Davidoff: Yankees would like to find an upgrade over Jayson Nix

November 11, 2012 by Mike Axisa 77 Comments

Via Ken Davidoff: The Yankees would like to find an upgrade over Jayson Nix this offseason, meaning someone who could play 100+ games between shortstop and third base next season. That won’t be easy at all.

Nix, 30, hit .243/.306/.384 (88 wRC+) in 202 plate appearances this season, including a 97 wRC+ against lefties. Maicer Izturis is off the market, and the only other free agents I see who fit the ball are Marco Scutaro and Jeff Keppinger. Scutaro is likely to get big bucks from the Giants and Keppinger has played a total of 125.2 innings at short in the last four years, including zero in the last two years. Hopefully the trade market is more bountiful.

Blake

Sure would be nice if Nunez could catch the ball consistently
- Brooklyn Ed
  
  I think you mean throwing into a glove consistently. lol.
  - Blake
    
    Both
    - Ted Nelson
      
      Throwing is the problem
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        SS: 18 errors total – 8 throwing, 10 fielding
        3B: 9 errors total – 3 throwing, 6 fielding
        2B: 1 total (throwing)
        
        All told: 28 errors – 16 fielding, 12 throwing
        
        So yeah, both.
    - G
      
      He catches quite well actually. Makes some great leaping grabs, ranges very well… He just can’t throw consistently. It’s a shame, if it were fixed he could be starter material given the sad state of shortstop offense these days. Good contact skills, a little pop, great speed, and great range… Just no throw.
      
      However to imply he can’t catch is just wrong.
      - Preston
        
        I think sometimes he does get eaten up by easy grounders, but a lot of time it’s because you can see him eyeing the runner already, which is an extension of the fact that the throw is in his head.
Yankees

Just what the Yankees do always looking for backup players to throw out there. What the Yankees need are full time position players not an entire bench of again over the hill players. How many different DH’s and left fielders have the Yankees run out there this past season? Yankees heres a thought how about you go out and get some young players every day I’m sick of the rotation of slap-on fixes that you throw out there each and every single night.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  The LF thing had a lot to do with the starter being injured pretty much the entire season, no?
- Ted Nelson
  
  They should get starting players on the bench? Very realistic.
Preston

I don’t think we need an upgrade over Nix, he’s pretty solid. If we had a long term injury to Jeter, I think Nunez would and should get the nod, and I doubt we’ll find somebody better than him out there either. If there was an injury to Cano or A-Rod maybe Adams or CoJo get a try. Either way, I don’t think that a reasonable upgrade is out there.
- Steve D Fl
  
  agreed
J6takish

Is there a really a backup that is better than Nix? I feel like any middle infielders with better numbers would be a starter
Greg

We’ve got lot bigger issues than backup infielder.
- emac2
  
  That’s probably true but when Jeter and Arod are the left side of your infield it’s a pretty big concern.
  - Bobby D.
    
    Why not Ty Wigginton. He can hit has played in New York before and is definitely the type of clutch hitter the Yankees need!!
    - Francesa
      
      And plays one hell of a shortsop, I’ll bet.
    - forensic
      
      Because he’s bad offensively, terrible defensively, has never started a game at SS in his career, and all those clutch hits must just be well hidden in his .190’s average with risp this year and .160’s average with risp last year and .230’s average with risp in his career.
    - Francesa
      
      And plays a lovely shortstop as well, no?
  - jjyank
    
    Yeah. Of course it’s a lesser concern, but it’s still a concern. Doesn’t mean the Yankees are prioritizing a bench player, just that they want a better one. And who doesn’t?
- Ted Nelson
  
  What other issues? C and RF are about the only other issues I see once Kuroda and/or Pettitte (my money is on “and”) re-sign.
  - forensic
    
    Well, there is also DH (maybe two if platooning again) and a 4th OF. Not to mention possibly another OF/IF depending on handedness and potential positions.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      Relatively that is few holes for a team to have to fill, and mostly the easiest holes to refill… re-signing guys, rounding out the bench, finding a DH in today’s game.
Joe

10 comment posts in an article and no jjteller? I thought banks were closed on a Sunday.
- jjyank
  
  Troll fail.
- Pat D
  
  What did jjyank do to you? Run over your dog while banging your sister?
  - jjyank
    
    I swear, the dog jumped right out in front of me. But his sister…I won’t apologize for that.
    - Pat D
      
      But why were you attempting to operate a motor vehicle while engaged in the act of physical pleasure? It just doesn’t make sense.
      - jjyank
        
        What can I say, I like to live life on the edge.
  - Steve (different one)
    
    It’s better than the other way around….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek/ Roadgeek Adam

Meh, I am a big fan of Jayson Nix. I don’t personally think we should improve over him.
- Billion$Bullpen
  
  I also am a big fan of what Nix brings to the table. I do not think there is a realistic improvement over him.
Jersey Joe

Jason Bartlett?
- Pat D
  
  He was so terrible last year the Padres released him. Pretty sure he’s done.
Pat D

On another note, the Giants absolutely suck. Suck suck suck suck suck.
Travis L.

ANDREW ROMINE!!!!! The Angels want bullpen help, we could give them Whitley.
- Jersey Joe
  
  I don’t know, not sure if he would post numbers much better than Nix.
  
  Plus, with Izturis gone, I think the Angels are saving as many reserve infielders as they can. Someone who can play SS like Romine can is a rare commodity.
  - Travis L.
    
    For 2B, 3B, and SS they have Aybar, Kendrick, Callaspo, Sanchez, Jimenez, in addition to Romine. I think they would give him up if we dangled good BP help. I think if he was given decent reps (even as a backup) he would produce good numbers, especially at YS3.
- Jersey Joe
  
  I don’t know, not sure if he would post numbers much better than Nix.
  
  Plus, with Izturis gone, I think the Angels are saving as many reserve infielders as they can. Someone who can play SS like Romine can is a rare commodity.
- Travis L.
  
  He is listed as a 3B on the LAA site, but plays primarily SS. He is a left handed bat as well. Awesome backup platoon for A-Rod and Jeter. Could take the place of Chavez, and if Nix can play 1B, maybe we could have them both.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    He’s pretty much a AAAA player. Could be better than Nix, but not a huge upgrade.
    - Travis L.
      
      I’m not sure what the UZR says, but somehow I think Romine’s defense would be better than Nix. At least at SS.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        Like I said… “Could be better than Nix, but not a huge upgrade.”
        
        The goal here is to find someone (or two guys) to take a good chunk of starts away from Jeter and A-Rod. Not to find a AAAA bench guy. Ultimately they might have to settle for a marginal upgrade, though I’m not sure I would trade anything of value for Romine against the next best alternative.
  - Jersey Joe
    
    I like the idea of Romine and maybe McGehee or another RH hitting 3B/1B backing up the infield. It could be like a platoon DH almost. Each would get 1/3 of playing time as rotating DH with a Ibanez/Thome type. Try McGehee on minor league deal, same with maybe DeRosa, and see what happens.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      Giving a lot of DH PAs to McGehee and Romine is not a good recipe for offensive success. Both are well below average MLB hitters.
      - Travis L.
        
        What am I missing here? I guess I didnt realize that Nix was such an offensive powerhouse. And how can you tell that Romine is a well below average MLB hitter, with such a small sample size? Hell, even with a small 2012 sample size, he seemed to hit well.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Apparently you are missing common sense.
        
        The guy is a below average AAA hitter. Are you arguing MLB is easier than AAA?
        
        I didn’t say anything about Nix. I said that it’s not ideal to give Romine or McGehee many PAs. Especially at DH, a position that’s easy to fill with at least league average offense. Nix is also not a guy I would want to DH.
        
        Preston
        
        You’re enamored with Romine, I get it, everybody has crushes on this AAA player or that. But most of them end up never having an impact at the major league level (I was in love with Brandon Allen) so realize that nobody else is excited about Andrew Romine the way you are. There is probably a very good reason that a 27 yo only has 51 big league PA’s and it’s not because he’s really awesome.
Jersey Joe

I am committing commenter suicide pretty much, here goes:

Emmanuel Burriss. Has speed, which we need, and can play well all over infield.
- Travis L.
  
  I’m good with him as AAA depth (taking Ramiro’s spot) but nothing more. I like Romine better.
- Travis L.
  
  I’m good with him as AAA depth (taking Ramiro’s spot) but nothing more. I like Romine better.
tbord

4 flat tires and worrying about replacing a bench player Hmmm
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Shouldn’t they look to upgrade anywhere they can?
  I don’t imagine this is high priority in any way.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    Not like they have that many other priorities. SPs are likely to take care of themselves with Kuroda and/or Pettitte returning. RF is one of the easiest positions to fill. C is the only real tough hole they have, and there are really only so many options there anyway.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting
      
      Easy to fill or not (and there is no guarantee Kuroda or Pettitte come back, though I think both likely will), those spots are definitely much higher priority than UTIL IF.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        I’m not disagreeing with that. I’m just saying it’s not like they have many other priorities. It’s a few spots. They’re projected for 85 wins filling those holes with AAAA players.
- Ted Nelson
  
  Flat tires where?
  
  They won the most games in the AL last season and made the ALCS.
  
  How is it that so many Yankees fans are so delusional?
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Currently looking to replace/resign their #2 starter, #3 starter, RF, C, DH, and closer. They definitely have much higher priorities.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      What does that have to do with what I said? You are not even addressing my points…
      
      I was responding to tborb’s flat tires comment. Which implies they’re broken down and not going anywhere. Mo has already said he’s coming back, and if not there is still plenty of talent in the BP. Kuroda has said it’s NYY or Japan. Those aren’t exactly high risk propositions. I doubt Andy un-retired for like a dozen starts, but even if he re-retires CC, Kuroda, Hughes, Nova, Phelps/5th starter X is a fine rotation. RF and DH are the easiest positions to fill, along with 1B.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Kuroda expressly said that he never said it was NYY or Japan. He specifically said he would consider other teams.
        Until he signs, it is very much still at least a medium risk proposition.
        Those other positions are easy to fill, but less easy to fill without a downgrade. The current roster has some major issues if it’s trying to be a playoff contender. Those issues can certainly be resolved, but until they are, they are significant issues.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        The guy took less money than he was worth to play for the Yankees last season (certainly in years, and probably annually as well), and had a good year. Then it was leaked he was considering only NYY or Japan. If he were to verify that he’d have very little leverage. I disagree that there’s much risk there, relatively.
        
        The Yankees can afford a downgrade in RF. They’re likely to get a considerable upgrade in LF and at DH this season compared to what largely Ibanez and Jones gave them last season.
        They don’t even necessarily need to downgrade, though. RF are abundant.
        
        Just stop. You’re stretching here. You can’t say UTL is a low priority and DH is a high priority. The whole idea is to use the UTL to push A-Rod and Jeter to DH a fair portion of the time.
        
        They are projected to win 85 games with AAAA players filling those holes. If they go out and get much above replacement to fill those holes they should be serious playoff contenders. Get real.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        “Just stop. You’re stretching here. You can’t say UTL is a low priority and DH is a high priority. The whole idea is to use the UTL to push A-Rod and Jeter to DH a fair portion of the time.”
        
        Which would be filling the DH role. The DH role I’m talking about. They could do it by signing a DH, or by signing an IF and having ARod/Jeter DH. I don’t see Nix as a candidate to fill that role. I see Nix as the 25th man who only would play much in case of injuries.
        
        I never said they wouldn’t be playoff contenders. If Nix is on the team next year are they not playoff contenders?
        
        An 85-win team isn’t a serious playoff contender in the AL east. I fully expect them to make moves that will make them serious playoff contenders. I never said I didn’t. I merely said they have higher priority roles to fill than a part-time player. They do. Easiness or likelihood of filling those roles has nothing to do with the importance of filling those roles.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        What are you talking about? The whole conversation here is about getting an upgrade over Nix, not using Nix to push A-Rod and Jeter to DH more often… You seem lost.
        
        I guess you are lost here. They are projected to be an 85 win team filling in their current holes with AAAA talent. Therefore, if they can fill in their holes with better than AAA talent it stands to reason they would be projected to win more than 85 games.
        
        “I merely said they have higher priority roles to fill than a part-time player. They do.”
        
        You don’t seem to get it. The goal is not to get another Jayson Nix to replace Jayson Nix. The goal is to get a guy (or guys) who can play fairly full time. Other than C and Kuroda, I don’t think that there is a higher priority. I would put it about on par with RF, which could easily be a platoon of two part-time players itself.
        
        “Easiness or likelihood of filling those roles has nothing to do with the importance of filling those roles.”
        
        Again… you introduced that out of left field in this conversation. This conversation was about whether they have “flat tires” before you hijacked it. It was absolutely about how easy it is to fill those holes, because easy holes to fill are not “flat tires.” Stop talking at me and try discussing the issues.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        “What are you talking about? The whole conversation here is about getting an upgrade over Nix, not using Nix to push A-Rod and Jeter to DH more often… You seem lost.”
        
        2 different roles. That’s not upgrading over Nix. Nix is essentially a 25th man type of player. That’s filling a completely different role. More like a combination of Chavez/Nunez at the beginning of the year.
        
        “I guess you are lost here. They are projected to be an 85 win team filling in their current holes with AAAA talent. Therefore, if they can fill in their holes with better than AAA talent it stands to reason they would be projected to win more than 85 games”
        
        Never said anything close to contradicting this. They have holes to fill. They will fill those holes. They will then be projected to win more than 85 games.
        
        100-ish games is still part-time.
        Rotation spots and everyday lineup spots are absolutely higher priority. I get it just fine.
        
        I took flat tires to mean they have bigger things to worry about. They absolutely do.
        
        Robinson Tilapia (IS Nate Silver)
        
        Agree with…….both of you?
        
        They can multitask.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        You’re twisting the point around on semantics. It’s the same role. It’s the same role. Whether it’s Nix playing 74 games or someone good playing more than that better… it’s the same role. This was Mike’s original point. “Via Ken Davidoff: The Yankees would like to find an upgrade over Jayson Nix this offseason, meaning someone who could play 100+ games between shortstop and third base next season. That won’t be easy at all.” Do you read?
        
        “Never said anything close to contradicting this. They have holes to fill. They will fill those holes. They will then be projected to win more than 85 games.”
        
        Then why are you arguing with me so incessantly?
        
        “Rotation spots and everyday lineup spots are absolutely higher priority. I get it just fine.”
        
        Do you read? I said up front I agree. Try a remedial class.
        
        “I took flat tires to mean they have bigger things to worry about. They absolutely do.”
        
        Having 4 flat tires means that you cannot drive your car, unless you want to totally destroy it. The Yankees are not in that situation.
    - Jersey Joe
      
      #2/#3: Both easy fixes; I think both are at least 75% chance of coming back.
      RF: I say platoon Dickerson with a righty hitting outfielder for under $2mil. Ryan Raburn maybe, possibly Kyle Blanks could both benefit from YS3. Maybe Ben Francisco, maybe Matt Diaz, Scott Hairston, Jeff Francoeur, I don’t know. Anyway, this hole can be filled easily.
      C: I honestly don’t know
      DH: Find a Thome/Ibanez type is probably what they’ll do, which is better than Nunez
      Closer: I feel like everybody is forgetting that Robertson is still an elite reliever and that Mo is returning. Done.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        I’m fairly confident they can fill their needs and have a playoff team next year. I’m just saying until they do, there are a lot of questions, of which an upgrade over Nix for UTIL IF is very minor. The biggest issue, imo, is the rotation. If Kuroda and Pettitte sign, it should be fine. If one, or especially both, don’t, they could have major trouble finding suitable replacements given the budget constraints they seem to be operating under.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        You’re wrong. First, you’re wrong to assume that until they fill their holes they are incapable of filling them. That’s taking the worst case scenario as the most likely case. If anything, given their history, we should expect a better than average scenario as most likely. I’m fine with just taking an average scenario as most likely, though. Second, you’re ignoring the reason they’re looking to upgrade over Nix. It’s not to have a nice bench piece. It’s to implement an effective rotating DH. It’s very difficult to do, but it’s what they’d like to do. A third starting caliber (or close) player at 3B/SS
        
        Kuroda and Pettitte are not the only Ps on earth. Again, assuming they will find nothing if those two leave is not rational. It’s the worst case. They can also find a viable starter via trade. They can roll with CC, Hughes, Nova, an ok starter, and Phelps then await Pineda or a mid-season trade and still should contend. This team has survived some very mediocre rotations in recent years. That one actually probably wouldn’t be the worst in recent memory.
        
        All the doom and gloom is not needed. I know it’s popular right now. It’s possible that it happens as well. But there’s no reason to ignore the rules of statistics and assume the worst.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        You:
        “First, you’re wrong to assume that until they fill their holes they are incapable of filling them.”
        
        What I said:
        “I’m fairly confident they can fill their needs and have a playoff team next year. ”
        
        How is that assuming that they are incapable of filling them?
        
        You:
        “assuming they will find nothing if those two leave is not rational.”
        
        What I said:
        “If one, or especially both, don’t, they could have major trouble finding suitable replacements given the budget constraints they seem to be operating under.”
        
        I didn’t assume they would find nothing. I said it would be very difficult finding comparable pitchers with the budget constraints they seem to be operating under.
        
        You:
        “All the doom and gloom is not needed.”
        
        Me, AGAIN:
        “I’m fairly confident they can fill their needs and have a playoff team next year. ”
        
        Being confident that they will field a playoff caliber team is doom and gloom now?
        
        My point is they have higher priorities now than a part-time or even 2/3 time IF. I didn’t they shouldn’t look to upgrade over Nix. They should.
        But filling out the rotation, RF, and C spots are all more important. They need to fill those spots, and don’t really have viable internal candidates to fill those spots outside of maybe RF. The #2 and #3 starter spots especially will have a lot more impact on their playoff chances next year than finding an upgrade over their current IF options of Nix, Nunez, Adams, and Joseph. I fully expect them to fill those roles. Most likely with Pettitte and Kuroda. But those roles are still priorities to fill.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        So a 2/3 time IF who also impacts the DH situation is not important, but if they use a platoon in RF getting those part time players is important? Interesting…
        
        Major trouble is pretty loaded… especially when you used it in reference to signing one and not the other. You know they have CC, Hughes, Nova, and Phelps in the rotation today, right?
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        “So a 2/3 time IF who also impacts the DH situation is not important, but if they use a platoon in RF getting those part time players is important? Interesting…”
        
        You really are king of the straw man argument.
        
        The entire RF role is up for grabs. It’s not a part time role, even if it does get filled by part time players. It needs to be filled. Whether by one player or 2, internally or externally, 162 games have to be filled. The everyday RF from last season needs to be replaced.
        The only IF who might not return is Chavez. Chavez played 113 games. A 162 game role is a bigger role than a 100+ game role.
        
        “You know they have CC, Hughes, Nova, and Phelps in the rotation today, right?:
        
        You know that’s a #1 and likely 3 #4/5 starters, right?
        You know the budget plans likely take them out of the running for most, if not all, of the other free agent #2/3 caliber starters, right?
        You know finding a #2/3 caliber in a trade match is very difficult, right?
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        I don’t even know how we got here. You keep making points that have nothing to do with what I’ve said. I literally said in one of my first replies that I agree those are bigger priorities… My point is a subtle one, which you seem to have trouble grasping. Everything is not black and white.
        
        LOL… Nova was a #2 in 2011 and Hughes was a #3 last year. The Yankees have had worse rotations and made strong playoff runs.
Tom

What about stephen drew?
- Preston
  
  Do we have a starting infield position available? Because otherwise he’s going somewhere else.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Theoretically they could offer a flexible infielder an everyday starting job, just not an everyday position. Drew’s only played SS, so he wouldn’t be a great fit, but someone like Scutaro could rotate between 3B, SS, and occasionally second while ARod, Jeter and Cano get DH days and occasional off days.
    
    Probably an extreme long shot though.
Beer Drinker Big Stinkers

No no for Nuno!!!! Lol! Lol!