Here’s what the Yankees need to do this offseason to fix what’s broken

4. Sign Manny Machado

There isn’t an obvious spot for Machado in the Yankees lineup, but that doesn’t mean Cashman shouldn’t make a real effort to sign him this winter. He’s just the sort of talent that can transform New York’s roster from Wild Card contender to World Series favorite.

The real question is whether or not the franchise is willing to make Machado a large enough priority to outbid the competition for his services. Acquiring a starting infielder isn’t necessarily the team’s top offseason priority. The Yankees can certainly head into next season with Didi Gregorius and Miguel Andujar as their starters at third base and shortstop.

Boone’s decision to leave Andujar out of the starting lineup for Game 4 against Boston does raise some questions about how he values the talented young hitter. There’s no question about his ability to rake with the bat, but Andujar’s defense at third became a real problem for the Yankees down the stretch.

It’s worth noting that numerous sources have intimated that Machado wants to land in New York in free agency. If he communicates that wish to the Yankees, expect Cashman to make an aggressive bid to get him to the Big Apple.