In NoMaas’ interview with Brian Cashman, the GM was asked about Jesus Montero’s fate as a catcher.
He responded to the question, “Do you think [Montero's] future is behind the plate,” with the following:
We hope so. His value is highest as a catcher. His bat will find a way into the middle of the lineup, that’s without a doubt. Whether he stays behind the plate, is a first baseman, a rightfielder, a DH – that remains to be seen. But he’s got one of the best throwing arms in the minors, he’s got some of the best blocking…he’s just so big, mechanically he takes a lot longer in his release. That’s an area he needs to shorten up.
Note that Cashman rattles off “right fielder,” before designated hitter, as if being a DH is the last option if everything else fails. From what I’ve read, Montero could play first base, though his lack of foot speed would preclude him from being an outfielder. Conversely, Cashman does not seem to agree with that assessment, at least not here. Montero has not seen any time in the outfield during his short minor-league career, but if he can somehow man right field in the future – or left, but his arm strength might play better in right – then it would be a tremendous plus for the Yankees.
Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Well, not really, but John Harper (Daily News) seems to think so:
Jorge Posada’s defense is an issue that’s not going away, especially as he turns 39 next year. Joe Girardi’s willingness to let Jose Molina catch A.J. Burnett in the playoffs was an indication of his feelings about the importance of defense behind the plate, and if Matsui is not re-signed, Girardi is likely to ease Posada into more of a DH role.
In that case, they need to re-sign Molina. He’s such a brilliant defensive catcher that the Yankees can carry his bat in the lineup for, say, 80 games.
Okay, so I have two issues with Harper’s text, as these issues appear to be central going into the 2010 season. The first issue is in relation to Harper’s opening sentence, in which he writes, “Jorge Posada’s defense is an issue that’s not going away, especially as he turns 39 next year.” Now, Harper cites no statistic or specific incident which demonstrates Posada’s defensive decline. This is likely because there are no sources from which he can draw upon in order to verify that Posada’s defense is, indeed, as poor as he says it is. Instead of solidifying his case with factual analysis, we are left to assume that Posada is a terrible catcher because Jose Molina got to catch A.J. Burnett in the postseason.
That’s all. There is nothing substantive of note here.
In reality, the main reason Joe Girardi paired A.J. Burnett and Molina together is simple. It’s not that Posada is awful, rather, it’s Molina is good and he and Burnett have had success together throughout the ‘09 season. This doesn’t necessarily speak to Jorge Posada’s defensive talent, instead, it says something about the rapport established between Molina and Burnett (and Burnett’s comfort level with Molina). That’s not to say that Posada and Burnett haven’t had their ups and downs this season, however, those issues can be explained by the time frame in which Posada caught Burnett. There were mechanical problems affecting Burnett during his starts with Posada for much of the season, ultimately causing some statistical blow back in the form of Burnett’s .270/.353/.421 line with Posada (luck was also a factor, as Burnett’s .309 BABIP with Posada was higher than his career average of .294). Basically, to claim Posada is an altogether awful defender based on this Burnett situation is particularly bogus.
Digging deeper into Harper’s text of horrors, we find the rotating DH theme—the second issue which I mean to address. In the passage featured above, Harper writes that “Girardi is likely to ease Posada into more of a DH role,” because of his defensive ineffectiveness (which Harper has yet to affirm with any type of quantifiable data). Under Harper’s plan, it appears as though Posada would become a DH piece while he’s not catching and, while he is catching (poorly, I might add, according to Harper), A-Rod and others could rotate into the DH slot.
My biggest concern with the rotating DH plan is that it gives at-bats away to inferior offensive players such as Francisco Cervelli, or, in Harper’s case, Jose Molina. Essentially, a Ramiro Pena-type becomes an everyday player while A-Rod, Jeter or whoever else is marked as “old” is the team’s DH, an issue that no one seems to discuss or detail in any of the articles or opinion pieces that praise the rotating DH idea. Now, can the Yankees seriously afford to give regular at-bats to Jose Molina? Well, John Harper seems to think so, going so far as to say that Molina is such a “brilliant defensive catcher that the Yankees can carry his bat in the lineup for, say, 80 games” (and, here, 80 is a random number). Well, in 2008, Molina was the Yankees’ regular catcher for the better part of the season, hitting .216/.263/.313 over 100 games and the team ultimately failed to enter the postseason (that brilliant defense only goes so far). If you implement a rotating DH, it ultimately becomes a significant offensive liability.
Somehow, though, according to Harper, the Yankees’ offense can sustain that blow, despite losing Matsui’s bat.
How does this make sense again? In fact, how does the rotating DH idea make any sense at all? Everyone seems to love the idea, yet no one seems to be able to explain how it will work from a practical perspective. In his text, John Harpers introduces us to the nightmarish reality of the plan, albeit inadvertently. In 2010, in order to sustain their overpowering offense over of the American League, the Yankees need to have a regular DH, and that DH should not be named Jorge Posada (the regular catcher). It’s the only legitimate plan that exists at this point in time.
Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Earlier today, I compared Philadelphia’s infield to New York’s infield and, although the matchup was relatively close, I concluded that the Yankees had the better group of players, overall. Now, I’m looking at outfields and DH options.
RIGHT FIELD
Nick Swisher (SW): Ah, the lovable Nick Swisher, who many thought should have been benched during the latter portion of the ALCS. Swish suffered from a tough matchup in that he never hit any of the Angels well, so I’m not going to expect him to play poorly against the Phillies. What I do know, however, is that Swisher hit .249/.371/.498 during the regular season, clubbing 29 home runs (or away runs, I guess, when you consider the splits), while having the highest walk percentage of any right fielder in 2009 (16.3 %). His wOBA of .375 was also the 4th best in the AL at right. Basically, Swisher is a good offensive player, regardless of his ALCS struggles. In addition, he’s also a pretty good right fielder. Though his 0.5 UZR and -1.6 UZR/150 would have you believe that he’s merely average with the glove, Swisher’s range rating—5.5 runs above average—says otherwise. The kid can do it all, folks (3.7 WAR).
Jayson Werth (RH): To be perfectly honest, while I’m not trying to discount Ryan Howard’s talent, Jayson Werth could very well be the Phillies’ scariest all around position player behind my man crush, Chase Utley. He’s just that good. In 2009, Werth hit .268/.373/.506, with 36 home runs, 99 RBI, and a .382 wOBA (3rd best in the NL at his position). He’s both powerful and patient (91 walks), much like a Yankee. While his speed score is Ryan Howardesque at 4.8, Werth managed to swipe 20 bases this year in 23 tries. Simply put, like Swisher, the man can play. He’s also rated well by defensive metrics, as UZR has him at 6.3 (5.7 UZR/150)—tops in the NL (good arm, good range). Once you combine Werth’s offensive and defensive talent, you have a player that is worth 4.7 WAR. He is Philadelphia’s best kept secret—a 6’ 5’’ superstar that no one really knows about.
Pitching to Werth: The Yankees are going to want to stay on the outer part of the strike zone in order to limit Werth’s power. Most of his home runs this season have been to left field, meaning he likes to pull pitches. Although he can hit the ball all over the park, only 4 of his homers were hit to right field, so if they can live on the outer edge of the zone, perhaps they’ll be able to prevent some of his powerful production. Working ahead of Werth is also key as he is a strikeout candidate. In fact, he strikes out 27.3% of the time, which is the 3rd highest percentage in baseball at his position.
Winner: Werth. He’s simply a better player.
CENTER FIELD
Melky Cabrera (SW): Melky is the Yankees worst hitter, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when you’re in a lineup as deep as New York’s. He hit .274/.336/.416 this season with a .331 wOBA (9th in the league). While his offense is limited, thanks in part to the new Yankee Stadium, Melky managed to hit 13 homers and, in total, he drove in 68 runs. Plus, the Melk Man is a sleeper on the base paths. He stole 10 bases this season in 12 tries, despite a slightly below average speed score of 4.4 (5 is average). On the defensive side of things, Melky is no slouch in the outfield. He’s rated average by UZR (2.6) and most of that rating is based on his range. He also has a good arm, however, he needs to use it wisely (i.e., no overthrowing). Altogether, he’s worth 1.6 WAR, which is the third lowest value among AL center fielders.
Shane Victorino (SW): As Chad Jennings recently noted, the Yankees would probably like Austin Jackson to develop into a player like Victorino. The Flyin’ Hawaiian hit .292/.358/.445 this year with a .354 wOBA (2nd best for an NL center fielder). Surprisingly, he only hit 10 home runs when most thought he would get closer to 20 after his 14 home run campaign in 2008. For what he lacks in power, he seems to make up for in his speed, as Victorino stole 25 bases this season (though he did get caught 8 times). His speed score of 7.4 is also the 3rd highest in the NL. Moving away from offense, Victorino’s defense has been trumpeted as a significant asset, yet his UZR this year wasn’t particularly impressive. After being rated the 3rd best defender in the NL, at his position, in 2008, Victorino’s -4.2 UZR has him ranked closer to the bottom of the pack in 2009. This is primarily due to a huge decrease in Victorino’s range rating (-0.1 a year ago, -8.9 this year). He still has a plus arm, however, so runners beware. I wonder if Victorino’s disappointing rating have been influenced by the influx of defensive talent in center this season, making Victorino’s score lower than what it would have been in years past (it’s a relative stat). In the end, whatever the reasoning for Victorino’s down defensive year, he’s still worth 3.4 WAR (6th best in the NL).
Pitching to Victorino: Victorino, a switch-hitter, is better against lefties than he is against righties, an attribute that could definitely benefit him in this series (against Sabathia and Pettitte). According to pitch value data, he’s a total fastball hitter, so it would be best for the Yankees to attack him with a lot of breaking stuff or at least spot the fastball inside when he’s batting right-handed and outside when he’s batting left-handed. He’s 7.5 runs below average on changeups, and he also doesn’t hit sliders well. These are numbers that could haunt him in Game 1, when facing CC Sabathia. Don’t expect Victorino to strikeout much, though. He K’d 11.5% of the time this season, the lowest such percentage of any center fielder in the NL.
Winner: Victorino. His bat is better than Melky’s bat, plus he has real speed.
LEFT FIELD
Johnny Damon (LH): Johnny Damon had a pretty nice contract year in 2009, hitting .282/.365/.489, while swatting all 24 of his home runs—a career high—over the short porch at Yankee Stadium (he had 0 opposite field home runs). Furthermore, Damon’s .376 wOBA was the 3rd highest in the AL at his respective position, and he exhibited solid plate patience, walking 11.4% of the time (2nd highest for AL left fielders). At the age of 35, the wheels are still intact, though they’re nowhere near as good as they used to be. Damon stole 12 bases in 2009, his lowest total since he debuted with the Royals in 1995. His 5.9 speed score was also the lowest of his career. In terms of his defense, Damon went from being one of the better left fielders in the game in 2008 (6.7 UZR, 11.6 UZR/150), to one of the worst in 2009 (-11.2 UZR, -11.9 UZR/150). He has looked bad in left field all year and one wonders how this will cost the team going forward. Therefore, while his offensive value is a plus, especially at Yankee Stadium, Damon’s poor defense severely impacts his overall value (2.8 WAR—the 2nd lowest value in the AL).
Raul Ibanez (LH): Ibanez is an incredible player in that he seems to get better as he gets older. In his first season with the Phillies, the 37-year old hit .272/.347/.552, drove in 93 runs, and clubbed a career high 34 homers. His wOBA of .379 was the 3rd best in the NL amongst left fielders and, amazingly, his .552 slugging percentage was the second best of any outfielder in either league (he trailed only Adam Lind in that category). The only problem with Ibanez, offensively, is that he didn’t hit much in the second half. After spending some time on the DL earlier in the year, Ibanez returned to the Philly lineup and hit .232/.326/.448 after the All-Star Break (with only 12 home runs). That would suggest that he’s still hurting. Though Ibanez’s offense this season has been above its typical level, despite the second half swoon, his defense has also been abnormally good. His UZR this season was 6.9 (8.1 UZR/150), the 3rd best in the league. In 2007-08, Ibanez was awful in the outfield, so this could very well be a statistical anomaly. This year, because of his significant offensive and defensive contributions, Ibanez was worth 4.7 WAR (2nd best value for an NL left fielder).
Pitching to Ibanez: For his career, Ibanez has hit righties better than lefties (.850 OPS versus .760 OPS). However, in 2009, the inverse was true as he did much of his damage against southpaws (.998 OPS versus .859 OPS). Most of Ibanez’s home runs were pulled to right field, so if the Yankees want to attack him appropriately, soft stuff away seems like the best route (and if you go inside, like many other pull hitters, make sure to handcuff him, don’t leave anything low and over the plate). That should prevent him from going deep over Nick Swisher’s mohawk.
Winner: I’m inclined to say Ibanez, but his second half is troubling and he hasn’t done much in the playoffs to downplay the issue (.226/.333/.387). For this reason, I’m going to have to go with Damon, who has hit safely in his last 6 playoff games (with 2 HR and 5 RBI).
DESIGNATED HITTER
Hideki Matsui (LH): This is a quick one. Matsui batted .274/.367/.509 this season. He has 28 home runs—a Yankees DH record—and 90 RBI to his name. He has had a tough postseason, thus far, but his postseason numbers have always been very good, therefore, I’m hesitant to say that the problems will carry over into the World Series (he will face two good lefties in Hamels and Lee, however). On the season, Matsui’s .378 wOBA and 2.4 WAR were 3rd best amongst designated hitters. Only Adam Lind and Jason Kubel were better (yet Kubel can’t hit lefties while Matsui can).
Matt Stairs (LH)/Ben Francisco (RH): I expect the Phillies to do a few things with the DH role. They’ll likely use Raul Ibanez as the DH and play the right-handed Ben Francisco in left field, or they could choose to go with the lefty Matt Stairs, perhaps against A.J. Burnett (he has been awful this season, however). I believe the Francisco idea is the most likely one, especially for tonight, with a lefty on the mound. If you’re wondering about Francisco, who was part of the Cliff Lee package the Cleveland Indians sent over to Philly, he hit a respectful .257/.332/.446 with 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Although many seem to consider him a good outfielder, in limited playing time, UZR rates Francisco rather poorly in left (-6.6, -12.9 UZR/150).
Pitching to Stairs/Francisco: If it’s Francisco, according to pitch value data, changeups and soft stuff will work, but you can certainly challenge him with fastballs (he does have some power, however). He doesn’t hit righties or lefties particularly well, which makes things easier for Joe Girardi. If the Yankees are pitching to Stairs, he’ll always have power, but at 41, he cheats to catch up to the fastball. The Yankees can probably beat him with any pitch that is located properly.
Winner: Matsui. This is the AL advantage.
In sum, while the Yankees have a better infield, the Phillies have a better outfield. Their DH candidates don’t really inspire much confidence, however, as Hideki Matsui is better than any combination of players that they could trot out on a given day (even if they use Ibanez as the DH and put Francisco in left field, I’m not sure that Francisco’s defense would make up for his weak bat). Based on the comparison I’ve provided, I think it’s safe to say that the Yankees have the better offensive team and a significant advantage at Yankee Stadium. It’ll be a much closer matchup, offensively, when the Yankees lose Matsui’s bat in Philadelphia.
Photos by Yahoo! Sports
Via Marc Carig, we learn that Hideki Matsui—not Jorge Posada—will DH in today’s game. For the past 2 days, there had been some debate as to whether or not Posada would DH given his numbers against Angel starter, John Lackey. Girardi’s decision to start Matsui as the DH allows Posada to come in later for Jose Molina while keeping Matsui in the lineup, simultaneously.
From Jon Heyman (SI):
The reason Girardi employs Hideki Matsui as his DH over Posada is that Girardi and Yankees higher-ups believe Matsui is a slightly better offensive player. Girardi was merely being diplomatic when he claimed the reason Mastui’s getting the starts at DH over Posada the games that Molina catches is because Masui is more accustomed to DHing. That was the p.c. answer, but not the right one.
So, according to Jon Heyman, the Yankees think Hideki Matsui is a “slightly better” offensive player than Jorge Posada. Now, while I don’t want to deviate from my primary point, I actually agree if we’re viewing this from a strictly offensive perspective. Obviously, Jorge is more valuable when you factor in his position, however, a comparison of the two is not the main point here. Rather, I’m interested in what it means for Matsui to be viewed as a better hitter than Posada by Joe Girardi and various other Yankee personnel.
If we are to believe Heyman and his assertion that the Yankees consider Matsui a “slightly better” offensive player than Posada, then, I ask, do the Yankees consider Johnny Damon a “slightly better” offensive player, as well? I doubt that they do given Posada’s switch-hitting prowess, plate patience, and power. Therefore, if the Yankees think Matsui is a better hitter than Posada, wouldn’t that mean that they’re more inclined to bring him back in 2010 rather than resign Johnny Damon? After all, one is “slightly better” than Posada and the other, in my opinion, isn’t really on that level, offensively. Clearly, I’m trying to glean some insights (probably too much) from Heyman’s comment.
Also, to clarify, I’m speaking in regards to the designated hitter role in 2010—not left field. As Bill Madden notes, the Yankees see Damon as a “liability in the outfield” (the correct viewpoint), meaning that they’re willing to bring back one of the two—Matsui or Damon—as the 2010 DH. If the Yankees truly believe that Matsui is a better run producer than Damon, wouldn’t he then have the advantage? Then again, Damon can roam the outfield in a pinch and, despite his poor fielding, that does provide some roster flexibility when trying to rest other players. It’s a tough call, really.
I actually think that Matsui is probably the best choice for the DH role, as he has been extremely successful there this season. That doesn’t necessarily mean the end for Damon, though. If the Yankees can’t find a suitable left fielder, perhaps a one-year deal for Damon wouldn’t be too bad. However, I doubt he’ll duplicate his numbers from this season and his defense will probably decline further. What do you think? Who would you like to see return if you had to choose between the two players? Or, perhaps you’d like to see someone else brought into the fold?
Despite a productive partnership, once the ‘09 season is completed, the Yankees will likely cut ties with current DH, Hideki Matsui. The the only reason for the relationship’s end is Matsui’s lack of positional flexibility—that and age. With several large contracts on the books and a number of aging players on the roster, the Yankees don’t want another aging player clogging up the DH spot for the better part of the season. Matsui’s knees prevent him from playing the outfield, even sporadically. Thus, the revolving DH idea has gained a footing.
However, while it’s nice to filter your veterans through the DH role in order to provide them with ample resting opportunities, by losing a regular DH, especially one as good as Hideki Matsui, you create a significant void in your lineup. If your bench is constructed well, then perhaps a team can absorb such a loss, since no regular DH means more playing time for the part-timers. If not, though, the entire offense begins to suffer. For that reason, I believe that the Yankees should, in fact, bring in a new DH, except they should bring in one that can help them on the field a bit, too.
Here are a few options that I think fit the bill:
1. Nick Johnson – Johnson, 31, a former Yankee, would be a nice addition to the lineup. Between the Marlins and the Nationals, he is hitting .301/.427/.423 with 8 HR and 61 RBI. Although his power has diminished, his eye remains a force as he can still get on base with the best of them (17.1 BB%). He would wear the team’s offensive style pretty well. Johnson has dealt with injury issues his entire career, including this season, when he was placed on the DL with hamstring problems. However, when he’s right he can be an extremely productive player. He’s having his worst defensive year at first base, but it could be an aberration or injury-related given Johnson’s historically positive ratings there. If he signs with the Yankees, he can DH to stay fresh and help in the infield when Tex needs a day off. In an effort to keep Johnson healthy, the Yankees could also choose to rest him throughout the season, which would allow others to slot in at DH from time to time.
2. Adam LaRoche - While I think Johnson is probably a better fit, LaRoche could also be a good DH candidate. He has his fair share of problems, in that he’s better known as a second half hitter, he struggles against lefties, and he’s not a particularly good defender, but, as a DH, two of these issues can be resolved (the Yankees can sit him against some lefties so that others can DH for the day). Between the Pirates, Red Sox and now the Braves, LaRoche is hitting .273/.348/.489 and has 23 HR. While powerful, he doesn’t do anything particularly well—he doesn’t walk much and he strikes out a lot (his 0.48 BB/K is the second worst in the NL)—yet his value would be boosted, I think, if given a DH role. Plus, LaRoche will turn 30 in November, so he’s surprisingly young. The Yankees can afford to sit him against some lefties, as I mentioned before, which would open up DH opportunities for A-Rod, Jeter, Damon (if he returns) and Posada. Of course, Teixeira would be well rested, too, since LaRoche can play first.
3. Bobby Abreu – Surprised? Bobby Abreu was one of the best free agent signings this offseason, given his price ($5 million) and his overall value (2.6 WAR). He’s still an awful outfielder, but he’s hitting .299/.399/.435 and has been a force in LA’s lineup. By giving him a DH role, the Yankees get a player capable of stealing 20 bases, driving in 100 runs, and, in Yankee Stadium, maybe Abreu can hit 18-20 homers. Of course, we know what Abreu can do, firsthand. He can help out in right field a few days a month so that the Yankees can rest others and Girardi can sit him based on matchups, so that the others can DH. In terms of Abreu’s fielding, the defensive lapses would be manageable as long as he produces offensively. Abreu may also be a shorter commitment than Johnson or LaRoche, given his age (although he may earn more per year).
These are three options that work, in some way, for the reasons I’ve provided. Each player I’ve listed is somewhat limited in their positional flexibility—Johnson, LaRoche and Abreu only play one position a piece—yet, in terms of fielding value and versatility, they offer more than what Hideki Matsui did as a DH only. Abreu and Johnson seem like the best fits with LaRoche being an outside option. One player that people might mention that I have not is Vladimir Guerrero, although he may be far too similar to Hideki Matsui (why not resign Matsui). The Yankees could also try and bring back Xavier Nady who can play first and right field (health permitting). What do you think? If you don’t like these guys—Johnson, Abreu and LaRoche—are there any other players you’d like to see the Yankees pursue for DH?
From Jon Heyman (SI):
The Yankees intend to try to bring back Johnny Damon, probably for about $6-8 million a year (that’ll be the first offer, anyway), and might be willing to give him a second year. Damon’s been saying in the papers all year that he wants to be back, which is quite a departure from the usual free-agent script and could mean he’s that rare player amenable to a below-market contract. Yankees management loves Damon personally, too, and that doesn’t hurt.
With Hideki Matsui also a free agent (not to mention Xavier Nady), the Yankees could use Damon, who’s having a fine offensive season, especially for power (.286, 22 HRs, 68 RBIs and 87 runs). Yankees people also love Matsui (four home runs this weekend at Fenway) but his knees are in bad shape and the current thinking is that they’ll need more DH at-bats in coming years for Jorge Posada and other aging stars. Damon, though, remains passable in the outfield.
Damon’s making $13 million now, but the Yankees appear to view this case in much the same way they looked at Andy Pettitte, who took a pay cut to $5 million guaranteed to return last winter. Damon shopped himself last time when he felt he wasn’t getting the respect he deserved from the Red Sox. But this appears to be a different case.
No surprise here. It always looked like the Yankees would try to bring Damon back to play LF and DH a bit. If you can have Damon at $6 million, though, I wonder how much it will take to bring Hideki Matsui back. Sure, his knees are terrible but if he’s willing to accept a similar deal for $6 million, as well, then wouldn’t you resign the guy (yes, I’m a big Matsui fan)?
(props to Lenny at the Bronx Block)
UPDATE – According to Ken Rosenthal (FOX Sports), one Yankees official said that it was “very likely” that the team would bring back Johnny Damon as long as he’s willing to accept a paycut. KR also noted that the Yankees intend to lower their payroll in 2010 (yet in the same breathe, KR says that the Yankees could be in the mix for Jason Bay or Matt Holliday, and perhaps both).
From Anthony McCarron (Daily News):
Despite his numbers, Matsui’s status with the Yankees is unclear. He is in the final season of a four-year, $52 million contract and the Yankees want to get younger and free up at-bats at designated hitter for Jorge Posada.
Matsui would not delve too deeply into his future Sunday.
“My honest answer is I don’t know,” Matsui said. “I don’t have an answer. As a player, you just try to do better than what you’ve done before. It’s not so much about how the organization or other clubs look at me. All I’m focused on is winning a championship.”
Would he prefer to stay in New York? “I try not to think about that,” he said. “I like New York, the Yankees, the Yankee fans. It’s definitely someplace I feel comfortable.”
If the Yankees lose Matsui in order to free up DH AB’s for Jorge Posada, then I suppose McCarron is assuming that Jose Molina—he’ll have to be resigned—or Francisco Cervelli will be given a substantial number of AB’s at catcher. Is that something the Yankees really want to commit to? Defensively, that’s a win-win, but offensively, I think it’s fair to question that notion. Matsui seems open to returning at a “bargain” rate and, if he’s willing to go year-to-year, then the Yankees should definitely bring him back. He’s a professional hitter that can be rotated in and out of the DH slot in order to give Posada ample rest as well as others. In this sense, Matsui’s knee problems actually help the Yankees in terms of DH flexibility (he can’t DH everyday).
I think the team knows just how important Matsui has been to the club in 2009 and, for that reason, I also think they’ll be very hesitant to simply let him walk after the season is over (a move which has been billed by many as a foregone conclusion). In fact, the only way I see that actually occurring is if Brian Cashman opts to bring Johnny Damon back as the team’s DH while adding Matt Holliday to man left. That way, they’re not losing Matsui’s offense, instead, they’re replacing it and simultaneously bettering their defensive game. That works, right?
What do you think about Matsui? Should the Yankees keep him around for 2010, or are you a fan of the rather ambiguous and inherently problematic rotating DH idea (no, I’m not biased at all)?
