This article could be a few sentences long: Sign Robinson Cano, and the Yankees won't have to worry about second base for the next five seasons or so. Of course, it becomes more complicated if the Yankees do not sign Cano.
It would be impossible to replace Cano's overall production at second base if he were to walk. We can talk all day about how the Yankees can reallocate the money to fill in holes elsewhere, but the end result would be the same: We would lose a major advantage at second base. No allocating would fix that problem.
Free Agents:
As noted a few times already, this is a poor free agent class overall. And second base (beyond Cano) is not an exception. Mark Ellis is a solid player who won't completely kill you at the plate (especially for a middle infielder) and likely wouldn't command much in years or money. He hit .270/.323/.351 (92 OPS+) for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. He has a small place in Yankees history: Hitting one of the most unexpected walk-off home runs off of Mariano Rivera in his illustrious career. Kelly Johnson offers a left-handed bat with some versatility. Last year, while playing the "four corners", Johnson hit .235/.305/.410 with 16 HR in 407 AB for Tampa. He could be an intriguing player to sign as a utility player, but not as the everyday second baseman. The Yankees supposedly have already talked to Omar Infante, who is coming off of a bit of a career year at the age of 31 for the Tigers (.795 OPS; 113 OPS+ is impressive for any middle infielder). He makes contact, and has always been just barely good enough offensively to warrant significant playing time. He may just be the top free agent choice on the Yankees radar if the unthinkable happens.
Trade Targets:
It is always hard to determine who may be available for trade; we have already heard that the Yankees have called on Brandon Phillips, who appears to be in a bit of a steep decline while playing in an offensively friendly ballpark. (Don't let the 103 RBI fool you too much) Moving his right-handed bat to Yankee Stadium would not likely rejuvenate his career, and the Reds would likely price him as if he is the same player he was a few years ago.
On the Farm:
Second base is actually a bit of a strength for the Yankees at the moment, even with the uncertainty now surrounding Corban Joseph (shoulder surgery). The Yankees have Jose Pirela currently manning the position in Trenton, with Robert Refsnyder right behind him in Tampa. Refsnyder had an encouraging 2013 season, putting up a .293/.413/.413 line between Charleston and Tampa with more walks than strikeouts. He also stole 23 bases in 29 attempts. He will likely get a shot to break the Double-A barrier to start 2014. If he continues to show off good plate discipline with decent speed and a little bit of pop, his value will increase quickly. Deep in the minors, 2013 draftee Gosuke Katoh was mightily impressive in the GCL, hitting .310/.402/.522 in 215 PA. Of course, Dante Bichette once crushed the ball in the GCL as well, so we will temper our expectations somewhat.
Bottom Line:
Sign Cano, and there really isn't much more that needs to be worried about. It really is the biggest no-brainer they have this winter. It will cost them plenty, but it is an investment they almost have to make. It will give them stability at a position where offense is getting harder and harder to find for many years to come.
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