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Now that the Yankees have missed out on Robinson Cano, they will need to find someone to take his spot at second base. Right now Brian Cashman has said he is more interested in making a trade than signing a free agent like Omar Infante. Someone he has inquired about is the Mariners' own Dustin Ackley.
The 25-year-old second baseman has seen his stock diminish in the last three years. After a promising rookie campaign where he hit .273/.348/.417 in 90 games, Ackley disappointed in his first full year in the majors. He might have seen a power influx, with 12 home runs in 2012, but he has only managed a .239/.306/.334 batting line over the last two years. In an effort to find some kind of value for their former first rounder, the Mariners have played him in center field, left field, and at first base. While he's shown to be a plus defender at second (24 DRS), he didn't perform too well in the outfield (-8).
The upside is still there, but he hasn't exactly lived up to the promise of being the second overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft. The Mariners now have Cano at second base, and one of their top prospects, Nick Franklin, is likely their best trade chip, so Ackley might not cost much. He isn't great, but with the giant hole the Yankees now have and their limited amount of top infield prospects, he might be worth a look.
