On Monday, I talked about the Yankees offseason on the mound and today, I’ll talk about the hitters. To keep this more brief than the previous post, I’ll limit this to additions and subtractions that will affect the Major League team most.

Let’s start with Johnny Damon’s departure. Obviously, losing a player of Damon’s caliber is going to mean the team’s offense takes a bit of a hit. However, I’m of the opinion that Johnny Damon needed the Yankees more than the Yankees needed Johnny Damon. The Yankees also got a more-than-adequate-replacement for Mr. Damon: Curtis Granderson. Curtis represents an upgrade over Damon because he is not only younger, but he is also more versatile. At this point, Damon is an LF/DH; Granderson, on the other hand, can–and likely will–play center field for the Yankees in 2010.

The deal that brought Granderson to the Yankees was a good one. At the beginning, I was skeptical about bringing him in. Then again, that’s when the cost was reported to be Austin Jackson and Phil Hughes. Trading Jackson, along with Phil Coke (and IPK to the D-Backs), for Granderson was a deal that you have to make 100 times out of 100. Jackson’s stock has taken a small hit at each level–though I still think he can be at leat an average Major League player at his peak–and Coke has limited upside. Adding a center fielder with a pretty friendly contract (never makes more than $10MM guaranteed, $13MM option in ‘13) is always a good thing.

Next, we come to the DH situation. The Yankees let WS MVP Hideki Matsui walk after he had an absolutely fantastic year. Like the Damon situation, this is a case in which the player needed the team more than the team needed the player. Matsui stayed (relatively) healthy in 2009 by just hitting and not playing the field, but by letting him go, the Yankees were signaling to Matsui–and perhaps the rest of baseball–that they do not have faith in Matsui’s knees holding up for another year. And maybe they’re right.

To replace Matsui, the Yankees brought back old friend Nick Johnson. Johnson projects to be the team’s number two hitter and could easily produce at a similar level to that of Matsui, though he’ll do it in different ways. Obviously, Mastui’s power made him a more traditional DH. While Johnson likely won’t hit for that sort of power, his on-base ability gives the Yankees another piece to the patience machine that is their lineup and he should fill in quite nicely.

Rule V pick Jamie Hoffmann will compete for the last bench spot against spring training invitee Marcus Thames. In Hoffmann, the Yankees would be getting the outfield only equivalent of Jerry Hairston, Jr: he’s not going to be there for his bat. The book on Hoffmann is that he plays great defense, but may not be much of a hitter. Thames would be a righty version of the lost Eric Hinske: he’s there to mash the ball when he gets to the plate.

After four frustrating years in pinstripes, Melky Cabrera is also gone. He’ll be replaced by Randy Winn. Essentially, they are the exact same player: switch hitters who hit at a league average level, play good defense at the corners, and iffy defense in center field. While it’s unlikely that Winn makes us forget about Melky, he likely won’t make us wish for another “glass of Leche.”

Backup catcher Jose Molina recently signed with the Jays, and his spot will be taken by “incumbent” Frankie Cervelli. As depth, the Yankees signed veteran backstop Mike Rivera to a minor league deal. It’s unlikely he makes a big difference on the 2010 team, but he’s better depth than Kevin Cash (well, that isn’t saying much).

Lastly, there’s the relatively forgotten man of 2009: Xavier Nady. Deemed too pricey for the Yankees, Nady will play for the Cubbies in 2010. I was never a huge fan of Nady, but if healthy/at the right cost, he could’ve been a very useful bench outfielder.

In terms of upgrades and downgrades from 2009, I think Curtis Granderson will be the biggest upgrade; that is, the upgrade from last year’s CF to this year’s (presumably CG) will be bigger than any other addition. The only one that could come close is the DH spot. I think Johnson could easily match, or even outproduce, what Matsui did in ‘09, but that improvement will likely not be bigger than the one Granderson brings.

Yesterday, Moshe posted 25 questions/issues going into Spring Training. Tackling them one-by-one in full posts would take way too long, so I’m going to give some quick hit answers to each one.

1. Jorge’s decline: Steve’s got legit concerns about Jorge declining, and if there’s anyone on the Yankees who’s going to decline, it’s likely to be Jorge. The average projection for Jorge doesn’t seem too ominous, but you never know with older catchers. My guess? Jorge doesn’t fall off a cliff, but he’s not as productive with the bat as he was last year.

2. The back up catcher: barring injury, I think this job is Cervelli’s to lose. His bat is iffy, but it’s okay for a back up catcher and his defense is solid.

3. The Jesus and 2010/catching: If we see El Carpentiero at all in ‘10, it’ll likely be as a September call up. As for whether he can handle catching, I’m cautiously optimistic. Regardless, that bat is downright dreamy and I want it sticking around in the Yankee organization for years to come.

4. Nick Johnson: Like with Hideki Matsui in ‘09, keeping Johnson off the field could be the key to keeping him healthy. If he does stay healthy, I think he could at the very least come close to matching Hideki/Johnny Damon, he’ll just do it in different ways. His power should bounce back by being in YSIII and I’d expect his HR/FB anomaly from 2009 to correct itself as well.

5. Cano’s defense: I think he’ll stay where he is, which is frustrating ’cause he’s brilliant out there at times.

6. Jeter’s contract situation as a potential distraction: I don’t think it will be an issue until after the ASB.

7. A-Rod’s defense: I think we’ll see the second half A-Rod on defense–still below average with the range (but what an arm!), but not as bad as he was immediately after returning.

8. Utility role: I say Pena, unless Russo really wows everyone in ST.

9. Which Swish: It may not be an exact copy, but I’d put good money on the ‘10 Swisher looking a lot like the ‘09 Swisher.

10. Grandy vs. lefties: Hopefully, Kevin Long can work some magic. And, yes, moving to YSIII will definitely help C-Grand.

11. Gardner as an everyday player: I’m cautiously optimistic for Gardner, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on this issue.

12. Randy Winn’s possible decline: 2009 looks like one of two outliers in the last 8 seasons, 2006 was the other. If he can bounce back, great. If not, it’s not a huge sunken cost and he’s replaceable.

13. Gardy or Grandy in CF: I’ll be happy either way, but the numbers point to Gardner in CF.

14. Hoffmann or Thames: I think they’ll go with Hoffmann, just to see what he’s got unless Thames absolutely destroys the Grapefruit League.

15. October hangover for SPs: It’s possible, but they’re veterans who know how to manage their bodies. Hopefully, there are no ill effects.

16. Javy as unclutch: I see good things for Javy this time around.

17. A.J.’s health: Burnett will pitch at least 185 innings in 2010.

18. 5th starter: I’ve written more than once about this. Joba it shall be.

19. BP or SWB: See above.

20. Damaso: He won’t be as lights out in the playoffs, but he’ll be his usual lefty destroying self since he’ll finally be healthy for a full year.

21. Second lefty: I don’t think a second lefty is a must, but I think General Joe likes the idea of having two lefties, so I think they’ll at least start off the year w/2 LHRPs.

22. If not, who gets the job: No thinking, gut reaction, Melancon.

23. Mo and…aging…: I’ll defer to Chris Turk for the answer.

24. Girardi’s lack of job security: The only way it becomes an issue is if Joe really screws up this year, which won’t happen.

25. Room in the budget if needed: They’ll find it.

So, there you have it: 25 quick answers to 25 complex questions. Before you know it, it’ll be November and we’ll be looking back on these (hopefully after a 28th championship) issues and their outcomes. Here’s to hoping they all turn out the way we want them to.

Joel Sherman reported this morning that Randy Winn’s 900K in contract incentives are predicated upon hitting certain amounts of at-bats against left handed pitching. Eariler today, Rob Abruzzese explained the reasoning behind the highly unusual contract, and clarified how the Marcus Thames deal figures into the equation:

This is where Marcus Thames comes in. Thames signed a one-year minor league deal for $900,000 – the exact same amount as Winn’s incentives. Coincidence? Maybe not. I’m starting to believe that the Yankees will use spring training to see exactly what they have in Jamie Hoffmann, Winn, and Thames.

If they like Winn against lefties and plan on using him in a way where he’ll reach all of his incentives, they could then send Thames down or release him and stick with Hoffmann. That way they’re paying off only $2 million plus the major league minimum for Hoffmann. Or if Winn isn’t overly impressive, they keep him as a defensive caddy and stick with Thames and they’re still paying out the same $2 million.

Either way, they’re only paying $2 million if Winn hits lefties.

This is an extremely creative contract, and I think Rob is spot on in explaining what the Yankees were thinking with all of these moves. This should make for an interesting spring training, as two veteran players in Winn and Thames will be fighting over the same 900,000 dollars. I would prefer to have Thames on the bench as a power bat than have Winn and Hoffmann both on the team, because the latter two have redundant skills. Carrying Thames and Winn provides a more diverse bench for Joe Girardi to utilize.

Speaking of Girardi, Brian Cashman discussed the Yankees’ 3 major 2011 free agents this morning, with Girardi being one of them:

When Brian Cashman looks at Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi, the Yankees’ GM paints his shortstop, closer and manager with the same brush.
And with spring training opening next week in Tampa, Cashman has no plans to stray from his plan of not negotiating with them. All three contracts are in the final year.
“I don’t think you can separate one from the other,” Cashman explained. “I am not saying they are the same, but the questions will come, ‘If you did one, why didn’t you do the other?’ If this was Kansas City, it would be different — but it’s not.”

I wish they would sign these three in the near future, simply because every three game losing streak by the team or poor performance by Rivera and Jeter will cause these unsettled contract situations to be dredged up by the media. However, the club has long had a policy of not negotiating with players until their contracts have expired, such that it is unlikely that any of three will feel like he is being disrespected or treated unfairly. Hopefully, all three have good seasons and next fall’s negotiations are amicable, and we can all avoid an excruciating media frenzy.

NOTE – This was written just prior to the Thames signing, but it still works to support the addition.

The following is an excerpt from a recent ESPN article by Mathew Carruth titled “The Perils of Pinch-Hitting.”

In 2009, major league pinch-hitters hit a combined .225/.315/.353, significantly worse than their starting counterparts, who hit .264/.334/.421. That’s not a one-year fluke or a recent development, either. In 1990, guys coming off the bench hit .224/.302/.316. In 1970, they hit .226/.313/.323. Way back in 1954, their performance was a pitiful .220/.315/.323. It’s not just that the average pinch-hitter is worse than a starter, but instead, there is evidence that pinch-hitting is just really difficult. Matt Holliday has a career .552 OPS as a pinch hitter compared to a .933 mark when he starts. Joe Mauer has a .693 OPS off the bench. Even Derek Jeter is hitless in his five attempts.

Baseball consultant Tom Tango, now in the employ of the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, went through historical pinch-hitting situations in his book (appropriately titled “The Book”) and found that, even after accounting for the average pinch-hitter being of lesser ability and facing tougher pitchers in more important situations, pinch-hitters performed at a level roughly 10 percent lower than expected. That’s huge; a 10 percent penalty turns a .300 hitter into a .270 one. That reduction in performance would turn Evan Longoria into Skip Schumaker…

What makes pinch-hitting so hard? Repetition and routine are common agents to help calm nerves. It’s why you’ll see some ridiculous things in the batter’s box, such as Nomar Garciaparra’s infamous batting glove routine. It’s why coaches in golf stress pre-shot routines, and for every disturbance to mean a complete do-over of that routine. It’s why any athlete anywhere spends countless hours practicing. They are attempting to train their muscle memory and to develop grooves in the brain that focus on the specific task at hand and let them forget about anything else.

Pinch-hitters do not get the benefit of routine. Unlike relievers who first get to warm up in the bullpen, then warm up on the mound, and who dictate the action in the first place, pinch-hitting opportunities tend to spring up with less warning. At best, a player on the bench might get a heads-up in time to go into the cage and take a few hacks, but for the most part, he gets thrust right onto center stage sans warm up. That’s not a recipe for success, and the evidence suggests that even the best hitters in the world struggle to succeed in that situation.

Carruth’s article outlines the inherent problems with pinch-hitting as a practice, and makes an effective case for not even “wasting” a roster spot on such a hitter. Many would argue that, for the Yankees, who are in search of a right-handed bench bat, Carruth’s premise can be applied. Why sign Jonny Gomes to be a right-handed bench bat when he is likely to be an ineffective pinch-hitter? It is not his fault, rather, it is a result of the role. This is mainly why many fans wanted the Yankees to sign Reed Johnson, because, even if he struggles as a pinch-hitter (and his opportunities to pinch-hit would be rare), he has defensive value beyond that finite role. The same can be said for Rocco Baldelli.

For the Yankees, however, any right-handed bench bat they sign – not just Baldelli – to a minor-league deal will have significant value beyond that of a pinch-hitter. This is primarily due to Nick Johnson. Though Johnson’s fragile body will be protected by his position as the team’s designated hitter, if he is injured at some point this season, which is a genuine possibility, the fifth outfielder, as a result – whether it is Jonny Gomes, Rocco Baldelli, Marcus Thames, or possibly Gary Sheffield – will receive a lot more playing time (along with Randy Winn). Therefore, the Yankees are not just adding a pinch-hitter by signing a right-handed bench bat, they are injecting much needed depth into the team.

Furthermore, any right-handed bat the Yankees sign could be used, on occasion, to platoon with Brett Gardner. This, then, increases the value of such a player. With this in mind, because of his defensive prowess, Baldelli seems like a better option. Conversely, when you also consider his health concerns in conjunction with Nick Johnson’s – if Johnson is out for an extended period of time, can you trust Baldelli to remain healthy – then Gomes or Thames might seem like better options, despite their defensive limitations. This is the a give-and-take that must be adequately negotiated.

In the end, the Yankees, as I see it, still need a right-handed bench bat, however, they do not need him only as a pinch-hitter, for as Carruth points out, pinch-hitting is not necessarily a successful practice (especially when you consider the talent on the Yankees). The Yankees, instead, need a right-handed bat to spell Brett Gardner and even Curtis Granderson, now and then, and to provide solid offensive depth in the event of an injury to a starter such as Nick Johnson. This, then, is the ultimate value of bringing an extra right-handed bat on board for the 2010 season.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Really, I love Jamie Hoffman. As a lifelong fan of the minor league baseball, I was pretty excited to see the Yankees get a relatively unimportant 1st overall Rule V pick following the Brian Bruney trade. The Yankees have had only one Rule V pick that I can think of make their roster, and that was Josh Phelps. Hoffman has some talents – a decent Triple-A batting history and strong defensive play. That said, Marcus Thames is far and away the better player, and barring a massive Thames setback in spring training, should make the roster over Jamie Hoffman.

Matt has already taken a look at what Thames could potentially produce. I won’t rehash that here. I think the following qualitative statements are clear: Marcus Thames is a significantly worse defensive player while being a significantly better hitter against left-handed pitching, while fairing poorly against right-handed pitching. Given the current makeup of the Yankee bench / left field situation, I think that is enough to no-doubt place Thames over Hoffman.

Brett Gardner is the incumbent starting left fielder (or center fielder). He is a very strong fielder and fairly light hitter. Randy Winn is also guaranteed a bench spot, with the other non-catcher bench slot going to a light-hitting utility man like Ramiro Pena. Winn struggled against left-handed pitching last season while playing characteristically strong defense. The current makeup calls for a right-handed hitter who can play outfield to fill in the space between Winn and Gardner.

Jamie Hoffman has good career numbers against lefties in the minor. They aren’t Thames-like, but they are pretty good. He also plays defense pretty well. However, Randy Winn plays defense just as well, and hits better. Marcus Thames hits lefties better. Randy Winn fulfills the defensive / right-handed pitching niche, so any defensive ability that Hoffman has is less important. Therefore, the best left-handed batter for the most part should be given the spot, which is Marcus Thames.

Having a strong batter-LOOGY who can play the corners and 1b gives the Yankees a lot of options:

• Pinch hit for Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Francisco Cervelli, Ramiro Pena, Brett Gardner, Randy Winn
• Start for Brett Gardner vs. LHP
• Start for Nick Swisher (injury/rest)
• Start for Mark Teixeira (injury/rest)

Jamie Hoffman, with Winn on the roster, gives them the following options:

• Pinch hit for Francisco Cervelli, Ramiro Pena, and Brett Gardner, and maybe Randy Winn
• Start for Brett Gardner vs. LHP
• Start for Curtis Granderson vs. LHP
• Second-tier starting if Randy Winn starts for someone, or is injured

Those are a lot fewer options. Basically, he’s not good enough to take the spotlight away from Cano or Granderson. And Winn is a better option to start for Swisher or Granderson. And to top it off, Thames can play 1st base, where only Nick Swisher serves as a backup.

Unless Thames shows up to camp fat, Jamie Hoffman should find himself an apartment back in Las Vegas.

Yesterday, the Yankees signed Marcus Thames as a non-roster invitee for Spring Training. Thames stands to make $900K if he makes the Yankees’ Major League Roster. Before getting into the numbers, let’s run down what the scenario would have to be for Thames to make the team.

Basically, the Yankees would have to be very unimpressed with Jamie Hoffmann for Thames to get the last outfield bench spot that Hoffmann currently occupies. Spring Training is going to be a small and unreliable sample size, no doubt, but the Yankees can at least get a look at Jamie and what he could bring to the team. For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume Hoffmann is not on the Opening Day roster. If that happens, he either has to be returned to the Dodgers, per the rules of the Rule V Draft, or a trade could be worked out so that the Yankees could keep his rights and send him to AAA to get a little more seasoning. So, putting Marcus (back) on the Yankees, what can we expect? Let’s take a look, using the same method as my previous posts on Jorge, Curtis, Brett, and Joba.

Remember, these numbers are his projected totals and they’re not broken down by splits. If on the Yankees, Thames will likely be used only as a PH or for facing tough left handed pitching that Brett Gardner (or Curtis Granderson) may be unable to handle. Against lefties in his career, Thames sports a .360 wOBA and a .260 IsoP (thank you FanGraphs splits…seriously, how awesome is that site?); he hits lefties well. Very well. On with the projection:

The average projection for Thames is pretty funky looking. The average is low at .245, as is the OBP, coming in at .306. However, his average projected slugging percentage is a hefty .503. That means an IsoP of .258, which is just fantastic. Marcus projects to hit 20 homers in 306 ABs, which would be one every 15.3 ABs. Again, these are numbers Thames is projected to put up IF he makes the Yankees and they do not take his platoon split into account. If Thames is limited to just facing lefties, with the occasional right hander thrown in there, I’d expect him to out-hit that projection and possibly be more productive despite coming to the plate fewer times than a full time player.

I’m not in love with this deal, I would prefer someone more well-rounded than Thames, but in reality, it’s hard to dislike this deal. It’s not guaranteed and it could add some pop to the bench that is seriously lacking right now. Good luck to Marcus in camp (that’s thankfully coming soon).

According to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees have signed 33-year old outfielder, Marcus Thames. Thames, a right-handed hitter, was originally drafted by the Yankees in 1996 and was traded to Texas for Ruben Sierra in 2003. He is a career .256/.329/.516 hitter against left-handers and appears to be the right-handed bench bat the team has been searching for (we hardly knew ye, Jamie Hoffmann). Thames hit .252/.323/.453 last year while with Detroit. Joel Sherman reports that it’s a minor-league contract and that Thames would earn $900K if he makes the team. This likely means that the Yankees are no longer interested in either Jonny Gomes or Rocco Baldelli.

Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images