New York Yankees rumors: J.J. Hardy open to signing with the Yankees?

It seems a bit tacky to discuss Derek Jeter‘s replacement at shortstop during his final home series as a member of the New York Yankees. That said, when a potential candidate to replace ‘the Captain’ is sitting in the opponents’ dugout, the topic is going to come up.

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J.J. Hardy of the Baltimore Orioles is one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball, and it just so happens that he is going to hit free agency the same winter that Jeter retires. Is it only natural that Hardy might sign with the Yankees?

The veteran shortstop insists that re-signing with the Orioles is his first choice, something he has said multiple times and told the Baltimore Sun this week. But Hardy did acknowledge the possibility that his feelings about the Yankees or another team could change once he hits free agency. From the New York Post:

"“Of course I’ve heard it,” Hardy said before Jeter began his final series at Yankee Stadium. “It’s not something I can look into the future and see what’s going to happen. I’ve just got to focus on helping our team right now and obviously the playoff this year. But if it comes to it, I’ll have to think about it more.”And since he’s not about to be the first prospective free agent to declare he has no interest in the Yankees’ money, Hardy said he would listen if they called.“Of course,” Hardy said."

This is quite reasonable from Hardy’s perspective: he can go into free agency with an inclination that he will stay with the division-champion Orioles. But if the Yankees call, with all of their history and all of their resources, Hardy has to at least take that call. It should be interesting to see how aggressive the Yankees would be in trying to get Hardy away from the Orioles.

Hardy, considered a plus defender at shortstop, is batting .273/.313/.378 this season with nine home runs and 52 RBI.

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