New York Yankees: 11 Players They Can Target to Shore Up the Roster

When Gene Monahan, head athletic trainer for the Yankees and a part of the organization for nearly 50 years is on the field, it is generally not because he is looking to score some face time on camera.

No, when "Geno" takes the field, it is an ominous sign that something has gone wrong with a member of the ballclub.

Someone just got hurt.

While Derek Jeter has returned from his stay on the disabled list with a calf injury, the seemingly indestructible Mariano Rivera is now nursing a sore arm (or elbow, depending on who you want to believe).

Whether it is one of the last remaining pieces that bridge the gap from Yankees dynasty to the Yankees of today, or one of the newer faces who have become a vital part of the team, the fact remains that the Bronx Bombers will face serious issues should a major injury befall one of the regulars.

After the jump, 11 names the Yankees could consider making a move for to shore up their roster.

Omar Infante, IF

After an All-Star season for the Atlanta Braves in 2010 that saw him hit a career-best .321, 29-year-old Omar Infante has struggled with the bat in 2011 for the downright awful Florida Marlins, hitting only .252 with a .292 OBP.

Infante would not be targeted for his offensive abilities but for his versatility—he can play 2B, SS, 3B and the OF.

While Eduardo Nunez performed admirably with the bat as the replacement for Derek Jeter during the captain's absence, his defense has been terrible to say the least.

With a contract that expires at the end of this season, Infante could be the type of player that Yankees GM Brian Cashman targets at the deadline.

Randy Choate, RP

35-year-old Randy Choate started his career with the Yankees, spending parts of 2000 through 2003 pitching out of their bullpen.

While his stats with the Yankees were mediocre at best: 3-2, 4.43 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, Choate is outstanding against left-handed batters, holding them to a .178 average over the past three seasons.

Currently the lefty specialist out of the Florida Marlins bullpen, Choate has experience in the AL East aside from his tenure with the Yankees—he spent 2009 and 2010 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. With only one year remaining on his contract at a very reasonable $1.5 million, he is the type of acquisition Brian Cashman is looking for—someone without a long-term commitment.

Adding him to the mix in the Yankees bullpen would take some of the pressure off of Boone Logan, who this year has had some issues getting lefties out, represented by their .255 average against the lefty specialist.

Ryan Ludwick, of

Ryan Ludwick is one of those 'under-the-radar' players who is consistent but not spectacular.

Currently the San Diego Padres leading home run and RBI threat, the 32-year old Ludwick has an outstanding glove—his career fielding percentage is .992—to go along with a solid throwing arm.

A career .264 hitter, Ludwick could prove to be a better fit as the fourth outfielder for the Yankees then the over-the-hill Andruw Jones.

Heath Bell, RP

We previously discussed Heath Bell here, and not much has changed.

Signed through the end of this season, Bell would be an expensive three-month rental—with little in the way of legitimate closers available, nearly every contender who is looking to shore up their bullpen will be calling the San Diego Padres about the 33-year-old righty.

While the cost may be too much for the Yankees to pay for Bell, Brian Cashman certainly will be talking to Padres GM Jed Hoyer about him and perhaps another member of the Padres bullpen...

Mike Adams, RP

...with the other member of the Padres bullpen being soon-to-be-33-year-old Mike Adams, another pitcher we previously discussed.

Since we looked into Adams nearly a month ago, he has actually improved upon his already impressive 2011 campaign, lowering his ERA from 1.30 to 1.17.

As Adams is not a closer and does not have the 'name recognition' of his teammate Heath Bell, the cost to acquire him may be more in line with what Brian Cashman has in mind to spend on shoring up the Yankee bullpen.

Aaron Miles, IF

As the starting 2B for the underachieving Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron Miles has had what could be called a resurgent year, hitting .323 while providing some stability in the middle of the Dodgers infield.

That being said, Miles, 34, is a journeyman who is seeing his first consistent playing time since 2008 with the St. Louis Cardinals, and he certainly is not a part of Dodgers GM Ned Coletti's long-term plans for the team.

With the ability to play both 2B and SS, Miles' versatility, much like that of Omar Infante, along with his favorable contract that expires at the end of this year (Miles is only earning $500,000) could make the switch hitter an intriguing addition to the Yankee bench.

Jeff Baker, IF/OF

Another utility infielder, 30-year-old Jeff Baker has performed admirably for the Chicago Cubs this season.

In limited playing time, Baker is hitting .310 and providing a solid glove in the middle of the Cubs infield when called upon by manager Mike Quade.

With the Cubs young double-play combination of 2B Darwin Barney and SS Starlin Castro continue to grow and gel together, Baker finds himself on the bench for a team that is going to miss the playoffs.

A free agent after this season, Baker's contract would not preclude Brian Cashman from taking a chance on the German native.

Hideki Matsui, DH

Certainly closer to the end of his career than many initially thought, 36-year-old Hideki Matsui still may have something left in the tank.

A familiar face to Yankees fans, Matsui has been pretty brutal for the Oakland Athletics, hitting only .219 and providing none of the clutch hitting he showed in his seven seasons in the Bronx.

While he is only on a one-year contract, his is one that Oakland GM Billy Beane surely would not be opposed to unloading.

Perhaps a move back home to the Bronx would show that Matsui simply needed a change of scenery. His left-handed bat off the bench, should Yankee hitting coach Kevin Long be able to return Matsui to his previous form, could prove to be a valuable asset for the Yankees coming down the stretch.

Grant Balfour, RP

Another pitcher we previously touched on, and like San Diego's Mike Adams, Balfour has improved upon his 2011 numbers since then.

Currently sitting with a 2.48 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, Balfour leads the Oakland Athletics in holds with 13.

Balfour would be a welcome addition to the Yankees bullpen, and with his experience pitching in an AL East pennant race—Balfour pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008-2010—he could be a valuable one as well.

Dontrelle Willis, SP

About a week ago, I suggested that the Yankees look into acquiring left-handed starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis from the Cincinnati Reds.

Most of you thought I was insane.

Well, feel free to continue to call me crazy, because I still think Willis would be a shrewd acquisition by the Yankees and Brian Cashman.

Pulled out of his start for Triple-A Louisville on Monday due to concern over Reds starter Bronson Arroyo being able to make his next start on Wednesday, Willis was not called up and remains in the minors.

With nothing to lose by taking a chance on the former All-Star, Willis seems to have regained his form and would be another left-hander in Joe Girardi's arsenal.

Hanley Ramirez, SS

Admit it, when you clicked on this slide, you expected to see another low-cost, no-major-impact-making player.

I would have.

But Hanley Ramirez, the perennial All-Star and face of the Florida Marlins, is about as impact a bat as you can find in baseball.

When he is healthy, that is.

Ramirez has battled both his back and Marlins manager Jack McKeon this season and is having a downright terrible season, hitting .228 and not showing any of the talent that saw him have a career OBP of .380.

To acquire Ramirez, it would cost a ton in the way of prospects and young players—one could reasonably assume that any deal would include names like Montero, Banuelos, Nova, Betances, Romine and Warren. (I am not saying all of them would be included, but at least two of them probably would be.)

Were the Yankees able to trade for the 27-year-old right handed bat, I would immediately move him to LF—a position that would alleviate the stress on his back that comes with playing SS on a daily basis.

Of course, he would be able to slide back to SS should Derek Jeter be out for an extended period of time.

Ramirez is a good enough athlete to make that transition, and a good enough player for Brian Cashman to risk moving some of his prized prospects for.

Closing Thoughts

While Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena have filled in admirably when called upon, both are defensive liabilities, something the Yankees simply cannot afford to have playing everyday should an injury befall one of their infielders.

As far as pitchers go, we all know from experience that teams can never have too much pitching.

While acquiring one of the 'lesser' players on this list is more likely, do not discount the Yankees making a big splash at the deadline. Brian Cashman has shown the ability to fly under-the-radar and then, when you are not looking, swoop in and make a huge move, such as he did with Mark Teixiera prior to the 2009 season.

At the end of the day, it is all about holding up that trophy at the end of the season, and any of these moves could help the Yankees along the way.