Options winding, Kelly Johnson appears likely to be starting second baseman

Six months ago, if you would have told me that Robinson Cano was going to sign with the Seattle Mariners, and the Yankees would replace him at second base with non other than Kelly Johnson, I probably would have shrugged you off and said that you don't know much about baseball.

It's now December 15th, Cano was officially introduced as Mariner on Thursday, and it's looking all but sure thing that Johnson will be theYankees' starting second baseman on Opening Day.

Running out of options, another second baseman was taken off the Yanks' board today when Mark Ellis signed a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, just a couple days after top second base target Omar Infante signed a four-year, $30 million deal with the Kansas City Royals.

Sure, there are still a few options left, but realistically, they aren't better options than Johnson. The Yankees have kicked the tires on Brian Roberts, but his history with injuries is just way too much of a risk, and it would probably be easier to just stick with Johnson.

They could also go after a trade, but it would seem like the options out there are worth what they would be giving up.

The Yankees passed up the opportunity last week to acquire Brandon Phillips from the Cincinnati Reds to Brett Gardner, but the Yanks are too excited about the idea of dealing Gardner -- the team's best trade chip -- and they didn't feel like his declining offensive numbers over the past few seasons is worth the $50 million he's owed over the next four years.

Chicago Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney has come up as a name that the Yankees might be interested in. Barney hit just above .200 last season, and would't give the Yanks much on offense, but he's a Gold Glove second baseman that can provide defense -- it would be like having another Brendan Ryan, which if you ask me, is one too many.

From what I've been reading around the internet, Yankees fans don't seem too happy that Johnson might be the starting second baseman after watching Cano man the position so well for man years. Sorry to tell you, but everything you're root against is likely to come true.

Follow @GavinEwbank2013 Tweet