Solving the Yankees' puzzle
Forget any Johnny Damon for Joe Crede talk out there. The Yankees have every intention of using Damon as their everyday leadoff hitter and leftfielder in 2008. New manager Joe Girardi very much wants this to happen, and it works for Brian Cashman, too. It'll happen.
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So what does this mean for Hideki Matsui? It means he'll get more at-bats at designated hitter. And what does that mean for Jason Giambi? It means he might get more time at first base.
In an ideal world, the Yankees would trade either Matsui or Giambi, to clear up the roster for more versatile players. But that's unlikely to happen. Both have full, no-trade clauses, and both love playing for the Yankees. Matsui has two more years on his contract, while Giambi is finally on the last year of that infamous, seven-year, $120-million deal. In all probability, Damon, Giambi and Matsui will all be 2008 Yankees. You can count on Giambi and Matsui, at the least, to spend time on the disabled list.
So let's enter that ideal world, pretend we're fantasy-league owners with no concerns about no-trade clauses and salaries, and refine the Yankees' roster. For me, it'd be a no-brainer: Trade Giambi. That would clear up the DH role as a resting spot for everyone, from Matsui to Damon to Bobby Abreu to Jorge Posada (assuming he re-signs).
But I know Giambi has his fans out there, and Damon and Matsui their detractors. What would you do to clear up this roster logjam?
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Comments (11)
I realize this will drive some folks crazy, but is it out of this world to think that Matsui should be given a first base glove?
Less time in the OF helps his knee. He'll probably be better than Giabmi, who could then DH regularly and you always have Andy Philips to spell them at first.
Crazy?
I would trade Giambi for anything, a bag of balls, bats, a train ticket, he is a piece of garbage. Since he can't be traded, I assume he will play first more than he should or can, and then will get hurt. The best we can hope for is that his time on the disabled list 2008 is a long one and then it's bye, bye to the fat, sweaty steroid loser!!
i would trade damon, no question to bring you 3rd baseman of quality.
Mr. Mygoto, a bag of balls is too much for any team to give up for that useless piece of garbage.
If there was a way to get him out of here, I'd do it...no matter what we got in return, even nothing.
There will be healthy competition among these three in 08. They will all have to step up in the clutch because their production per plate appearance (RBIs for Godzilla and Giambino, runs for Damon) was propped up by A-Rod's relative consistency. It could get ugly if they have simultaneous dry spells.
My prediction, the Yankees don't make the playoffs next season.
Matsui to first, Giambi gone. Gone. GONE!
You need to go back to Miss O'Keefe's second grade class for spelling review again. It's spelled "receive" not "recieve." If you can't remember the rule "i before e except after c", at least use spell check!
J, with all due respect, what the heck are you talking about? Where did I spell this word wrong?
The only trade that I can see happening for Giambi is to the Mariners for Richie Sexson, with the Yankees eating the $6million difference. Giambi probably has a no trade clause in his contract, and the only teams he would allow to trade to would be west coast team, but mainly to California teams.. Like Sexson, he can't really play first base, so his skills are limited to AL teams.
Damon would be much more appealing trade bait with the Yankees eating some of his salary to make the trade happened, but he also probably has a no trade clause in his contract as well.
Ted, FYI, Giambi has full no-trade protection (and I can't envision him saying yes to Seattle), and Damon can block trades to 18 of the other 29 teams.