A great Yankee spring scavenger hunt is about to begin.

On one long weekend every spring, the city of Syracuse becomes a mini-junk yard, its streets piled with desks, lamps, tables, chairs and items only identifiable in IKEA manuals. This is the weekend before Commencement, when students off campus shed their bongs and lava lamps rather than schlep everything home to Westchester.

On this weekend, the poor people of upstate New York - there are two or three - comb the streets for second-hand treasures. Years ago, you'd see Canadians driving around, filling up their pickups. The snake of capitalism was shedding its skin. You could look at it and smile. Or you could shake your head.

On one long weekend every late March, as baseball prepares to commence, it used to be that the mighty Yankees would make their final roster cuts, leaving a few veteran players - usually bull pen lug nuts - having to decide between going to Scranton or declaring free agency. The Yankees were shedding their old furniture for - well - newer old furniture.

This year, I wonder... 

The Yankees have holes - big, deep, dark, sinister holes. You get the feeling that, instead of piling their excess furniture on the sidewalks, they will be combing the MLB campus for beer-stained tables and roach-scarred chairs. They need:

1. A DH. Giancarlo is getting "platelet-rich plasma" injections - PRPs, for short - which sound like something to enhance your TV. One shot in each elbow. Yikes.

At least we know he isn't dogging it. I mean, who wants a needle in each elbow?

He's 35. I suspect he's scared, too. If the injections don't work, he might need surgery. That would knock him out for three months. Honestly, with his track record, there's no reason for the Yankees to ever expect Stanton back and at full tilt.

To replace him, we have - well - Dom Smith and Ben Rice. I don't think this holds up. There's talk of signing JD Martinez, but he costs too much (unless Giancarlo is really gone.) Cashman will be combing the streets. And yes, Franchy Cordero is somewhere out there. Just sayin'... 

2. A backup catcher. The YES narrative goes this way: Austin Wells is a bedrock catcher, a Thurman or an Elston, so we don't need much. Unfortunately, such talk reminds us of Gary.

Let's not think about Gary, okay. (No, let's: He's 32, with Baltimore, and he's 2-for 10 on the spring. We'll see him regularly. ) 

What we need is a defensive backup - preferably a righty who hits his weight. For now, it looks like JC Escarra or Alex Jackson - both 29. But a wave of catchers is about to be unleashed. Don't be surprised if Cashman pounces. 

3. Third base. Ever since DJ LeMahieu tweaked a calf, sirens have been blaring. 

Once again, the Yankees are moving toward Oswaldo Cabrera, and while Yank fans love the smile, his hitting is chaos in motion. 

Is he still a switch hitter? Is he now a lefty-platoon? Is he our super utility man? What the fuck do we have in mind for him? Last March, on opening day, he homered and went 2-for-4 against Houston. They said it was going to be his breakout season. He ended up hitting .247 with 8 HRs. He's 26. Are we really going with Oswaldo, again?

Well, the answer is, Depends. 

Cashman will be wearing them, as he relentlessly combs the streets, grabbing whatever he can find. Get ready, folks. Commencement is not far off. The Yankees will be on the prowl.