TAMPA – The Bronx Bombers now have their Judge and Drury.
Even as team brass suggested the Yankees could go into the 2018 season starting rookies at both second and third, it always seemed like they were going to make a move for a more established infielder.
On Tuesday night, the Bombers did just that, reaching an agreement on a three-way trade to acquire Arizona’s Brandon Drury, a source confirmed to The News.
In the deal, which sends Rays outfielder Steven Souza to the D’Backs, the Yankees dealt infield prospect Nick Solak to Tampa and pitching prospect Taylor Widener to Arizona.
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Drury, a 25-year-old capable of playing several positions, hit .267/.317/.447 with 13 homers and 63 RBIs last season. In 2016, he hit .282/.329/.458 with 16 homers and 53 RBIs.
Drury is not arbitration-eligible until 2019, so he clearly fits in with ownership’s mandate to stay under the $197 million luxury-tax threshold.
The Bombers now no longer need to be in the market for free-agent infielders like Mike Moustakas or Neil Walker, who would’ve been much more costly.
They can also continue the development of highly-touted prospects Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar.
Torres has been expected to be given every opportunity to win a starting job this spring, though it’s possible he could need more seasoning in the minors after his 2017 season was cut short due to Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing elbow.
Brandon Drury, 25, hit .267/..317/.467 for the D'Backs last year with 13 homers and 63 RBIs.
(Ross D. Franklin/AP)Andujar, meanwhile, could use more work on his defense, even though his potential at the plate has scouts raving.
The deal certainly allows more flexibility should the Bombers decide to go the slower route with the duo.
In his career, Drury has played 136 games at second, 41 games at third and one game at short and first. He can also play both corner outfield spots.
Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada also provide infield depth, as do non-roster invitees Danny Espinos and Jace Peterson.
The Yankees had talks with the D'Backs about Drury at the Winter Meetings.
Drury was originally a 13th round pick of the Braves in the 2010 MLB Draft. He was acquired by Arizona three years later in a deal that sent Justin Upton to Atlanta.
Solak and Widener were both considered under-the-radar prospects by scouts in the team’s deep farm system, which contains plenty of infielders and pitchers.
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