Yankees sign Matt Diaz to minor league contract
By
(Nick Laham/Getty)
Given their all left-handed hitting outfield, finding a competent right-handed hitting complement has been a priority for the Yankees this offseason. That need has led them to Matt Diaz, who has joined the club on a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training according to Mark Feinsand. He’ll compete for a bench spot a la Marcus Thames in 2010, and will earn $1.2M (with another $800k available in incentives) if he makes the team.
Diaz, 34, had a huge year with the Braves (.313/.390/.488, 136 wRC+) in 2009 but has done little in the three years since (.250/.298/.369, 80 wRC+). The poor performance these last few years can be partially explained by a problematic right thumb, including a series of infections. He’s had three surgeries on the digit — one to correct a cyst (October 2009) and two to remove foreign bodies (May 2010 and August 2012). The most recent surgery carried a two-month rehab and Feinsand says he’s healthy again and has been hitting since October.
Even though he’s been both hurt and generally ineffective these last three seasons, Diaz still managed a solid .281/.328/.426 (104 wRC+) against left-handers. It was a 141 wRC+ against southpaws during his heyday with the Braves (2006-2009), but that’s unlikely to ever happen again. Diaz has decent walk (6.1%) and good strikeout (16.2%) rates but he’s not going to steal any bases or anything like that. He’s also rates a bit below-average defensively in the corner and can’t hit righties (career 79 wRC+). Strict platoon bat, that’s it.
The current market is a little crazy and I was curious to see if some desperate team would offer Diaz a guaranteed contract, but I’m glad that team wasn’t the Yankees. As a minor league deal it won’t preclude the Bombers from making any additional moves, including signing Scott Hairston. If the thumb is truly healthy — hand injuries are no joke because if you can’t grip the bat properly, you can’t hit properly — and Diaz can contribute more than he has in recent years, it’ll be a nice little signing. If not, then no big deal because the guarantee is zero. The Yankees have a nice recent track record with signings like this.
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Now we are cooking….lol…how pathetic.
I like this, little to no risk, possible decent upside.
+1
Pretty much.
Yep. Has a history of hitting lefties well, though he’s been less-than-stellar the last couple of years.
“less than stellar” could have described Jones and Thames before they signed with Yanks
this is NOT breaking news folks….
Well it is for us this offseason!
Cashman responds!!!!
Grow up.
Go back to crying for the chick who dumped you three years ago.
Dalelama responds!!!
A lot to like here considering it’s a minor league deal and he has a career .324/.364/.498 line against LHP.
Seems as much a 40 man roster move. Team can wait until spring training when they can IR Arod and Pineda rather than clear space now for Diaz and lose someone. Team was lucky to retain Miller and Spence.
Hope this doesnt preclude another RH bat or a full time DH?
Since he can’t hit RHP at all, he’ll probably bee a platoon player, mostly DH. Just like Raul and Andruw were supposed to be last year until Gardner went down.
On an MiLB deal, it shouldn’t. Nice depth move. Really nice.
+1
Given the fact that there aren’t great options out there anyway, no sense in giving up any valuable resources to get somebody that may only be marginally better.
Also, I like the fact that it is just a little more leverage in negotiations in the event that they were looking at another RHOF option in FA or via trade. It makes them a little less desperate (for lack of a better word).
It’s a fine no risk minor league deal move to give them options and insurance….but Diaz isn’t the answer to what they really need
I’m usually pretty much ‘blah’ about most these minor league signings, but I actually thought he had a shot at getting a major league deal somewhere so bringing him in on a minor league deal, theoretically as competition for RH OF/DH, is a pretty good deal even though he still may not contribute a thing.
@Jen_Royle: Two sources tell me the Sox are going after Adam LaRoche, who’s seeking a three-year deal. Third source says he won’t budge on the years
We need him to stay in Washington so Morse is an option
That move doesn’t work unless they trade a catcher because of the presence of Mike Napoli.
Unless the deal with Mike Napoli has dissolved and this is their backup plan.
So does that mean Napoli is really that screwed up? Wow.
So we’re ready to declare Morse as this month’s “IF WE DON’T GET THIS GUY…..” winner, eh?
Eh nah, but he’d be a great get. Can potentially replace Swisher’s production at DH and fill the 4th OF hole. Adds a lot of right handed power to the mix… Of course it’s not gloom and doom without him, but I’d certainly be happy with Morse.
Sure. Price-dependent, though. I’m not touching the single-A guys for him. Would rather roll the dice with what’s out there.
I doubt that the price will be something the Yankees like for one season of a guy who is basically unusable in the OF. If you play him in the field you almost completely erase his offensive contribution according to fWAR. Not to mention that outside most of his MLB seasons his offensive contribution hasn’t been anything special for a 1B/DH type.
Morse is probably the most overrated guy on this board in a while.
So month by month:
October- Upton
November – Stanton
December – AJ Pierzinski
January- Morse
“Trade deh farmz for Carlos Quinton” February is gonna be a fucking nightmare round these parts.
March will bring on a Seth Smith revival.
I mean, I won’t call for Cashman’s head, but I would absolutely love to have him on the roster next year. He’d fill several holes at once.
“He’d fill several holes at once.”
Multiple gift boxes?
He fills one hole for 1-3 months as far as I can tell… I would rather not give up much for that.
Morse is only a DH option for the Yankees unless they give up on Teixeira. 1B is the only field position I ever want to see Morse in again if he’s playing for a team I’m rooting for (see also, 2012 Nats). Seriously don’t consider him much of an OF option after watching him out there in a Washington uniform. As a DH I wouldn’t mind having Morse — but I suspect the Nats would want more in a trade than Yankee management thinks he’s worth (and they might be right).
Totally agree. The grass is always greener, though.
Last 3 seasons vs LHP: .279 avg, .328 OBP, .426 SLG, .754 OPS
if Diaz is the answer what is the question?
Who is the next great yankee RF? I think it fits right?
Isn’t he similar to Schierholtz? Why is no one praising Cashman? Everyone kills him for everything but when he makes a signing that could be beneficial, everyone brushes it aside. Not every signing is going to be Pujols or of that caliber. I like the move, the proverbial throwing things against the wall and see what sticks. We welcome you, Matt. Now go rake against lefties.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Diaz and Ichrio out together comparable numbers to Schierholtz. Morse would eat him for breakfast. And it looks pretty likely the Nats will resign LaRoche at this point.
Schierholtz would have been a platoon RFer for the Yankees too. His numbers against left handed pitching have been horrific and he would have needed a RH outfielder like Diaz to platoon with anyway.
I’m all for Morse if they can pry him away. That is who I am hopeful they will land prior to the season.
Meh. Cash is fine. I like his demeanor and attitude. I think he needs better lieutenants to evaluate and develop pitching and I also think he tends to hold on to the wrong prospects for too long but deal the right ones too freely, but other than that I think he’s been pretty good. And I’m the biggest nay-sayer here.
Sure, I hate this new budget right now but ultimately I think it’s for the best. Just sucks for now. I’m not going to praise a guy for Matt Fucking Diaz, but I recognize that his hands are tied and this is about the best be could do. Either way I don’t think there’s much he could do this offseason to make the team WS favorites. Too many bad contracts and unproductive, injury prone, and old players at key positions.
I think he was more directing his comment at Blake and Rider up top. Both of them have been smashing Cashman for missing out on cheap but useful options and the team’s general inactivity but every time they have inked a deal all they can muster is more subjective criticism.
No one is expecting anyone (least of all you
) to be doing cartwheels over this. It’s the bashing of a no-risk, upside-only deal that’s grating.
Seriously, Jimmy, you nailed it on Cash.
It’s an MiLB deal. Calm the fuck down. Oh right, it’s Jimmy McNulty.
Yeah read that again. I don’t really give a shit. He’s basically a bench bat at this point. Just because I didn’t suck his balls doesn’t mean that I hate the signing. Asking someone who was used to CC, Tex, Cliff Lee, Granderson, or an overhyped farm to get excited about a minor league deal is a pretty tall order. That being said its a minor league deal, kinda hard to hate it too.
Hey, McNulty may be an asshole but he’s natural po-leece.
Hey, McNulty may be an asshole but he’s natural po-leece.
Too easy to say he held the wrong prospects when you only remember the good ones he traded. I mean, we all welcomed the Jeff Marquez era, but Swish worked out OK. And future hall of famer Mark Melancon got out of our grips…
Where have you gone, DJ Mitchell….
He was definitely right to keep future hall of famers like Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Manny Banuelos, Andrew Brackman, and Dellin Betances instead of acquiring a scrub like Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee. While he traded away Jesus Montero, Austin Jackson, Tyler Clippard, and IPK he definitely got rocks that lead him to multiple championships. Right?
Obviously the guy’s good at the dunker trades. Everyone’s good at trading with Kenny Williams. What about the trades where the others side might actually win? Javy, Pineada, Granderson? As of now the other teams are winning those trades.
Seattle isn’t winning the trade so far; Pineda outproduced Montero and Noesi last year. The Braves lost the Vazquez trade; Melky was the worst player in baseball in 2010 and Vizcaino didn’t do anything for them before being traded for Paul Maholm.
The Granderson trade is looking good for the Tigers right now after AJax’s power jump, and, if I were Cashman, I would make the exact same trade tomorrow. Not every trade is a straight win; you have to give value to get value
Pineda didn’t pitch last season and might not pitch this year. What did Javy do with the Yankees? Granted, this is the same franchise that adores Phil Hughes so it makes sense that they’re okay with Javy.
Depth minor league signing =/= “the best he could do.”
He doesn’t have the budget to sign Josh Hamilton or the farm to trade for Justin Upton. So yeah right now this is the best that he can do.
There’s a gap between those guys and Matt Diaz.
To be fair, Ted Nelson isn’t here yet. If he’s similar to Schierholtz then get ready to hear lots of praise. #ninjacash
Yes, please criticize me without realizing the handedness of the players you are talking about. Makes you look great!
Because the early commenters are those with significant frontal lobe injuries who forget that depth signings are rather important deals?
That’s an awfully liberal usage of the word important, but I’ll grant you that yes, backups matter too.
Because it is Matt ‘Frickin” Diaz that’s why.
Welcome to our new back-up rightfielder’
Im glad Hal let cashman spend so much money on him.
I actually love this move. I’ve been a huge Diaz supporter for a while. I was actually hoping they’d get him last year, but no dice. He gives us a corner OF who can hit lefties (hopefully). Hopefully he can be like he was a few years ago because *that* would really give us a boost. This is a no risk signing.
+100 love this move and Diaz has said he’s healthy. He’s raked lefties over his career, and has also been better than Hairston his entire career. Signing Hairston to a 5M+ contract based on 1 lucky year would be stupid.
I am greatly pleased Diaz could be the 2011 Andruw or 2012 Ibanez.
I’d still kick the tires on Juan Rivera, another lefty killer coming off a down year.
And trade for Mike Morse, in an ideal world.
But honestly, I’m relieved to have Cashman pick him up for peanuts.
Definately, I don’t think Cash will stop looking for help. Great low risk move by the CashMan
This. Matt Diaz is the epitome of “break glass in case of emergency” moves. I would not imagine he’s the ultimate fix, but if other shit don’t work out, you’ll be glad to know he’s been sharing cab rides and hotel rooms with Jayson Nix.
As with all minor league contracts, why the hell not. If you hit on 1 out of 1000, you’re up 1, not down 999.
+1
Also in the ‘lulz’ category – Andrew Bailey, for whom the Sox gave up Josh Reddick, is being demoted without even a full season as the Red Sox closer. At least we’re not trading for/signing relievers regularly any more. That’s one thing the farm/minor league deals have been good for in the last few years.
It’s going to be hilarious when Melancon has a better 2013 than Hanrahan.
ietc
There is no way that happens.
Your reasoning being?
Melancon had an ERA under 3 in Houston two years ago. Relievers are so fungible it’s more likely than you would think.
Also, I think it will be less about how good Melancon got and how Hanrahan and his arrow straight 4-seamer are gonna get clobbered in the AL East.
I cant wait to buy his Shirsey and wear it down in Copley Square in August.
Pretty good insurance policy in case they can’t come up with something better.
Hopefully this doesn’t mean they stop trying for something better.
Boring does anyone think cash has even called about Upton? Has he even tried to think outside the box
How is that thinking outside the box?
Thinking the same as everyone else is very much inside the box.
A few years ago someone emailed me and said Cashman needed to get creative and sign Matt Holliday (back when he was a FA).
Then Cashman got too creative and traded for Granderson.
Kevin “The Greek God of Walks” Youkilis was incredibly creative. Cashman blew his FA wad on the second coming of Nick Johnson.
“Get creative by doing the same wrong thing you get burned on every year!”
Brilliant!
To be fair the Holliday deal is working out pretty well for the Cards.
I’m sure he has called, and had conversations about, more players that you could ever fathom. Who knows the depth of each conversation but there are so many more things in the work that we don’t hear about, infinitely more than what we do hear about. I don’t think we have the pieces to land Upton.
This is more outside the box than clamoring for another team’s best player.
… That everybody has been trying to trade for over the past 18 months. Apparently “get creative” got a lot looser of a definition since I got married, Amirite?
The Yankees generally have good fortune with these low risk, mid-high reward moves (Chavez, Thames, Andruw, and Raul all come to mind) however I hope this minor league deal doesn’t make them think they’ve sewn up RF for 2013 w/ a Diaz/Suzuki platoon.
Alright! A Hudson valley Renegade standout in pinstripes!!!
Hairston is too expensive for the team that charges 1500 for the legends…if the yanks do any more it will be another small move…befitting the bottom feeders that we have become………..
Rather sign Cameron Diaz. At least she can keep Alex company while he rehabs
I laughed.
On an MiLB deal? Very nice move.
Nice signing. No risk, with potential plus reward.
Honestly ,can he be any worse than Jones. If hes really that bad we cut him in the spring,its a no lose
This is the kind of low risk, high reward signing that Cash and Co. have done very well with over the years. Well done.
It’s a decent signing…but wouldn’t exactly call it high reward, it is Matt Diaz after all.
What the hell does that even mean?
If this guy winds up chipping in halfway through the season and gets some timely hits, what more could you ask for?
Last off-season, people laughed at an MiLB signing the Yanks made who they then spent half of September wanting to shit on Cashman’s head for letting the same person go. That was DeWayne Wise.
This happens every off-season.
It means he’s not a great player…nothing more, nothing less. Quit trying to read something into everything posted.
“but wouldn’t exactly call it high reward, it is Matt Diaz after all.”
Your words, not mine.
Yes…exactly…high reward is something I’d reserve for a great player. Not for someone the caliber of Matt Diaz, especially at this point in his career, with his recent past, but if you want to be your nit picky self…feel free.
“high reward is something I’d reserve for a great player”
Remind me to consult my “random commenter’s individual definition for shit” dictionary next time.
I’m also curious to know what your thoughts were on DeWayne W…..wait, no, I’m not.
about how I feel on your posts as well
sorry if I don’t spend as much time on here as you do, but just because of that doesn’t make my comments mean any less…I’ll stand by what I say…it wasn’t an insult…it wasn’t saying he’s shit, or that it was a bad signing…just that it wasn’t one that you can expect, “high rewards,” from because he’s past that point of his career to be able to contribute that. I’m sorry if my idea of, “high rewards,” is different from yours.
Now I know you don’t like my posts, but I do try to keep a level head pro and con, but I’ll try to pass on sinking to your level.
Low risk, high reward is a relative term. If you are expecting two sign the next Bonds as a MiLB flyer, then you are shit out of luck. That sort of thing happens once in a generation, and the Sox stuck pay dirt with David Ortiz.
Never mind the fact that we could argue that the Yankees got high reward out of Hinske, Thames, Wise, etc.
This is the problem with going into an argument when the other person is saying “well, that’s not how I define the term.” I could say the sky is yellow since that’s not how I define blue.
I’ll stop before we’re at this two hours from now.
“Depends on what your definition of ‘is’ is… See, I define it in whatever way I can use it to start the nonono donkey argument with you…”.
Herby never forget there are many “homers” on this board who have dedicated their lives to defending every move Cashman makes and who will lash out at any dissent which points out the Yankees are quickly crumbling into mediocrity.
Too bad we don’t see the world as clearly as you… Now excuse me while I watch o the video of Cashman tending bar and repelling down the side of a building… #windbeneathmywings
*wanking motion*
To be fair, I’m not bashing the signing, but I’m treating it the same way I treated the Thames signing circa 2010…it’s a non-factor to me until he proves otherwise.
forensic pretty much nailed how I feel above. You just got a guy who fits a need, as a depth option, on an MiLB deal who many thought would be signing an MLB deal. Hell, Mike was already preparing a post on him AND we’ve talked about him on here the past two off-seasons. Now he’s with the organization, and in a manner that doesn’t stop Cashman from looking at additional options on MLB deals.
Sure, Diaz could be 2013′s Russell Branyan but, regardless of whether Branyan contributed at all, it was still a nice little move to have him with the org.
My outlook is very simple, while it’s a nice move that MIGHT fill a need the team currently has, it’s not a move that should stop Cash&Co. from looking for a RHH OF/DH
That’s why I like you, Plouffy.
I will not be happy until Trevor Plouffe is on the roster, forcing a return of the Plouffinator.
’tis the only way we will ever see the real Plouffinator again. There was somebody who was mimicking that name towards the end of last season if you believe it.
Someone get a petition going, this needs to happen. Get it done, Cash!
Diaz went all of Christmas without getting arrested for battery. In that sense, Cashman has already upgraded the RH’ed 4th OFer role without spending much. Kudos!
I see what you did there…
The only thing that bugs me about this guy is that he just won’t pronounce his last name the way the reeeeeeeeeal way.
DIE-as? DEE-as? die-AS? dee-AS?
There’s a Puerto Rican on your block somewhere.
Actually, the one hispanic family on my block is half Dominican half Peruvian.
Don’t ask them about the name. Ask them to invite you over for dinner.
It would be really awkward. (I’m sorry I don’t get to say this often anymore, b/c all my friends already know). Their daughter, who is 21(I think), is an ‘adult actress,’ unknown to her parents has appeared in multiple movies. I’ve only seen one, just to see if it was actually her(it is) but according to my sisters ex-boyfriend she has appeared in productions of bang bros, college rules, dare dorm, and haze her.
Please…..tell us more.
#andhewantstomoveaway
meh, she’s really not that attractive. I don’t understand how/why she was in porn, she’s at best a 6.
A friend of mine once saw a job posting for an IT job with Bang Bros. Paid six figures.
You need to go over for dinner. Ceviche, mofongo, and you can pretend you just happened to run into their daughter outside the Shop Rite and she took a ride home in your windowless van.
Ugh…Ceviche. It sounds SO GOOD but I’m afraid to try to make it myself, fuck it up, and get food poisoning, but none of the Hispanic restaurants in my area make it.
Because I am your FRIEND:
http://ethnicnj.com/cuisines/l...../peruvian/
Totally going to Sabor Peru next time I have off from work.
I wonder what her parents think she does for a living? Hey, honey, how did you buy the Mercedes?
As the father of a soon-to-be 21-year-old, Chris Rock summed it up best:
So, your Cinnybunnz dad…listen I’ve been meaning to get in contact with you…
**rimshot**
It’s possible her father knows, or it’s quite possible no one has every told the family. If she has brothers and/or sisters, one of them might have told them. I can certainly see a sister letting the Mom know. Telling Dad would be, ummm, tricky to downright scary depending on his personality. I don’t know what I would do if I found out one of my friend’s daughters was in porn or a stripper. Would I tell her father? So maybe no one has told her Dad. Don’t be the first!
I wouldn’t, cause he’s generally a nice guy but I’ve heard him when they fight. From across the street.
Also, that’s one of the dirty little secrets I’m talking about. I mean I say her parents don’t know, but the entire town knows, so I’m sure they know. If they don’t, they are the most oblivious people on the planet.
OK, we’ll need to check your story. What’s her screen name…
He may not want to go that far. If this thread appeared in a google search, she might be able to figure out who Dalek Jeter is! Yet Dalek did provide enough info to do a cross-check if you were curious enough. You’ll just have to go watch all those movies!
1. Any girl on BangBus is using a Pseudonym, so mommy and daddy won’t google her name and find her doing a dead bug pose for $1500
2. Any chick on BangBus is probably more interested in the attention than worried about it
3. I’m too
hornylazy to do all the legwork.So it doesn’t change luxury tax then.
Matt Diaz? Give me a break.
Folks let’s not forget who butters RAB’s bread. It’s the YES Network. It’s RAB’s job to push signings of mediocre and lousy players like Matt Diaz down Yankee fans throats.
And then arrogant tools like Tilapia Fish Fingers can denigrate people for voicing their opinions while quoting meaningless and misleading stats.
Yes, like that comment above where I posted these statistics where….oh, wait…
“lets not forget who butters RAB’s bread. It’s the YES Network. It’s RAB’s job to push signings of mediocre and lousy players like Matt Diaz down Yankee fans throats.”
Yes, that’ why Mike is/was openly (and almost like militantly) against the Ichiro trade, and later signing.
Also, it’s LET’S. A conjunction of let and us. Grammar rules, some of it is really simple stuff.
So I guess MLBTR and Mark Feinsand and everyone else who reported this also have jobs to “push signings of mediocre and lousy players like Matt Diaz down Yankee fans throats?”
Yeah, you should probably go read LoHud… No one pushing pro-Steinbrenner and YES friendly propaganda over on NoMaas either, and over there you can be a dick and no one will mind. Matter of fact, they commend it!
While I disagree with the opinions of others on many topics I can say with pretty much certainty that the wrong opinions of others aren’t driven by YES network machinations but by over optimistic fan (short for fanatic) love of team.
Nice move. The team needed a RH hitting OF’er, and if indeed healthy, he’s a perfect fit. What would you rather have, Jonny Gomes for 2 years and $10 million, or Matt Diaz on a Milb for $1.2 million? I prefer Diaz hands down.
This guy will not get AB’s or PT vs righties. At all. So he should be a solid fit.
Honestly I would rather have Diaz on a year with this budget. Gomes is comically bad in the outfield. Though he probably won’t disappear into the Monster for bathroom breaks.
Would much rather have had Soriano but the Yanks are cheaping out these days. If Diaz is healthy he could be the M Thames of 2013. If not nothing ventured nothing gained.
If his name ain’t Upton then I don’t want to hear about it….
/last months dreamboat’d
Upton or Stanton or the trolls won’t stop rantin’.
That is until Stanton only hits .260, or Upton strikes out 150 times. Just no keeping a troll happy.
Then 2 years from now it’s OMGZ Can you believe Cashman gave up Williams for this bum Stanton?! Sure he hits homers but #TOO MANY HOMERS and Williams just hit .310 as a rookie!!! And he plays the defense. FIRE CASHMAN!!!
Don’t hold your breath that this guy will contribute anything. He has a whopping 2 HRs in 610 ABs over the last two years with a slugging percentage of .325. Tell me what problems that diminishing production from this 35 year old solves. He makes Andruw look like Babe Ruth.
Was injured. Says he’s now not.
We’ll see.
What else is he going to say as he struggles to remain in the bigs? My thumbs still feels like it is going to fall off.
It worked for Bobby Ojeda.
Who cares…MiLB deal. If the thumbs still shit, then he’ll be a footnote in Yankee history with the aforementioned Russell Branyon.
Branyon sheds a tear.
If he’s injured, he doesn’t make the squad. Nothing lost.
Maybe Ron Gant is available too ?
The response here = probably better than the response if the team would have signed him to an MLB deal each of the past two seasons when there were folks on here campaigning to sign him.
Holy hell people, it’s a freaking minor league deal. I just now read over all this. I will never fathom how people can get so pissy over a non-guaranteed contract.
I never knew traumatic brain injury was so pandemic. Giants swaths of Yankee fans are seemingly unable to remember MiLB signings from every other off-season. Sad. We must find a cure.
how can people on here say Michael Morse is overrated? I mean, hes come into his own the past couple seasons, and offers tons of RH power and he even hits for avg.. Hes like the perfect get, if we could in fact get em..
The last 3yrs, which are the only yrs hes actually gotten any kinda AB’s worth talking about(amount wise), hes hit 289, 303, and 291.. This guy can flat out hit, and hit for power and is athletic enough to be able to of played Short, OF, and 3rd… I mean, what more do u want outta a guy?
No ones perfect, but this guy seems to be perfect for our team..Also, hes only really had alot of AB’s in NL, so alot of AL pitchers don’t know him yet.. Sure he dosen’t have the greatest BB/K ratio, but so what? As long as he keeps hitting near 300 with power , hes a solid player..
Is he really that much of a disaster in the OF? Because he can rake, and we dealt with Sheffield for the same reason.
We talking about the same Mike Morse? The guy who hasn’t started a game as SS since 2005 and isn’t athletic enough to even stand in the OF? He hasn’t played SS or 3B in years because he can’t.
Most people here don’t seem to think he’s overrated, as most people pine for him everyday. I think that he’s definitely interesting, but that some people are overrating him.
The reasons to think he’s overrated are that he’s signed for one year, he can’t play the field at all, and that after a year and a half of crushing the ball he didn’t really do so in 2012 while suffering from a variety of injuries to the lat, thumb, hand, and wrist. His track record of success is impressive, but isn’t long.
He’s a good hitter with a lot of upside who would fit at the right price, but I wouldn’t call him the perfect fit. He’s a 1B/DH, not a platoon guy, he’s somewhat injury prone, and he’s signed for one year. The Yankees need a RH OF a lot more than a DH, have no immediate need for a 1B, and need cost controlled talent in 2014-15 while this would likely mean trading that away. There’s also the question of whether the Nats want to trade him, and whether they’ll accept a somewhat lower return given that he’s coming off a down year and a year away from FA.
I am sick of platoon bats. This is how the Mets operate. Not the dam Yankees.
Haven’t been a fan that long, huh? It was how the Yankees operated during the ’90s dynasty years.
It’s also how the A’s and Rays, considered two of the smartest teams in baseball, operate. Red Sox as well.
Nope, we need 8 guys to play 162 games and be dead in October… No rest for teh Yankees!
Well the platoon system sure didn’t help the 2012 Yankees remain alive in October this year.
I’m now compiling a mental list of people whose comments I will now gloss over.
It’s my internet new years resolution. 0 responses to the same old trolls.
As to Diaz, I really, really, really don’t get why anyone is remotely upset. It’s pennies for a guy who might give us above average production against lefties. And if he doesn’t, it’s no loss to us. DOOOOOOM.
They’re going to suck you back in. You know it.
“Just when I thought I was out…. They PULL me back in….”
I might last until the 2nd.
DJ Mitchell was taken off the Ms 40 man to make room for Ibanez? Do we bring him back to the organization?
Always liked him. He’d be an excellent depth option, right in there with Warren. If we know anything, we know that you want to be ready to have to dip into your seventh of eighth starter, no matter what your rotation looks like.
I’d love to have him back.
Interesting details over at Pinstriped Bible:
“Diaz’s 2012 ended in unusual fashion — he had season-ending surgery to remove what was thought to have been a bat splinter from his thumb but turned out, after having been excavated, to be a palm frond that had stabbed him in the hand back in 2006.
Diaz wasn’t able to grip a bat properly due to the pain from having the palm fragments in his hand, so it’s possible that he bounces back to his old platoony self now that he has presumably (palmsumably?) healed up.”
Its so sad that THIS has been the 2nd biggest move the Yankees have made ALL offseason. (Next to re-signing Pettite and Kuroda). A never-was on a minor league contract to possibly ride the bench……Even Hariston isn’t that big a move, but it would be SOMETHING!
Ichiro and Kevin Youkilis are insulted.
Mariano Rivera is sulking in a corner.
Bill obviously you don’t recognize the genius of Cashman who without the big checkbook is just an average GM.
We are the Kansas City Royals.
For those folks who weren’t yet alive and haven’t got a clue about Yankee history, Casey Stengel and the Yanks virtually invented the platoon system. Check out the 50′s. Oh,by the way,the Yanks were a dynasty in the 50′s. Just saying.