Nov
21

Yanks still want a bat

By Benjamin Kabak

While CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe have dominated the non-Nick Swisher Yankee headlines recently, Brian Cashman is well aware of the fact that the Yanks scored nearly 200 fewer runs this year than last. To that end, reports Mark Feinsand, the team is still searching for a bat. In particular, it appears that Mark Teixeira is still on the team’s radar. That’s good news. Outside of Teixeira, the Yanks could pursue free agents Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn or they could use some of their trading chits to land a slugger. Either way, I’m sure we’ll see some more offense come to the Bronx before the off-season is out.

Posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 4:00 pm in Asides, Offense.

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78 Comments »

Jake K. says:

This is good news. I’m all for loading up on pitching, but you gotta score runs too.

 
Yank Crank 20 says:

I hope our “bat” isn’t going to be Mike Cameron.

Ben K. says:

I think by “bat,” the Yanks mean someone who can actually hit.

i guess 60 XBH’s a season doesn’t as far as it used to….

OH NOES, THE SNARK!!1!!!!

 
Mike A. says:

Hey, find me another CF that’s had an OPS+ >100 every year since 1999.

 
TurnTwo says:

Sizemore, all 4 seasons since becoming an everyday player.

yeah, i know. pipe dream.

 
 
 
 
radnom says:

Everyone keeps saying we are replacing Giambi and Abreu with Swisher.

It is more like this:

Giambi/Abreu/Molina
for
Swisher/Matsui/Posada

Now that doesn’t look quite so bad, especially when you toss in bounce back from Cano and some minor improvement from the CF slot.

If we can’t sign Tex all we would need to do is upgrade CF a bit, Dejesus would be perfect.

Even if we can’t do that, we should be ok with the improved pitching.

Remember this team won 89 games with its offense last year, when the pitching staff included Rasner, Ponson and Aceves and Pettite was stinking up the joint with a bum shoulder.

Ben K. says:

Except Matsui hasn’t been the paragon of health lately. I’m not sure expecting much out of him is a good idea.

radnom says:

The type of knee surgeries he had are not supposed to result in lingering issues. I would see your point if he was running around in LF, but at DH I bet he makes a higher % of his starts in 09 than does Burnett.

Still anything he gives helps lesson the blow. The problem is we have offensive flexibility in only two positions: CF and 1B.
Outside of Tex, the market this year isn’t exactly full of options at those spots.

 
 
Andy In Sunny Daytona says:

I wish that the Yankees had young centerfielders that could have a chance to develop like David DeJesus has.

radnom says:

Melky and Gardner need a chance to develop?
Are you serious?

Or are you refering to Ajax?
Because the Royals had already moved DeJesus to LF, which the Yankees could do after next year if Jackson is knocking on the door.

A.D. says:

I think he meant allow to struggle, fly under the radar, not have high expectations.

 
 
 
 
MS says:

I say we focus on Lowe now since he will be a little cheaper than Burnett and we will save a little money to put towards Tex. If we ever finished the off-season with CC, Lowe, and Tex. that would be great—and I don’t think it’s impossible.

 
Manimal says:

OH MY GOD I just got my Mark Melancon signed/game used hat. Yeah I’m wearing it.

radnom says:

Which team’s hat is it?

Manimal says:
radnom says:

Nice. Trenton’s hat is the cooler looking then the SWB one in my opinion.

Manimal says:
 
 
 
 

Now that you have the hat, should we pronounce your name “man-KNEE-muhl” instead of “MAN-ih-mal”?

 
 

BUT WHY HASN’T IT HAPPENED ALREADY?!1!!!?!!

radnom says:

Because Cashman is focusing all his time on CC obviously.

Everyone knows each front office only has the attention span to consider one player at a time.

 
 
steve says:

wouldn’t a melky for francouer trade be hilarious. although francouer has had better seasons. i would actualy like it.

TurnTwo says:

where are you getting this from?

 
 
 
jane says:

I found Mark Feinsand’s article heartening. It’s like the first time somebody’s said we need offense, so I’m not giving up on Teixeira. Sure, Cano could bounce back and A-Rod will probably have his typical odd-numbered-year MVP season, but Tex’s bat would make the lineup scary. We need scary.

 
dkidd says:

anyone else enjoy this amazing response to the feinsand article?

“what ive seen in the past the yankees have no hart its time to bring in some hart get cc and many many hits great in the middle of the line updame i wish the yankees had dave winfeild that man came up so many big hits he makes manny and arod look like a joke haha well i see swisher playing first base and start bringing the kids up the yankees have great farm of good players from a to aaa start useing it forget about teixeiras is he whorth the money forget it”

jsbrendog says:

my word. thats what heppens when you leave the IE open and the kiddies get to the keyboard. or when people just have low iqs and type

 
Marty Puccio says:

I think Gary The Retard wrote that…………. Or Hank Steinbrenner.

jsbrendog says:
 
 

what ive seen in the past the yankees have no hart its time to bring in some hart get cc and many many hits great in the middle of the line updame i wish the yankees had dave winfeild that man came up so many big hits he makes manny and arod look like a joke haha well i see swisher playing first base and start bringing the kids up the yankees have great farm of good players from a to aaa start useing it forget about teixeiras is he whorth the money forget it

The fact that there are people in this world whose brains work like this… scares the living shit out of me.

Jake K. says:

We’ve evolved a lot since we were chimps, but not that much.

 
 
 
radnom says:

Holy hell, thats gotta be a joke.

 
 
A.D. says:

What bats aside from Cameron & DeJesus are “available”

jsbrendog says:

albert pujols duh. all it would take is malky and ipk. where have you been? cashman just sucks and won’t pull the trigger

SHOULDA TAKEN HIM IN TEH 13TH RND CASHMAN YOU SUXOR!!!!!!!1!!

 
 
 
Marty Puccio says:

Is DeJesus really availabe and could this be a realistic potential acquisition for us? I’d love to bring my fellow RU alum back east.

 

MAN-NY RAMI-REZ!
(clap clap clap-clap-clap)

MAN-NY RAMI-REZ!
(clap clap clap-clap-clap)

radnom says:

nonononononononono
*catches breath*
nononononononononononononononononono

 
jsbrendog says:

you mean man-ny ra-mirez

what you are suggestin would be (phonetically) man-e ramy-rez

You are correct. I apologize.

(It’s a moot point, we’re gonna sign CC and Tex and Manny’s going back to LA anyway.)

 
 
 
Matt says:

Manny > Dunn

Please Dunn is such fools gold it’s unbelievable.

Now, I’d be content with Tex/CC as our only major free agent upgrades. CC’s contract is pretty much out there, but I don’t want Tex for more than 6 or 7 years. A 10 year commitment is crazy.

Swisher then becomes expendable I guess, and I’ve read in a few different places that a few NL teams ‘covet’ him, which ones, I have no idea. What we can get for him, I have no idea.

Tex/CC signings, rotation and lineup like this:

1. Damon, LF
2. Jeter, SS
3. ARod, 3B
4. Tex, 1B
5. Nady, RF
6. Jorge, C
7. Matsui, DH
8. Cano, 2B
9. Gardner/Melky CF..ugh…upgrade?

Rotation:
1. CC
2. Wang
3. Pettitte
4. Joba
5. ?…I’d like to see a lesser guy, fill in type, and Aceves maaaybe, keep Hughes in AAA for a full year, let him fully develop, he’s only 22.

NYFan50 says:

Dunn is probably going to come significantly cheaper and judging by the lack of interest thusfar, he may even come with fewer years. He’s not the hitter Manny is, but he’s quite good. He’s hardly fools gold.

 
jsbrendog says:

and if you get dunn for less money/years and then you could theoretically still make a play at tex…

in answer to your question of upgrade at cf i assume that would be something swisher could be for in the event he is “coveted”

 
mustang says:
 
 
nick blasioli says:

i like your ideas ….

 
 
canadian tuxedo says:

All of these supposed nl teams can’t really covet swisher all that much. If they did I am sure they could have topped the package that the yanks landed him with

jsbrendog says:

or they never asked and cashman called the white sox and went, hey is he available? and kenny williams went yeah he es the suxoriest so cashman said i’ll give you this. wiliams said yeah a shitty platoon player and some pitching throw ins. done deal

TurnTwo says:

people just assume Kenny Williams did his homework and saw the Yanks package was the best… but we all know Cashman gave up practically nothing to get Swisher.

 
 
 
TurnTwo says:

If Cashman can open up that DH spot, its got Manny’s name written all over it.

3 years/$65 million.

J-Gao says:

Is there any team that will take Matsui? He’s pricey, not exactly in tip-top shape, and is primarily a DH.

jsbrendog says:
Old Ranger says:

Can’t do that, he must play out his contract first! He would be in disgrace (lose face) if he were sent home to a japanese team. Remember, he is a renowned star in Japan, one must treat him as such. When he got hurt he came out and apologized for not being able to play.
Look for Matsui and even Johnny (walk year) to have a smokin year. Along with Phil, my break out player is Brett (if given the chance). 27/09.

 
 
TurnTwo says:

but he’s really not that pricy, and is only a one year commitment for some GM to take a chance on.

when you look at the OF market, and the options that are out there for a GM to spend their money on, Matsui aint all that bad.

im not saying you’re going to get anything for him, bc you wont. but you can clear his salary and the DH spot, definitely.

 
 
jsbrendog says:

boras would never let him accept “only 3 years”

TurnTwo says:

unless its the best offer on teh table, or offers the best AAV, maybe.

just saying, it just feels like thats the way its going to turn out.

 
mustang says:

“boras would never let him accept “only 3 years””

Agree. God I can’t wait until the Dodgers sign him the idea of Manny in pinstripes makes me sick.

TurnTwo says:

yeah… the thought of the best pure right handed hitter of my generation hitting cleanup for the next couple seasons behind ARod… just gives me nightmares.

Steve H says:

The only people that should give nightmares is clearly opposing pitchers. I would love to bring him here as the DH and focus only on hitting.

 
 
 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

LEBRON/AMARE ‘10!

Sorry, had to get that out of my system.

Let’s get Teix

I’d take Bron/Bosh over Bron/Amare.

Nady Nation says:

Bron/Any other mega Free Agent is OK by me

 
Kay Sturns says:

then you are dumb. Strong Tall and Talented

Kay Sturns says:

d’antonie might be an in for amare, but he really thrives with a true center a la odom, although LBJ would command some attention

 
 
 
 
Joe Kaplan says:

Manny Ramirez would be a great addition he has always been able to hit at yankees stadium, hes from new york, and whats better than someone who wants to go out and beat the red sox 19 times a year and kick their ass

 
Joseph M says:

Manny Ramirez, is the classic example of a rising tide lifting all boats. In any lifetime there will be very few batters as dangerous as Manny. He’s the type of hitter you sense three batter away. Can you imagine a pitcher facing AROD with a man on, no one out and Manny waiting on deck. Manny is a must have. Looking for money to pay him, save some by not signing Burnett or Lowe.

 
Steve H says:

Can someone please explain the Dejesus love to me? Of the 5 tools, what does he excel at? I can’t find one (though I’m not too sure what his arm is like). He doesn’t hit for power, he doesn’t steal bases (though he gets caught stealing a lot), his defense isn’t great, he’s a .287 career hitter, .360 obp and 105 OPS+. Seriously, how much do we want to give up for that?

Can someone please explain the Dejesus love to me?

He’s not Melky or Gardner.

 
TurnTwo says:

you’re not giving up Hughes or AJackson or (name major prospects here) to get him.

 
steve (different one) says:

Can someone please explain the Dejesus love to me?

you answered your own question:

he’s a .287 career hitter, .360 obp and 105 OPS+.

not every player is an all-star, sometimes getting a solidly above average player can be a real asset.

now, i am not saying i would trade a ton to get him, but if the price were right, it would be an upgrade.

Steve H says:

He’s basically an average player. A little above average in BA and OBP and fielding, below in everything else. No thanks. I’d rather find a guy, not an all-star, who brings an above average skill to the table. Even if it’s Gardner’s speed and defense, which separates him. Dejesus brings nothing to the table that you say “wow, we need that”.

 
 
 
ortforshort says:

I like Abreu over strikout machine Dunn and human-piece-of-drek Ramirez, but that ship has sailed.

 
Bruno says:

DH-Damon
SS-Jeter
RF-Swish
3B-A-Rod
1B-Dunn
LF-Nady
2B-Cano
C-Posada
CF-Gardner

bench
Matsui
Melky
Molina
Ransom

Mulls says:

^^^
this is the lineup im running if i was cashmoney bat dunn behind arod and tell him to swing for the fences , 3 run homers win games, sure hell strike out a shit load of times but his power potential is unreal besides nady behind dunn is perfect because nady cashes in rbis.

 
 
ortforshort says:

.219 hitting Swisher batting third. Strikeout machine Dunn batting fifth. Posada batting eighth (we already have a DH in Damon in the lineup). No hit Gardner batting ninth. The Red Sox and Rays are salivating at facing that piece of crap lineup.

 
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