Latest Yankees report indicates worst possible scenario with LF

Yankees fans hoping for one more outfield signing are set to be disappointed. New York isn’t expected to take a big swing on a new left fielder. 

Brian Cashman has enjoyed a productive offseason but plenty of Yankees fans are set to grade it as incomplete. The recent reporting indicating that New York isn’t in the market for a new left fielder will irritate plenty of Yankees fans desperate for an end to the franchise’s World Series drought.

Instead, the expectation is for the Bronx Bombers to head into Spring Training with oft-injured Aaron Hicks penciled in as the starter in left. The idea of Hicks staying healthy for a full 162-game campaign is more of a hope than an actual plan at this stage of the veteran outfielder’s career.

Oswaldo Cabrera and maybe even Estevan Florial will both head to Tampa with hopes of showing they can provide manager Aaron Boone with more than Hicks. At the very least, one should manage to position himself as the next man up when Hicks inevitably misses time. Cabrera will have the edge to make the Opening Day roster due to his positional versatility.

The big dream amongst the Yankee fan base is for Cashman to swing a big trade for an established star. Brian Reynolds clearly wants out of Pittsburgh, but so far the Pirates’ trade demands have kept New York out of the fray. It’s possible those demands could come back to Earth as Opening Day approaches.

The more likely scenario is that Cashman will bide his time and look for an impact bat during the season as the Trade Deadline approaches. The team thought they’d accomplished that goal by dealing for Andrew Benintendi last year but injury derailed his chances to help the Yankees in the postseason.

Things can change quickly inside the Yankees front office, but as for now, they look set to head to Spring without any significant roster changes. That positions left field as the team’s biggest weakness heading into the regular season.