Think back for a moment to the Yankees infield situation at the start of December. Veteran infielders held down specified spots, with Chase Headley over at third and Starlin Castro at second.
Castro was willingly given up to bring in Giancarlo Stanton, and was traded with the certainty that at least one of the promising prospects the Yankees held would be able to win the job in spring training. In time, minor league contracts were given to long-shot candidates Danny Espinosa and Jace Peterson in case the Yankees wanted to hold back Gleyber Torres for a short period of time to gain another year of control.