Anyone who knows me knows that I try to think like a GM. Granted that I don’t have the budget that a GM has or other very important info regarding injuries, how people are doing in their rehab, cost of contracts, budget restrictions, etc., but for the sake of argument and discussion….
Anyway, I was doing some thinking tonight (dangerous, I know). See the previous blog posting about what if the Yanks free up money for Lackey. Say Matsui is let go. Damon is brought back but his weak arm is moved out of LF into the DH spot. He DHs most of the time, but does still have the capability (unlike Matsui) to play the OF once in a while (also, JD brings speed that Godzilla doesn’t). You do need to replace the production Matsui (162 g. average .292-25-106, OPS+ 124) brought.
What if there was a free agent who had ZERO leverage. Someone whose 162 g. average was not as good as Matsui’s, but who still would be just 31 years old in 2010, and whose 162 g. average would still come out to .280-21-78 with an OPS + of 108? Someone who in 2008 hit .305-25-97? Someone whose last deal (while healthy) was worth just over half that of Matsui’s?
I don’t know how Xavier Nady’s progression is doing. I don’t know what his estimated time of arrival back in the majors may be. Cashman would have that information and would know.
Two elbow surgeries do throw up a red flag. Can he come back at all? What kind of arm would he have? After missing almost all of 2009, what kind of rust is there?
But one thing is for sure. There is no way Nady gets the $6.5 million he got in 2009. When will he be ready for 2010? Say the Yanks don’t resign Godzilla (and no, I’m not pushing the great Matsui out the door…just supposing). You save $13 m on Matsui. Nady takes a cut. Say you save 4.5 million on him. By going from Molina to Cervelli you save another $1.5 million. You take the saved money ($19 M) and go after Lackey (as mentioned before, CC/AJ/Andy/Lackey and Gaudin….with a bullpen of Robertson/Joba/Aceves/Hughes/Mo and a lefty…scary, huh?).
Interesting, no? Mind you, I don’t think this is going to happen. For all I know, Nady may not come back until mid-season— if at all.
But what if?
Austin Jackson will be 23 in Feb., 2010. Maybe Nady … on the cheap…. buys you 1/2 a year in case Jackson isn’t ready in the spring but is ready come June. Austin Jackson hit .300-4-65 at AAA Scranton last year. 24 SB in 28 attempts. Maybe he needs more time, maybe not (you would like to see a bit more power. The average and speed were good).
Say AJax needs a few months. Nady is ready come the spring. With the saved $$$ you could have a killer front 4 (AJ/CC/Andy/Lackey) and shorten the game considerably with Aceves/Robertson/Joba/Hughes/Mo… and your LOOGY.
Do you do it?
Question is, when is the X-man due back?
Your thoughts?
2 responses so far ↓
1 Jason // Nov 11, 2009 at 9:06 am
I am not against the Yanks pursuing Lackey, presuming the save cash by not re-signing JD, Matsui, and/or Pettite. But given his good 2009, I am of the opinion that Pettite might well come back, if the price is right. He was crucial to the World Series run, and while the Yanks might need to pony up more for his base salary, his incentive-based contract rewards productivity, and saves the team money if he is hurt/unproductive. It’s something the Yankees should strongly consider, and would be a considerable improvement to Gaudin, whom I like but who is not Pettite.
Nady would be nice insurance if healthy, but I have some real concerns about his arm problems. My hunch is the Yanks let him walk and only bring him back if they cannot upgrade the OF, and Nady’s not getting offers and comes very cheap.
2 Mike Sommer // Nov 11, 2009 at 11:26 am
Yes, I worry about Nady’s arm issues as well, and don’t know what his timetable is. You wonder how well he would be able to throw, esp. after a second operation. With no leverage, I do think Nady will be cheap.
I see an article on Wang that says May…a bit optimistic, I’d think. See next post.
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