Andrew Marchand, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Spend Hal's Money: Elvis Andrus

This Yankees offseason has no $189 million goal, nor does it appear a half-billion-dollar spending spree, but owner Hal Steinbrenner and the team will likely make a few moves. As always, we like to be helpful at ESPN New York, so once again, we will aid the Yankees' decision-makers with a little game we like to call Spend Hal's Money.

Today's Candidate: Elvis Andrus

Position: SS

Age: 26

Height: 6-foot-0

Weight: 200 pounds

2014 numbers: $6.457M salary, .241, two homers, 41 RBIs, 27 SBs, .647 OPS

How he could be acquired: Through a trade, as the Rangers' Jon Daniels says he will listen to offers.

Pros: Andrus is only 26 and is a two-time All-Star. A few years ago, when the Rangers were beating the Yankees in the ALCS, the difference between he and Derek Jeter seemed to symbolize the young, athletic future of Texas versus the aging Yankees.

Andrus could bring another speed element to go along with Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner, which could create a dynamic lineup. Plus, he would be an upgrade on defense over the retired Jeter.

Cons: The Rangers are willing to trade him, even though he is just 26. He is owed $120 million through 2023. His salary rises to $15 million in 2015.

In his contract extension, he can opt out after 2018 or 2019. If the Yankees dealt for him and he was great, he could become a free agent after four or five seasons. The thing is, there is no real evidence that he will be that great.

Last season, Andrus was awful because he reportedly was overweight. His OPS was .647, which was just 30 points better than the aging Jeter's. In his career, his OPS is .680. For perspective, Jeter's career OPS is .817. His final season was the only time in his career in which he played a complete year and was less than .710.

So basically, Andrus' production, on average, is worse than Jeter's in his poorest offensive seasons.

The verdict: Are you crazy? To acquire Andrus, the Yankees would have to trade some big-time prospects and then hope Andrus can become an All-Star again. That is a pretty big gamble, and it would come down to the Yankees believing that Andrus is better than what he has shown.

If they are going to take that kind of risk, they had might as well go after Troy Tulowitzki.

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