Murphy unlikely on Yanks' 2B radar
Ackley, Refsnyder current in-house options
NEW YORK -- The Yankees still haven't decided who will handle the starting duties at second base next season, but general manager Brian Cashman is hinting that they were not enticed by Daniel Murphy's postseason slugging barrage with the Mets.
Asked on Monday at the General Managers Meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., if he would be interested in Murphy, Cashman spoke in general terms, but made it clear that the 30-year-old's shaky defensive profile represented a turnoff.
"I still never get down what my appropriate ability to comment on free agents are, so it's probably safe just not to comment," Cashman said. "But I think if we're going to pursue something, we have two offensive-profile players already at that position, so if we did any changing there, it would be seeking more balance on both sides of the ball."
The Yanks have Dustin Ackley and Rob Refsnyder as their in-house options at second base, as they are unlikely to re-sign Stephen Drew. Ben Zobrist -- whom they discussed in July, when he was with the Athletics -- and Howie Kendrick may represent more appealing free-agent options.
Murphy, of course, slugged like Babe Ruth in the National League Division Series and the NL Championship Series, homering in a record-setting six straight games, but his glovework hurt the Mets in their five-game World Series loss to the Royals. Murphy has until Friday to decide if he'll accept the Mets' one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that it is too early in the offseason to bank on either Ackley or Refsnyder.
"We're going to have to see how the roster shakes out," Girardi said. "I thought Ref did a pretty decent job at the end of the year for us, especially when he didn't play for 18 or 19 days, which was really pretty amazing. Let's just see how the offseason goes, and we'll go from there."