Yankees:Nady/Swisher to Go/Is Manny on the Way?
Did you notice?
First the Yankees traded a bit-part for an undervalued asset named Nick Swisher, a switch-hitter with big power and high on-base ability who can play either corner Outfield spot or 1B. That made sense as long as Swisher was penciled in to play mostly 1B, with perhaps Yankee rookie, Juan Miranda, getting the rest of 1B at-bats.
Then they signed Mark Teixeira. Swisher moves into the corner OF mix with Xavier Nady, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and, perhaps, the loser of the CF derby between Yankee kids Melky Cabrera (big arm) and Brett Gardner (wicked speed). Juan Miranda moves into limbo.
Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are proven Offensive players, both of whom were at their best when healthy in 2008, but whose Defensive skills are questionable. Matsui, because of his knee issues and the value of his bat and Damon, an excellent ball-tracker, for his near worthless arm, a liability that has the potential to create a game-losing play in LF in any given game. These deficiencies are the only reason ANY team would consider the displacement of such Offensive talents, but both guys are 35 and in the final year of their Yankee contracts. Matsui seems like a likely candidate to retire or return in a DH role to a Japanese team in 2010 and Johnny Damon will continue to be an offensive sparkplug somewhere in MLB, although for less money than his current $13M deal.
Nady, is a RH power hitter, a coveted clubhouse professional and a solid Defender who hustles and can throw. His only drawback is his propensity for large strikeout totals.
Swisher, is a Switch-Hitting power hitter with a better eye than Nady but even MORE vulnerable to the strikeout and less adept as a hitter for average. He is an agile, competent Defender.
With six players in the shuffle, the Yankees have enough coverage. Melky has the gun, Gardner has the legs, Damon is a leadoff terror, Matsui a reliable RBI machine, Nady and Swisher solid, but there do not appear to be enough at-bats for all of them and, in asking around about Nady and Swisher (Damon and Matsui, due to age, contract and health, cannot be traded), the Yankees have discovered that a market exists for BOTH of them. Swisher is 28, well liked (even Ozzie Guillen admitted it was circumstance in Chicago) and could be a middle of the order answer for many teams and SO COULD NADY. Damon and Matsui are going to get their at-bats at DH and in LF, regardless and if the Yankees trade only ONE guy, the remaining one will play RF.
Or...
It seems like the Yankees have been lurking on Manny and blocked by the numbers game in their OF, with Nady and Swisher going for depth and payroll relief, that may open up room in the overall budget and at-bats that can go to Manny Ramirez. Even at 4 years, the Yankees have Z-E-R-O fear of Manny or doubts about his impact and commitment, the evidence of his time in Boston and the ringing endorsement of Joe Torre and Don Mattingly do all the talking that might be required. Manny at 36-37-38-39-40 will continue to be a masher and his Defensive shortcomings are GROSSLY overstated, given the limitations of Damon's arm and Matsui's knees - he would be fine and be helped by the range of both/either Yankee kids in CF (Manny knows all about Melky, from watching him climb the wall and pull back Manny rockets headed for bleacher seats). Manny might be happy to come home, play in a clubhouse full of players in his orbit and feed off the sheer star power surrounding him in the lineup, he would be a THRILLING presence for young Dominican Yankees Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera and could coast into Spring Training with his DR teammate Alex Rodriguez, who might hit 75 HR's hitting between Teixeira and Ramirez in the lineup.
How about this lineup:
DH Johnny Damon LH (ideal #1)
SS Derek Jeter RH (ideal #2)
1B Mark Teixeira SH (ideal #3)
3B Alex Rodriguez RH (ideal #4)
LF Manny Ramirez RH (ideal anywhere)
2B Robinson Cano LH (as skilled as any #6 in Baseball, no excuses in '09)
C Jorge Posada SH (healthy, he is capable of .300/20/90 routinely)
RF Melky Cabrera SH (Defensive plus with the range and big arm to dominate in short RF, SH offense +)
CF Brett Gardner LH (probably only a .275 MLB hitter, but 50-75 SB ability and a defensive plus)
With this much Offense, the Yankees could afford the growing pains on Offense for Cabrera and Gardner while providing their deep staff with a tremendous Defensive upgrade in the OF, Melky will throw runners out and cut down runs and Gardner will steal a ton of bases and scamper home behind booming XBH power from 3-7 slots.
Matsui is a LH balance for Manny when Manny needs time off and can be shuffled enough into the mix to provide Damon rest for his legs. If Healthy, Matsui can play some RF since his arm is efficient if not booming/Melky style. With Austin Jackson looming for CF in 2010 or 2011, the kids would be playing to stay in the mix and Manny would be able to move more At-Bats into the DH slot with each successive season in Pinstripes. Yankees would take on more money with Manny, but that would be partially be offset by the elimination of Nady/Swisher (25M combined) and the 26M coming off the payroll with Matsui and Damon in '10. This would leave them with potentially 3 young homegrown Defensive stalwarts who bring desperately needed niche skills like athleticism, arm strength and stolen bases.
This move would ELECTRIFY the Bronx in a way that would dwarf every other thrilling move they've made and the team would almost need to build an additional pavilion in the old Yankee stadium across the street where they can sell beer and hot dogs to crazed Yankee fans to let them watch the game on the big screen, they could fill it with Washington Heights alone if they sign Manny Ramirez and put him in this lineup along side his fellow First Ballot Hall of Famers.
Fucking Ned Colletti, fucking Omar Minay...don't want THE Force you both need in the middle of the lineup?
We'll take him, just have to make some room, first.
First the Yankees traded a bit-part for an undervalued asset named Nick Swisher, a switch-hitter with big power and high on-base ability who can play either corner Outfield spot or 1B. That made sense as long as Swisher was penciled in to play mostly 1B, with perhaps Yankee rookie, Juan Miranda, getting the rest of 1B at-bats.
Then they signed Mark Teixeira. Swisher moves into the corner OF mix with Xavier Nady, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and, perhaps, the loser of the CF derby between Yankee kids Melky Cabrera (big arm) and Brett Gardner (wicked speed). Juan Miranda moves into limbo.
Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are proven Offensive players, both of whom were at their best when healthy in 2008, but whose Defensive skills are questionable. Matsui, because of his knee issues and the value of his bat and Damon, an excellent ball-tracker, for his near worthless arm, a liability that has the potential to create a game-losing play in LF in any given game. These deficiencies are the only reason ANY team would consider the displacement of such Offensive talents, but both guys are 35 and in the final year of their Yankee contracts. Matsui seems like a likely candidate to retire or return in a DH role to a Japanese team in 2010 and Johnny Damon will continue to be an offensive sparkplug somewhere in MLB, although for less money than his current $13M deal.
Nady, is a RH power hitter, a coveted clubhouse professional and a solid Defender who hustles and can throw. His only drawback is his propensity for large strikeout totals.
Swisher, is a Switch-Hitting power hitter with a better eye than Nady but even MORE vulnerable to the strikeout and less adept as a hitter for average. He is an agile, competent Defender.
With six players in the shuffle, the Yankees have enough coverage. Melky has the gun, Gardner has the legs, Damon is a leadoff terror, Matsui a reliable RBI machine, Nady and Swisher solid, but there do not appear to be enough at-bats for all of them and, in asking around about Nady and Swisher (Damon and Matsui, due to age, contract and health, cannot be traded), the Yankees have discovered that a market exists for BOTH of them. Swisher is 28, well liked (even Ozzie Guillen admitted it was circumstance in Chicago) and could be a middle of the order answer for many teams and SO COULD NADY. Damon and Matsui are going to get their at-bats at DH and in LF, regardless and if the Yankees trade only ONE guy, the remaining one will play RF.
Or...
It seems like the Yankees have been lurking on Manny and blocked by the numbers game in their OF, with Nady and Swisher going for depth and payroll relief, that may open up room in the overall budget and at-bats that can go to Manny Ramirez. Even at 4 years, the Yankees have Z-E-R-O fear of Manny or doubts about his impact and commitment, the evidence of his time in Boston and the ringing endorsement of Joe Torre and Don Mattingly do all the talking that might be required. Manny at 36-37-38-39-40 will continue to be a masher and his Defensive shortcomings are GROSSLY overstated, given the limitations of Damon's arm and Matsui's knees - he would be fine and be helped by the range of both/either Yankee kids in CF (Manny knows all about Melky, from watching him climb the wall and pull back Manny rockets headed for bleacher seats). Manny might be happy to come home, play in a clubhouse full of players in his orbit and feed off the sheer star power surrounding him in the lineup, he would be a THRILLING presence for young Dominican Yankees Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera and could coast into Spring Training with his DR teammate Alex Rodriguez, who might hit 75 HR's hitting between Teixeira and Ramirez in the lineup.
How about this lineup:
DH Johnny Damon LH (ideal #1)
SS Derek Jeter RH (ideal #2)
1B Mark Teixeira SH (ideal #3)
3B Alex Rodriguez RH (ideal #4)
LF Manny Ramirez RH (ideal anywhere)
2B Robinson Cano LH (as skilled as any #6 in Baseball, no excuses in '09)
C Jorge Posada SH (healthy, he is capable of .300/20/90 routinely)
RF Melky Cabrera SH (Defensive plus with the range and big arm to dominate in short RF, SH offense +)
CF Brett Gardner LH (probably only a .275 MLB hitter, but 50-75 SB ability and a defensive plus)
With this much Offense, the Yankees could afford the growing pains on Offense for Cabrera and Gardner while providing their deep staff with a tremendous Defensive upgrade in the OF, Melky will throw runners out and cut down runs and Gardner will steal a ton of bases and scamper home behind booming XBH power from 3-7 slots.
Matsui is a LH balance for Manny when Manny needs time off and can be shuffled enough into the mix to provide Damon rest for his legs. If Healthy, Matsui can play some RF since his arm is efficient if not booming/Melky style. With Austin Jackson looming for CF in 2010 or 2011, the kids would be playing to stay in the mix and Manny would be able to move more At-Bats into the DH slot with each successive season in Pinstripes. Yankees would take on more money with Manny, but that would be partially be offset by the elimination of Nady/Swisher (25M combined) and the 26M coming off the payroll with Matsui and Damon in '10. This would leave them with potentially 3 young homegrown Defensive stalwarts who bring desperately needed niche skills like athleticism, arm strength and stolen bases.
This move would ELECTRIFY the Bronx in a way that would dwarf every other thrilling move they've made and the team would almost need to build an additional pavilion in the old Yankee stadium across the street where they can sell beer and hot dogs to crazed Yankee fans to let them watch the game on the big screen, they could fill it with Washington Heights alone if they sign Manny Ramirez and put him in this lineup along side his fellow First Ballot Hall of Famers.
Fucking Ned Colletti, fucking Omar Minay...don't want THE Force you both need in the middle of the lineup?
We'll take him, just have to make some room, first.