Alex Rios the 2016 Version of Chris Young?

The New York Yankees had three members of their 2015 squad hit free agency that the team will have to replace in some way, shape or form. Those three men were second baseman Stephen Drew, long relief pitcher Chris Capuano and right-handed power bat off the bench Chris Young. All signs seem to point to a platoon of Dustin Ackley and Robert Refsnyder replacing Drew in 2016 while a laundry list of minor league pitching options including, but not limited to, Bryan Mitchell, Branden Pinder, Caleb Cotham, James Pazos and Jacob Lindgren could replace Capuano with relative ease. Finding a right-handed power bat that can play the outfield and come off the bench may not be as easy as finding the replacements for Drew and Capuano but one option the Yankees now have is former Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Rios.

The Kansas City Royals wasted no time in reshuffling their roster around after the World Series and the reshaping began when the team declined the mutual options on right fielder Alex Rios and starter Jeremy Guthrie. Rios is the player that would interest the Yankees the most and is set to enter the 2016 season at 34-years old. Rios had a $12.5 million option declined with a $1.5 million buyout that he did not play to for much of the 2015 season. Rios did redeem himself a bit with a few key hits in key situations in the World Series but it is obvious to many that Rios is no longer a $12 million AAV type player and no longer an everyday player.

A bench role with the Yankees, if he’s willing to accept one, would be an ideal fit for Rios giving him another shot at a World Series. The Yankees may not be the favorites to win it all in 2016 but they will at least be in the discussion in my opinion which could be attractive to Rios. Also the right fielder could take a one-year pillow contract and try to establish some of his value and worth back as he hits the free agency market again in 2017. This is all assuming that Young, who is probably better suited for the job in the Bronx, doesn’t return to the club on another one-year deal.

Would Rios be worth it? Without Chris Young back in the fold or a better player, then probably.