Yankees have contacted the White Sox about Alexei Ramirez

The Yankees are without their starting shortstop for the first time in 20 years, so it's no surprise that they're searching high and low for a replacement. While they are expected to be interested in free agent shortstops Stephen Drew, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jed Lowrie, and Hanley Ramirez, they will also be looking in on the availability of players still under contract, like Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox.

The Yankees have reportedly contacted the White Sox about the availability of their starting shortstop. The 33-year-old is considered to be one of the top overall shortstops in the game, as well as one of the more durable after playing 158 games a season since 2011. He also won the Silver Slugger award in 2014, leading the league in several offensive categories while providing above-average defense and 3.3 Wins Above Replacement. Not only is he solid on both sides of the ball, but he also offers another right-handed bat in place of the retiring Jeter.

Ramirez would purely be a stopgap option for the Yankees as he is currently signed through the 2015 season at $10 million. His contract also consists of a $10 million team option for 2016, but the Yankees can buy him out for a mere $1 million if they decided to go after someone like Ian Desmond. The biggest issue, though, is what it would take to get him. The White Sox are a team that need many things, but the Yankees may not have what it takes to pry Ramirez away without giving up some top-shelf talent, something they should try to avoid.