The Yankees have signed the second baseman Neil Walker to a one-year deal. The signing immediately limits the major league playing time for several rookies.
The 32-year-old Walker has been a steady above-average hitter since joining the league. In just 448 plate appearances last season, he hit .265 with 14 home runs. He’s no longer a threat on the bases and did not steal a single base last season. In a full season of plate appearances, he’s likely to hit 20 home runs with a .270 AVG. The problem is projecting him for that many plate appearances.
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The Yankees have Gleyber Torres (#6 overall prospect) and Miguel Andujar ready to contribute in the majors. If Walker struggles and Torres is tearing up Triple-A, we could see the Yanks make the switch. The problem is guessing if and when this will occur during the season. One possibility is Walker moving to third or first base because of an injury. Walker is good enough to be in a major league lineup all season.
Even with his talent, I’m going to project Walker for only about 400 plate appearances. I don’t think he’ll be in a part-time role. He’s either going to be starting or on the bench. Owners can own and start him when he’s starting and then drop him if he lands on the bench.
Previous Hot Stove Analysis
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Kansas City Brings Back Mike Moustakas
Royals Replace Hosmer with Lucas Duda
Rangers Add Tim Lincecum to Bullpen
Logan Morrison Finds Home with Twins
Corey Dickerson Traded to Pirates
Yankees, Rays, Diamondbacks Complete Three-Team Trade
Rays Acquire C.J. Cron, Designate Corey Dickerson
Jake Odorizzi Traded to the Twins
Eduardo Nunez Inks Deal with Red Sox
Cardinals Add Bud Norris to Crowded Bullpen
Cubs Get Their Ace, Sign Yu Darvish
Mets Add Todd Frazier on Two-Year Deal
Royals and Athletics Swap Parts
Miami Sends Christian Yelich to Brewers
Blue Jays Acquire Randal Grichuk
Blue Jays Sign Curtis Granderson
Giants Trade for Andrew McCutchen
Twins Grab Their Closer, Sign Addison Reed
Mets Bring Back Jay Bruce on Three-Year Deal
Toronto Acquires Yangervis Solarte from San Diego
Royals, Dodgers, and White Sox Complete Three-Way Trade
Rockies Fill Closer Vacancy with Wade Davis
Arizona Adds Bullpen Depth with Yoshihisa Hirano
Indians Fill First-Base Void with Yonder Alonso
Brewers Bolster Rotation with Jhoulys Chacin
Orioles Lose Zach Britton, Brad Brach Likely Closer
Giants Add Evan Longoria, Rays Create a Mess
Red Sox Bring Back Mitch Moreland
CC Sabathia Returns to Yankees
Dodgers-Braves Make Five-Player Trade
Angels in the Infield: Zack Cozart Signs with Los Angeles
Phillies Ink Carlos Santana to Three-Year Deal
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Cardinals Finally Get Their Marlins Outfielder
Cubs and Twins Gamble on Smyly and Pineda
Chase Headley Gets Dumped on Padres
Cubs and Cardinals Add Potential Closers
Giancarlo Stanton Joins Yankees
Wellington Castillo Inks Deal with White Sox
Potential Closers Traded: Boxberger and Johnson