The Yankees have acquired INF/OF Brandon Drury from ARI. As part of the trade, INF Nick Solak was sent to TB and RHP Taylor Widener to ARI. To make room on the 40-man, OF Jabari Blash was DFAed.

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 21, 2018

You didn’t think they were actually going to play rookies at second and third base to start the season, did you? Tonight’s acquisition of Brandon Drury from Arizona all but assured that at least one of second and third base won’t be manned by a rookie to start the regular season.

Drury, 25, is a career .271/.319/.448 (95 wRC+) hitter in just over 1,000 plate appearances. He’s primarily a second baseman, though he has experience at third base and in the outfield. In all likelihood, Drury will be the Opening Day second baseman as the Yankees give Gleyber Torres some more time in Triple-A.

I’d rather have signed free agent Neil Walker, personally. All Walker would have cost is money, and although it’s not like they Yankees lost big time prospects in Nick Solak and Taylor Widener, I’m disappointed. Not because the Yankees got fleeced, as it seems like a reasonable exchange in a vacuum, but rather because Walker likely would be a superior player. I get that the luxury tax is an issue, but Walker wasn’t going to break the bank either. Indeed, Drury will play for only a tad more than the league minimum, which helps the Yankees pursuit of avoiding the tax.