Yankee Rumors: Matsui, Damon, Jeter

Keep Damon, drop Matsui, pick up chapman and Lackey or justin duchscherer for back in the end rotation help. Put joba in the pen and have hughes as your 5th starter.

Damon, being a Boras client, is going to want more years than the yankees are willing to give him. Matsui's bat will be harder to replace than Damon's and its obvious that Damon is not going to be healthy next year. Bring Matsui back 1 year 6-8 mil. Let Damon walk unless he wants to take a 1 year deal. For pitching, they only need to go outside the organization if Pettitte retires. Wang can be non tendered and brought back at a reduced rate, and Hughes and Joba will become starters. I would think they still go outside the organization for some insurance, but I doubt they make any huge signings. Duscherer or Chapman could be options. If Carl Crawford's option is declined, they should pursue him as hard as they can, if not then they can go after someone like Cameron (who they almost traded for last winter) or another second tier FA outfielder. Outside of that, they don't need to do much.

@ YanksAllTheWay

so you want to sign Damon, Chapman, one of Lackey Duchscherer, Matt Holliday and Mike Cameron?

Posted by: Baseball@Europe | November 07, 2009 at 11:13 AM

They have the cash. It's sick but they could do it especially after their WS ring.

Bring back Matsui on a 1year deal to DH. Offer Damon a 1yr + team option, if he wants 2+ years then just sign Cameron for 1year. They dont need Lackey; if Andy retires then they have to replace his innings with another MOR starter, not someone who wants 80m+.

you dont pass over*

All the analysts, and most fans, are on the Damon bandwagon, opting to bring him back over Matsui. Reason being, Yanks are an older team and keeping the DH spot open seems smart. It does make sense.

However, if the outfield consists of Swish/Melky/Gardener/A-Jax, or even if they go and get a left fielder, it is essentially saying that Damon will be a full time DH, since seeing him in the outfield is more a liability at this point than a strength.

So, my question is, why are people convinced that Damon will be a better DH than Matsui? Matsui has a lot more experience in the position, and can protect Alex as the 5th hitter. If Damon returns, he goes back to his 2nd spot in the order, and either Posada/Cano hit behind A-Rod. It's not the worst thing in the world, but Matsui hitting behind him has worked.

I'm not saying bring back Matsui. I'm just saying, this part of the predicament needs to be addressed, and I haven't seen/heard/read much of it anywhere.

@yankfan1

I too really like bringing in Hawpe and Bedard.

I do respect everyone's opinion but why does everyone just say oh sign this guy, this guy or this guy to a one year deal. You cannot just assume because it is the yankees they will take a one year deal. Baseball is a business and players like to get more years guaranteed, as well as CASH. Matsui on a one year deal as well as Damon on a one year deal would be awfully nice, but there is always some team out there that is willing to offer that extra year or two.

The Yankees will eventually need to get themselves another outfielder, but right now I dont think they need to go wild on Holliday or Bay. They need to get themselves an Andy Pettite-esque starter and a solid bull-pen arm (to replace Hughes or Joba if one moves back to the rotation). It would be nice to try and keep Matsui and Damon, but we can't sign them to a contract that will cause too much regret if they get hurt or decline significantly next year.

Look what he did even with his knees then..tell me if hes knees repair the Yanks wont Kneed him :P
Im sorry, but he is a major offensive threat who can hit..
Im not throwing Matsui to the curb after what he has contributed to the Yanks
I knew that Giambi was through when the let him walk but Matsui clearly isnt
Getting rid of an offensive threat is crazy
"thanks for helping us with game 6, but youre through" = crazy

Why does everyone think that LF is the position they need to break the bank for?

Was I the only one who saw the Yankees most glaring hole in the playoffs? A lack of good, solid back end starting pitchers?

I think they need to throw the money at Chapman. I'm hoping he can be the next El Duque.

We can replace LF with a bargain player like Marlon Byrd, Marcus Thames, or re-sign Nady. Hell, I wouldn't even mind Melky taking over the LF job.

Sign either Duchscherer or Gaudin as along with Pettitte and move Joba back to the pen, Hughes to the rotation.

Then, you have

Sabathia
Burnett
Chapman
Pettitte
Hughes

Chapman isn't ready to pitch in the majors this year, from what the scouts say.

Second, nobody breaks the bank for back end of a rotation, that's why it's the back end of a rotation. =P

A-Jax better not be a bust...or I'll start to cry!

I guess I thought he was less than he thought he was. Still, throw the money at Lackey.

How the heck is Damon a DH? Damon's home runs are a product of a short porch while Matsui is a power hitter. Even if Matsui isn't able to recover his knees, there are much better options out there with shorter contracts since Damon is a Boras client.

Posted by: humannature | November 07, 2009 at 12:20 PM
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The DH is not a "true" position. Anyone can be a DH. Damon has always been a hitter who pulls the ball for Hrs. Why are people acting as if Damon is a "punch and judy" hitter? He's certainly not a legitimate power hitter but he ceraintly has a history of posting 20 hrs/30 dbls seasons. And why do people mention that his hrs are product of NYS? So what? He plays 81 games there a year so why wouldn't the Yanks load their lineup with hitters who can take advantage of the short porch?

I can honestly accept bringing back Matsui and Damon for 2010. Matsui on a 1 year deal and Damon possibly on a 2 year deal. If Damon wants to stay in NY and the Yanks offer him $8-$10 mil per then I think Boras will get the deal done.

People keep mentioning Brad Hawpe, but he's not a FA so why bring his name up? The Rockies are not going to give him away and I simply don't think he's worth the trouble of trading an assett for a guy who is not a clear upgrape defensively.

If you look at the available FA who makes for a more solid option than Damon?

Garret Anderson (38) - Type B
Marlon Anderson (36)
Jason Bay (31) - Type A
Emil Brown (35)
Marlon Byrd (32) - Type B
Carl Crawford (28) - $10MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout - Type B
Johnny Damon (36) - Type A
David Dellucci (36)
Cliff Floyd (37)
Matt Holliday (30) - Type A
Reed Johnson (33)
Greg Norton (37)
Wily Mo Pena (28)
Manny Ramirez (38) - $20MM player option - Type A
Dave Roberts (38)
Gary Sheffield (41)
Fernando Tatis (35) - Type B
Marcus Thames (33)
Randy Winn (36) - Type B

Rule out Bay and Holiday because I don't think either are worth the price tag they'll command.

Rule out Crawford and Manny because their options have or will be picked up.

Other than Marlon Byrd, who ELSE LEFT on the list comes anyhwere near the offensive production of Damon? Signing Byrd scares me as well. A career back up player who suddenly comes into his own at age 32 during his FA year in search of a nice paycheck. Hmmmmmmm.....sounds a lot like Gary Mathews Jr Pt 2.

The Yanks would be better off bringing Damom (and/or Matsui) back for 2010 and then exploring the options the following winter when Crawford, DeJesus and Werth are available. Then they have the options of signing decent LF lile Crawford or DeJesus or signing Werth and moving Swisher to LF.

Also, I truly beleive that a healthy Damon, w/o the bumps and brusies from bumping into walls and making ugly looking dives for balls, playing 120 games as a DH can easily post .290/.380 35-40 dbls, 25 hrs and 25 SB next year.

Cameron can platoon with Swisher and be a defensive upgrade.

Matsui is a better fit because he is cheaper and doesn't need to play every day.
They will not be active in the free-agent market. They want to get younger and cheaper. They will make Montero a corner outfielder and bring him along to play by mid-year. They say the mantra about buying a chip doesn't bother them but it does and they will drop payroll next year. They will offer Damon arbitration and hope he turns it down to get the draft choice. Any story you read about Halliday, Bey, Halliday have been planted by their agents.

Can someone give me some reasons why there so against Holliday signing.. I have no problem with the money issue just the yrs. If we can have him for 5yrs then i would be fine with it.

From what I heard Boras is seeking something along the line of what Tex receieved and most people don't feel he's that caliber of player. I certainly don't see him as a $18 mil a year player. The only thing he obviously has over Damon is his defensive ability, and while that has value I don't think it's worth another mega million $$ deal on the payroll.

I agree with Matsui's numbers being hard to replace, but I do not think Brad Hawpe is the answer. Why trade for him when he will be a free agent the year after anyways (I believe). If Hawpe is good next year, go after him during free agency. We can find a one year stopgap for much cheaper and without giving up any talent that the Rockies would be looking for.

JOEYB33

I agree but who? It aint Cameron though.

The Yankees will not be signing any big free-agents this year. With a new CBA coming they will try to get cheaper. See if they can develop some young players to replace the Core Four.
Additionally, they have a big nut to pay every month for the Stadium and unlike GS the kids seem to care about the bottom line.

I think Cashman is more concerned with payroll flexibility moreso than simply saving a buck. I do beleive they want to lower the payroll if it can be done w/o detracting from the talent level. I expect Cashman to be creative when it comes to that but if a guy becomes available that makes sense then I imagine they won't be shy about pulling the trigger. The desire to be more cash flexible is the reason why I think they pass on Holliday.

Jesus Christ some genius suggested this which is weaker than this years squad.
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Melky Cabrera LF
Brett Gardner CF

NO ONE CAN TAKE A CALLED THIRD STRIKE LIKE BRETT GARDNER.

TO all the yankee fans out there. I used to be a yankee fan but after this offseason reaillty hit me around the middle of the seaso. It said to me that the yankees just buy players like nothing i have nothing but respect for the franchsie i dont have respect for buying championships and i feel that that is what they did. I grew up wacthing those Dynasty teams and they didnt have as narly all stars as they do know. I am a Mariners fan now and i grew up wacthing Ken Griffey Jr. Ithink that the yankees wont be active this offseason. Ithink that Matsui will play along side Ichrio and i think the yankees will wind up with either Randy Wolf or Justin Ducsher my guess is that they will take a bit at Lackey but wont get him i think that lackey is going to want Barry Ztio type money. Ialso think that they wiil go after Matt Hollday. The Red Sox another money team will get hollday. I think the Red Sox will be the Yankees of this offseason. I just hop that the MS get Lackey.

2010 Line-up

Jeter
Damon
Tex
Arod
Holliday
Posada
Cano
Melky
Swisher

Rotation

CC
AJ
Lackey
Hughes
Gaudin/Wang

Relievers
Mo
Joba
Robertson
Marte
Coke
Ace

Bench:

Molina
Hairston, Jr.
Gardner
Hinske

ok, so here is how i see it. if matsui is going to working out all winter to go to free agent as a left fielder, its a chance that mariners might be interested in him. with that said why not go for ken griffey jr.? with the catcher situation i feel cervelli is ok, but why not sign bengie molina..who's just as good behind the plate as his brother jose but can actually do some hitting.....

and ben sheets sounds like a good choice for a 3rd starter.

tell me ken griffey jr. and bengie molina wont fit in lovely with the yankees?