Yanks Like Mench
According to Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees have interest in free agent Kevin Mench for a fifth outfielder role. It'd be a minor league deal. Additionally, the Rangers are considering bringing Mench back into the organization.
Mench, 30, has a .924 career OPS against lefties. He made $3.4MM last year.
this would be a good signing, although im sure mench would want a ballpark salary of what he earned last year. Mench can play all over the field and would make a decent substitute dh when giambi is hurt.
Posted by: 04Forever | February 04, 2008 at 02:06 PM
He had a pretty decent year with Milwaukee in '07:
.746 OPS (as a platoon/PH)
8 HRs 288 ABs
21 Ks in 288 ABs
I'd take a minimum contract for him.
Posted by: JD | February 04, 2008 at 02:07 PM
He'd probably be better off waiting it out and hoping for a spring injury than taking a minimum deal with the Yanks.
Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | February 04, 2008 at 02:10 PM
He's a nice platoon player to have.
Posted by: jza1218 | February 04, 2008 at 02:13 PM
I have no idea why the Mets arent all over this. They still could use an outfielder... sort of, but they could absolutely use a good RH pinch hitter off the bench. Right now it is only Easley and Castro I think.
Posted by: nrmax88 | February 04, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Ruben Gotay and Angel Pagan are switch hitters. Maybe they feel comfortable and considering they have so many OF's available, it might be considered not worth it
Posted by: jza1218 | February 04, 2008 at 02:24 PM
as a Yankee fan, Mench makes perfect sense for the Mets and no sense for the Yanks.
Alou will probably play 100 if lucky, then you can really on count Church for MAYBE giving you LgAv production.
the Yanks have Damon-LF, Melky-CF, Abreu-RF, Matsui-DH, Duncan 1B/4th OF, Ensberg 1B, Betimit Util, Giambi-DL
Posted by: maximumpotential | February 04, 2008 at 02:37 PM
personally i would have preferred that they signed Casey instead of Ensberg.
Posted by: maximumpotential | February 04, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Yanks had a bigger need for a righty bat. Also, Casey's power is right around mine these days.
Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | February 04, 2008 at 02:53 PM
yeah i know and hopefully Ensberg can be even 50-60% of his old self, just think The Mayor would've been perfect platoon with Duncan at 1B. but i can understand bringing in Ensberg to push Duncan, or even ease him in as the 4th OF/2nd 1B
Posted by: maximumpotential | February 04, 2008 at 03:02 PM
The Yankees already have a similar player, Jason Lane...except Lane can play all 3 outfield positions, 1st base, and mop up duty as a LH pitcher. Although, Lane's 2 years removed from being anything close to useful with the bat. But, Lane does make outs less frequently than Mench.
Posted by: Darin | February 04, 2008 at 03:02 PM
i'm high on Duncan. i think he could at least be LgAv at 1B. i would've liked Mench as the 4th OF if they had signed Casey instead of Ensberg, but they didn't so Duncan is basically the 4th OF roster-wise.
Posted by: maximumpotential | February 04, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Isn't there some kind of joke here with Mensch and his big old melon playing in the big apple...
Posted by: jrfukudome | February 04, 2008 at 03:07 PM
"Isn't there some kind of joke here with Mensch and his big old melon playing in the big apple..."
I think you're comparing apples and melons.
Posted by: DunkinDonuts | February 04, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Haha. Now I want to change my user name to "DrunkinDonuts"!
Posted by: jrfukudome | February 04, 2008 at 05:32 PM
I wouldnt be against Mench with a minor league deal but I'd first offer Patterson a minor league deal and see if we could get his speed on the bench.
Posted by: gianthinker | February 04, 2008 at 10:33 PM