The New York Yankees off-season continues to bring about interesting rumors of free agents and other trades. After signing Gerrit Cole to potentially ten-year contract, the Yankees have already been in a new mix of rumors, including the possibility of signing infielder Joe Panik.
After spending nearly his entire career in San Francisco, the 29-year-old Yonkers native returned to New York to play with the Mets for the final two months of the 2019 season. He may be staying in New York City, but in a different borough.
Panik would bring several traits the Yankees are looking for. First, Panik is a left-handed at-bat that could possibly benefit from the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium. Although Panik has only slugged 38 home runs in his career, he has played in much larger ballparks in Oracle Park in San Francisco and Citi Field in Queens. He would more than likely see those numbers rise at Yankee Stadium.
Panik would also be an excellent backup second baseman in case LeMahieu needs a day off, plays a different position, or gets injured. The only downside to Panik is that he has only played one game at another position besides second base in his entire career. He would more than likely be limited to second base, but that does not mean he could not at least experiment at shortstop.
Although I would not be opposed to signing Panik, it does not make sense for the Yankees to pursue him. They have depth at shortstop and second base in the likes of LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada. The Yankees have other areas that need to be addressed, of which the middle infield is not a part of.
Unless the Yankees can turn Panik into a super-utility player, it is not be worth signing him.
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