Yankees Sign a Veteran


The Yankees made a low-risk and relatively low-cost move on Monday, signing veteran infielder Neil Walker. Already familiar to New York fans from his year-and-a-half with the Mets, the eight-year veteran should solidify second base for 2018.
With top prospect Gleyber Torres having a difficult spring and Tyler Wade projected more as a Ben Zobrist-type supersub than a starter at one position, the Pittsburgh native checks off a lot of boxes for Brian Cashman, without pushing the team past the luxury tax threshold or making a long term commitment.
The switch hitter -- who has averaged 16 homers a season -- should enjoy taking the majority of his swings as a lefty and aiming for the right field porch. And he'll lengthen an already potent lineup brimming with hard hitters Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton and Didi Gregorius.
Of course, Walker's arrival also brings some questions about durability. Keep in mind, he had hamstring problems last year and a bad back in 2016? Does he represent insurance and veteran stability or a backtracking from last season's swing toward youth? How will Torres and Wade react to be being overtaken on the depth chart by someone who was an unwanted free agent just 48 hours ago? And how quickly can he and Gregorius develop the necessary chemistry to become an effective middle infield combo?
We'll begin to see answers two weeks from Friday when the Yankees open the regular season in Toronto.
These images of Neil Walker are from a Mets/Giants game in April 2016.

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