The Yankees’ ongoing search for infield help appears to be thorough and includes an interesting bounce-back candidate.
As they sort through options following the departure of Gleyber Torres, the Yankees have checked in on 11-year pro Jorge Polanco, a source said.
The club could use a second baseman or third baseman, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. able to man the other spot, and Polanco can play either position when healthy — which he is expected to be in time for the season.
After a down 2024 campaign, Polanco underwent left knee surgery in early October and now is taking ground balls (at second, third and first base) as well as hitting. He remains on target to be ready for spring training, the source said, where he can hope to begin to show that 2024 was an injury-addled aberration.
Polanco had struggled through knee pain for several years and generally played through it while performing, posting a .796 OPS from 2021-23 with the Twins.
The discomfort heightened last season after a trade to the Mariners, with whom Polanco hit just .213 with 16 home runs and a .651 OPS in 118 games, during which Polanco’s defensive metrics at second base also were poor. Seattle declined Polanco’s $12 million option for 2025 amid the sharp drop in production and the surgery.
Before the knee worsened, Polanco had established himself as an above-average hitter with some pop capable of playing second and third base.
With a repaired knee and while playing in a far more friendly environment for hitters, the 31-year-old switch-hitter could be a rebound candidate in The Bronx.
If not Polanco, the Yankees have options, although those options have begun to dwindle. Torres landed with the Tigers. Gavin Lux was shipped from the Dodgers to the Reds on Monday.
According to USA Today, the Yankees have talked with free-agent infielder Brendan Rodgers. They also have been linked with contact-savant (but defensively deficient) Luis Arraez, who is under contract for one more year with the Padres.
The most prominent name at second or third is Alex Bregman, who likely will wind up elsewhere. Behind him on the free-agent market include the likes of Polanco, Rodgers, Ha-Seong Kim, Jose Iglesias, Yoan Moncada, Kiké Hernandez, Whit Merrifield and Paul DeJong.
The Yankees also could further explore the trade market, where notably Arraez, the Phillies’ Alec Bohm and the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado could be pried.
After losing Juan Soto this offseason, the Yankees have upgraded in several areas (with Max Fried, Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt) but have not filled what looks like a large hole in their infield.
They shipped out Caleb Durbin in the Williams trade, so the Yankees’ 40-man roster options for second/third base are either unproven (Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas) or on the downslope (DJ LeMahieu).
