Dustin Ackley and Rob Refsnyder might not fit the description of a championship-winning platoon at second base for the 2016 Yankees.
Nevertheless, the replacement options don’t overwhelm, either for the Yankees, whose first offseason goal is upgrade the starting rotation.
Free agents Ben Zobrist and Daniel Murphy aren’t going to fit into the Yankees’ budget.
There are a dozen teams interested in Zobrist, including the Mets, but the Yankees aren’t included. The 34-year-old switch-hitter is expected to command in the area of $12 million per year and doesn’t have draft pick compensation attached to him. Murphy, who turned down the $15.8 million qualifying offer, has the draft pick attached to him.
That leaves 32-year-old Howie Kendrick, who made $9.5 million last year with the Dodgers when he was limited to 117 games but hit .295.
As for second baseman available via trades, three names at the top of the list are the Pirates’ Neil Walker, the Reds’ Brandon Phillips and the Royals’ Omar Infante.
The Yankees have had plenty of opportunities to acquire Phillips, 34, in the past and have passed. Last offseason, they gave Stephen Drew $5 million to play second base. Phillips is owed $27 million for the next two seasons.
Walker, a switch-hitting 30-year-old, made $8 million last season and will be a free agent following the 2016 season.
When Robinson Cano split for Seattle as a free agent following the 2013 season, the Yankees had an interest in Infante. But he signed a four-year, $30.25 million deal with the Royals. Hampered by several injuries this past year Infante, who will be 34 in December, was healthy enough to be on the Royals’ postseason roster but was left off.
“He has gone backward the past two years,’’ a scout said of Infante, who hit .220 in 124 games for the Royals who are looking to shed the $17.75 million remaining on Infante’s deal. He is owed $7.75 million next season, $8 million in 2017 and there is a $2 million buyout for 2018 when the Royals hold a team option for $10 million that won’t be exercised.
Ackley, who the Yankees believe can add power from the left side at Yankee Stadium, made $2.6 million last year and is arbitration eligible. Refsnyder will make pennies above the 2016 major league minimum $507,500.