tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Yanks Have No Choice: Sign Youkilis

With free agent third basemen going off the board and their self-imposed salary cap for 2014 on the horizon, the New York Yankees made a move that they had to make by signing former Boston Red Sox Kevin Youkilis to a one year deal for $12 million dollars. The 34 year old, who has had a history of back issues, is very familiar with playing in the pressure-filled American League East and the hope is that he will continue to perform as he did in the second half of the season for the Chicago White Sox.

We need to remember that Youkilis is a stop-gap signing. This goes beyond keeping the hot corner warm for ARod because the truth be told is that we really don't know when ARod will be back this year and what his condition will be for the remaining years of his contract. Youkilis may very well be a stop-gap fill until the Yankees are able to make a trade for a young player or bring up someone from their farm system to play third base.

An examination of Yankee prospects make it highly questionable that the likes of David Adams or Tyler Austin would be ready by 2014. In fact, when looking at positional players, the potential for homegrown kids coming to the Bronx is probably closer to 2015 which probably means that we will see more geriatric one year signings through 2014. For me, the most important thing to be watching this year won't be the AL East standings but will be following the progress of kids like Austin, Adams, Gary Sanchez, Slade Heathcott, Jose Pirela and Zolio Almonte. It would be great if one or two of these kids were able to make it to the big club at some point in 2013.

With Youkilis on the roster and the signing of Ichiro imminent, the Yankees will be one of the oldest teams in baseball. They may have enough to make the playoffs this year but I have a hard time thinking that they will have enough left in the tank to win it all. That's why I will be watching what's going on in places like Scranton and Trenton this summer as much as the Bronx.