DRURY DUTY
Yankees deal for D-back youngster to start in infield
The Yankees landed versatile 25-year-old Brandon Drury from the D’backs in a three-team deal while giving up only second-tier prospects. Drury, who has 9 HRs as a part-time player the past two seasons, figures to start at third base.
TAMPA — Gi a nc a rl o Stanton fell into the Yankees’ laps in early December and changed the complexion of the lineup.
After two full-squad spring training workouts, the Yankees on Tuesday filled a void at third base by acquiring 25-year-old infielder/outfielder Brandon Drury from the Diamondbacks in a deal that also sent Rays outfielder Steven Souza to Arizona.
The Yankees shipped minor league middle infielder Nick Solak to the Rays with minor league right-hander Taylor Widener headed to the Diamondbacks.
“Oh man, I am pumped and can’t wait to get t here,’ ’ Drury told The Post on Tuesday night as he prepared for a Wednesday flight to Tampa. “I am thinking about the opportunity I have. Playing for the New York Yankees is a dream and I have to take advantage of it. I was a Yankee fan [as a kid].’’
Asked if he knew anybody with the Yankees, Drury said new third-base coach Phil Nevin managed him in Triple-A.
So what kind of player are the Yankees getting?
“I am a guy hungry to be great,’’ Drury said. “I am going to work hard and focus.’’
The deal means the Yan- kees won’t be rolling the dice on two very young and inexperienced players at third (Miguel Andujar) and second base (Gleyber Torres). The Yankees believe they are going to be productive big-league players, but in Drury they get an experienced player and won’t have to rush Andujar, who could use seasoning with the glove and arm.
Drury ,6- foot -2,210 pounds, has been on the Yankees’ radar due to his age and to the fact he isn’t eligible for arbitration until after the 2018 season, which means they have four years of control. He can play multiple positions, is a . 27 1 hitter in 962 big league at-bats and hit a combined 29 homers and drove in 116 runs in the past two seasons.
“He has more bat than defense, plays hard and is a strong kid,’’ an AL scout said of Drury. “I like the way he plays. He can hit and plays his [butt] off. I don’t know about hi s defense, but he is a winner.’’
Without a bona fide backup for first baseman Greg Bird, it’ s possible Drury could f ill in at the position. He has played just onega meat first in the majors, but did appear in 55 games at first in the minors in 2012.
Drury has appeared in 128 big league games at second base, 40 at third, one at short, 61 in left field and 32 in right field which could mean one of two things: He doesn’t have a real position or that the Diamondbacks loved the versatility. The 93 games in the outf ield are nice experience but the Yankees’ outfield is a crowded house.
Solak, a second-round pick from Louisville in the 2016 draft, played at Tampa (Single-A) and Trenton (Double-A) last year and batted a combined .297 with a .384 on-base percentage, .835 OPS, 12 homers, 53 RBIs and was 14-for-19 in stolen bases in 130 games. He turned 23 in January.
With Torres, considered a top prospect by many, being groomed for second base and Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada in the system and capable of playing the position, the Yankees dealt from an area of strength.
Widenor, a right-hander, was 7-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 27 games (all starts) for Tampa last year. He was a 12th-round pick from the University of South Carolina in 2016.
To make room on the 40-man roster, outf ielder Jabari Blash was designated for assignment.