting pitching and/or a corner outfielder — unless the Rangers go into full salary dump mode.
The Rangers also are interested in seeing how much interest there is in 32-year-old outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who has six years and $116 million left on his pact. But the Yankees are set with Brett Gardner in left, Jacoby Ellsbury in center and have their fingers firmly crossed that Carlos Beltran will be able to play right field.
Free agent third baseman Chase Headley is waiting to see what Pablo Sandoval gets from the Giants or another team. Starter Brandon McCarthy is gauging what Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields pull down as free agents. The indication from the Yankees is they aren’t going to fish in those waters, but with CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka question marks going into 2015, Scherzer might start looking good for a staff that at this moment is headed by Michael Pineda.
David Robertson would like four years and $50 million, and if he gets it from another team, the Yankees could be in the market for a closer unless they want to gamble that Dellin Betances, in his second big league season, is ready for the final three outs of the game.
Should the Rangers hold onto Andrus, the Yankees aren’t averse to bringing Stephen Drew back, but at what price and length of contract?
As for Andrus, a talent evaluator said not to judge the player by the dollars.
“I like him. I don’t look at the money,’’ the evaluator said of Andrus, a career .272 hitter who batted .263 this past season. Durability is a plus, as Andrus has averaged 152 games a season.
“There are times when the concentration drifts, but he can do things,” the evaluator added. “If I was the Yankees, I would consider him because I think he would do well there.’’