Jorge Mateo Might Become the Starting Second Baseman, Next Season

Jorge Mateo has just been added to the Yankees 40-man roster, last night, which tells you someone could very well be getting replace and someone could very well be getting traded. 😮

Mateo started off his young career as a shortstop in the minors, but last season began playing second base; he played 40-games at second for class-A in Tampa.

There's a great chance Mateo could or will become the second baseman for the New York Yankees came Opening Day, 2017.

Why say?

Well, let's start off with third baseman Chase Headley, who isn't living up to that four-year deal that was given to him a couple of years ago and the Yankees would like to trade.

What does Headley have to do with Mateo moving to second? Well, Starlin Castro, whose the current Yankees second baseman, could move to third if the Yankees do trade Headley, leaving the second base spot open for Mateo.

You could very see this happening. The 21-year-old Mateo is someone the Yankees organization is very high on and the type of player they want in the middle of their infield. They want to copy what the rest of the league is doing and what the great teams like the Indians and Cubs are built, which is speed and athleticism. The Yankees love Mateo's lightning speed, that got him 82 stolen bases last year in the minors.

I'm sure the Yankees imaged a Mateo and Didi Gregorius up-the-middle infield.

Castro performed solidly at second, last season, but his weight could become a problem as he gets older, while playing at second. Castro's body build is more for a third baseman. Where at second, you have to be a bit of smaller stature. You also want to add his 20-plus homeruns at third base.

If Brett Gardner gets traded, Mateo will surely be on the Yankees starting lineup because he'll replace Gardner's speed, be can upgrade over his speed and base stealing tendency.

The Yankees are done with the station-to-station base runner. They got rid of Alex Rodriguez, Brian McCann and Mark Teixeira, who were notorious for the Yankees slow base running and could never go from first-to-home unless the ball goes over the center fielder's head.

The Mateo experience could be coming to the Bronx in 2017.