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    • November 10, 2009

    Bringing Back a Trio

    According to Joel Sherman, the Yankees want to bring back Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte. I understand Pettitte, since pitching is scarce. There are younger, better options in leftfield, and the money freed by letting Damon and Matsui go will pay for that player. Standing pat after a World Series win is a great way not to repeat the next season.

    Posted by David Pinto at 9:54 am | Management, Players | Permalink | 10 Comments

    Comments


    1. James
      November 10th, 2009 @ 10:04 am

      Uh.
      If they took money saved on the combined contracts of a LF and a DH, and spent it on a better LF, they would still have to find a DH. And that guy (if he’s even close to Matsui) would cost money. So that seems to be a flaw in your alternative plan.

      ReplyReply
    2. David Pinto
      November 10th, 2009 @ 10:19 am

      @James: No, DH comes from a rotation of A-Rod, Jeter and Posada.

      ReplyReply
    3. James
      November 10th, 2009 @ 10:30 am

      David:
      But that means giving 500 PA to Jerry Hairston, Jose Molina, and Ramiro Pena. That is very, very costly in terms of batting production.

      ReplyReply
    4. rbj
      November 10th, 2009 @ 10:41 am

      Molina is gone. Cervelli will be the backup/replacement catcher.

      Dunno if Hairston or Pena will be around. I’m sure the Yankees will be scouting around for a 4th OF and utility IF.

      ReplyReply
    5. Ed
      November 10th, 2009 @ 10:51 am

      I agree with letting Damon and Matsui go. However, there is an argument for keeping them on 1-2 year contracts. The free agent pool this year is shallow enough that the Yankees won’t be able to make up the offensive production they lost. Next year is a different story.

      I still think they are better off cutting payroll, recognizing they are not likely to repeat, then reloading for 2011.

      ReplyReply
    6. Jesse R
      November 10th, 2009 @ 11:31 am

      Matsui and Damon played well over their heads for guys their age. Damon had close to career numbers!

      Matsui and Damon gone, new LF, Cervelli at C, Posada at DH, 4th OF is Gardner.

      Even if they don’t go out and sign Bay or Holliday it would be better to at least get younger and/or lower the payroll a tad.

      ReplyReply
    7. Zippercat
      November 10th, 2009 @ 12:01 pm

      How much would losing Matsui impact on YES’s Japan sales?

      ReplyReply
    8. David Pinto
      November 10th, 2009 @ 12:45 pm

      @Zippercat: That’s a good question. Have the Yankees established a brand in Japan? What my daughter tells me is that Japanese television will interrupt programs to show Japanese players batting, but they don’t necessarily broadcast the entire game.

      ReplyReply
    9. Doug
      November 10th, 2009 @ 1:33 pm

      The only realistic alternative in LF is Holliday. Bay can’t cover the space in Yankee Stadium LF. To get Holliday, you have to pay almost as much as Damon and Matsui together, and you have to extend out well into his likely decline phase. If either Damon or Matsui will take a 1 year deal, that’s ideal – leaves a lot of space for next offseason. I think there’s a pretty good catcher who could replace Posada.

      ReplyReply
    10. Davor
      November 12th, 2009 @ 9:04 am

      Isn’t Crawford FA next year? Sign all those guys on 1-year or 1+option deal, and sign Crawford next season.

      ReplyReply

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