The Yankees intend to exercise Curtis Granderson's club option for 2013, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The option was originally worth $13MM, but Granderson triggered an escalator clause with his fourth place finish in last season's MVP voting. The option is now worth $15MM.
Granderson, 31, hit .232/.319/.492 with 43 homers in his third season with the Yankees. He's the only player in baseball to hit at least 40 home runs in each of the last two seasons thanks in part to Jose Bautista's wrist injury. Granderson was in the final guaranteed year of the five-year, $30.25MM extension he signed with the Tigers prior to the 2008 season.
Hopefully it will be Graderson’s last in pinstripes. Too many strike outs, average at best defense and disappearing act during the playoffs.
Nice ambassador for the game but not what the Yankees need.
If they can find an upgrade in the outfield sure, but He still hit 43 hr and if is hard to find a CF out there that can replace him. You are still looking at a player averaging 4.4 WAR a year for the Yankees.
Gardner was moved from center to left when they acquired granderson, and frankly id say is as good if not better defensively, so i understand what you’re saying, and i don’t think the yankees have to get rid of granderson, i think they can restructure the lineup without making many moves honestly, but I’m just pointing out if CF’s are hard to come by, then go get a corner, and put Gardner in center.
Personally id like an outfield of Gardner, Ichiro, and Nunez, the latter being, b/c i want his bat and speed in the lineup daily, and he will not get much work at shortstop throughout the season, 20-30 games tops. Fastest outfield i’ve ever seen lol.
Gardner is much better defensively than granderson.
Kind of a no-brainer (for anyone not a despairing yankees fan who has turned their suffering against a really good baseball player).
Great guy, great personality, does a great job representing the team, but a slightly above average player. She is has power, but he is just like Adam Dunn: low batting average, high strikeout, high homerun.
No brainer. Even if they want to trade Granderson and eat a few million they could probably land a few prospects. Even after his “rough” season, I can guarantee they could find someone that would want his 43 hr. That said, he is still their best internal option for an outfield spot. He has gotten 1 dimensional, but it is still hard to find an upgrade out there over him.
I don’t understand why people want him gone. You’re not finding a replacement 40hr 100rbi guy anywhere else atm. You just have to live with his strikeouts.
There’s more to baseball than HR and RBI.
There’s a lot more than HR and RBI, but it’s better than any alternative.
RBI’s do not tell anything about a player.
Well I wouldn’t go that far and say they don’t tell anything, but they certainly are overrated.
I would keep Granderson over Swisher, that is for sure.
The way I see it is that Grandy has become like Adam Dunn, but can still play the OF. Obviously his value lies in the AL East, with the Yankees because he depends on the hitters parks for his power numbers to shine.
Going forward, how much do you think he will sign for? $15m a year? $20m a year? If it’s around $15m a year, then that’s okay. But a number closer to $20m a year is too much.
Then you need to consider how he will age. Personally, I don’t have the highest hopes. He seems to be getting worse each year.
When all is said and done, Granderson can still net the Yankees a draft pick if he leaves after 2013.
Noooooooooo! *Darth Vader’s voice*
maybe in the off-season austin jackson can teach him how to limit his strikeouts.
…ouch
Adam Dunn and Mark Reynolds could also pitch in.
Except Austin jackson is also highly strikeout-prone if I were Granderson I would look for a better mentor than that.
McBain: That’s the joke.
I agree with signing Granderson; however, he is a growing problem in the lineup. He’s become a home run or nothing player, and he strikes out way too much. They can still trade him but I expect him back in 2013 for his last year in pinstripes. He needs to work on becoming a contact hitter this winter. I still want to believe in him.
I don’t know if it’s the players themselves or the hitting coach, but a few Yanks have been compromising their abilities as all-around hitters to become pure home run hitters. Mark Teixeira used to be a spread hitter and a high average and OBP guy, but now he’s a straight pull-hitter (to the extent that opposing defenders play exaggerating defensive shifts on) that can’t hit over .270 or slug .500 anymore.
Curtis Granderson seems to be following the same pattern, trying to take advantage of the short RF, but at the cost of his value as an overall hitter. If you want him to become a better contact hitter, I personally think he needs to get his mind a little bit off the long ball, but i’m no hitting coach.
The Yankees actively tried to get Teix to start hitting to all fields again this year. He scrapped it after a month because he felt it was hindering his ability to hit for power. None of this is on Kevin Long – it’s on the playres.
Picking up his option is a good idea. Signing him long term after 2013 is not.
No surprise here. I think the OF of the Yankees will be re-made, I wouldnt count out an offseason trade, though. I think Ichiro needs to comeback on a 2yr contract worth $12-$15M, I think Swisher is out. I think Gardner will be a backup. Would love to see the Yankees go after a young power bat in the OF, BJ Upton fits my description. Lot of moves need to be made by this team, to get the roster back where it should be.
B.J. Upton is not much an upgrade over Granderson. Grandy struck out 195 times to Upton’s 169 times but Grandyman had 30 more walks.
Who is the third outfielder if Swisher is gone and Gardner is a backup? Personally I don’t think Gardner will be a backup but that’s just me.
Ichiro? Ludwick? Hunter?
I think Ichiro is a must re-sign player. He should be our main guy in RF, still very productive at his age, and hasnt lost a step. I think the Yankees should target a RH OFer to man the other corner. Plus I think the Chris Dickerson should be in the mix next season.
Yes!! There’s nothing the Yankees need more than a guy who hits a lot of home runs but strikes out 200 times a year! Cause if there’s anything we’ve learned watching the postseason this year, that sort of strategy works all the time – to a tune of a .190 postseason batting average.
It’s about time they move him to the corner. A-Rod and 80M to Zona for Chris Young.
Oh man, I was on a pace hit 40+ HR for 3rd consecutive season.
sad face
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