Now that Alex Rodriguez has opted out and Joe Girardi has been named the 32nd manager in franchise history, the Yankees can turn their attention to figuring out who will man the hot corner for them next season. There are no shortage of options. Several free agents and potential trades are out there, as well as a couple of in-house options, so let's look at at some of the potential solutions. Miguel Cabrera
Pros - A younger version of Manny Ramirez at the plate, Cabrera can flat out rake. His 162-game averages are .313, 31 home runs and 118 RBI and he's the only player with the potential to produce a reasonable facsimile of Rodriguez's production in the middle of the lineup. He turns 25 next April so he'd be a long-term solution who could be the first great player at the new Yankee Stadium.
Cons - He's also a younger version of Ramirez in the head. Doesn't care much for fielding, which would be a disaster playing next to the aging Derek Jeter. Cares even less for conditioning. Would cost quite a bit in a trade and the Yankees should be resistant to deal any of their young pitching.
Mike Lowell
Pros - Lowell is a terrific fielder, clutch hitter and the reigning World Series MVP. His salary would be reasonable and he'd be a much better clubhouse guy than the man he'd be replacing. Signing him would take him away from the Red Sox.
Cons - Doesn't seem inclined to leave the Red Sox and they don't seem inclined to let him leave. He'd demand at least a three-year deal, which is a dicey proposition since he'll be 34 before next season starts. Has had injury problems to boot.
Joe Crede
Pros - A Gold Glove caliber fielder with good pop in his bat. Crede missed most of 2007 with an injury and the White Sox found out that Josh Fields could play in the big leagues. That makes him tradeable and Johnny Damon would fill a need for the White Sox.
Cons - The reason he missed most of the season was lower back surgery and back injuries are rarely totally cured. His agent is Scott Boras.
Adrian Beltre
Pros - Rebounded from an awful 2005 with decent years in 2006 and 2007 and might be completely rejuvenated by a departure from Seattle where he's seen as a bit of a bust because of his contract. Good power, good glove and good speed.
Cons - The Yankees prefer players who get on base to players like Beltre. His agent is Scott Boras.
Robinson Cano
Pros - Played third base in the minor leagues and moving him would allow the Yanks to get someone like Orlando Hudson to play second base.
Cons - Has said he won't move to third base.
Wilson Betemit
Pros - Is in-house so the Yankees could use their blood and treasure to fill other needs. Mashes lefty pitching.
Cons - Is mashed by righty pitching.
Mike Lamb
Pros - Lefty swinger who could form a low-cost, league average platoon with Betemit.
Cons - Does anyone really think the Yankees are looking for a low-cost, league average solution?
Aaron Boone
Pros - Hit a pretty big home run for the Yankees in 2003.
Cons - Isn't a very good player.
Alex Rodriguez
Pros - It's fairly well documented that this guy can swing the bat with some effectiveness. If the Yankees sit out the first wave of bidding they may be able to get him for less money than they initially offered.
Cons - Where to start? If the Yankees go back on their refusal to negotiate with him they'll look like wimps, he hasn't gotten the job done in October, he made no friends with the way he handled the decision to opt-out and, well, the list goes on and on.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-30-2007 @ 7:57PM
John F.C. Taylor said...
Rumors have Joe Torre going to Yankees and Don Mattingly following him. I think all the free agents on the Yankees should try to follow Joe. Serve the Yankees right for the way they've treated Joe and others throughout the years. Doesn't matter who they get at 3rd base. With the Steinbrenners in control the team will be too busy looking over their shoulders wondering what's coming from them next to be concerned with playing championship baseball. I feel sorry for Joe Girardi.
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10-30-2007 @ 8:15PM
Patti said...
I AM PRAYING ITS NOT MIKE LOWELL,US RED SOX FANS NEED HIM NEXT SEASON
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10-30-2007 @ 8:28PM
tobrien28 said...
I am praying it is Mike Lowell. That guy can play and is a class act.
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10-30-2007 @ 8:35PM
THE FLASH said...
SCUM IS SCUM ----YANKEE MANGEMENT HAS NOW PROVED TO BE JUST THAT----NO LOYALTY TO ANYONE BUTT THE O MIGHTY DOLLARD.....WHICH WE THE FANS PUT INTO THERE POCKETS,,,SORRY NOT ME FOR A LONG WHILE IM THINKING. LEFT THE KNICKS AFTER THEY SIGNED EWING THAT LAST TIME...WAS I RIGHT THEN , THE KNICKS ARE A JOKE FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW AND NOW SO IS THE NBA AND THEY KNOW IT.......
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10-31-2007 @ 12:41PM
Jon Mulford said...
It's simple, Joe Torre goes to LA and A-Rod is a few steps behind. New York will have to get at least two great hitters in rotation at 3rd to fill A-Rod's spot
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10-30-2007 @ 8:55PM
Jamie said...
Whoever they get will be as good as A-Rod, all this hype about him being the best in baseball is overblown. He might have been one of the best back in the day, but he peaked before he came to the Yankee's. He is on the down side of his baseball career. If you get a chance take a look at a montage that ESPN did on A-Rod, you will clearly see that his bat speed has slowed, he doesn't move as well as he once did, fielding is not in Brooks Robinson's league. Not wishing A-Rod any bad karma, the fact is he has reached the age when you have to be concerned about injuries. There is the next A-Rod out there and the Yankee's can certainly find a replacement for him, maybe even a winner this time.
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10-30-2007 @ 8:57PM
CARLOS DIAZ said...
It does not matter who plays 3rd base for the Yankees. They need to get rid of their AllStar mentality and start focusing on young prospects. Its been proven, by the Yankees, that to buy a team of all stars will not guarantee a championship. Look at the Red Sox. Ortiz was a nobody when he signed with them. Ramirez was a nobody too. And their young kids like Pedroia, Jacoby, Youkilis, etx took them all the way to the top.
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10-30-2007 @ 9:13PM
rob said...
How is offering a guy 5 million a year plus incentives treating him badly?
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10-30-2007 @ 9:21PM
Ralph Garcia said...
The Yankees need to put Robinson Cano at third base. In his vacant spot from second, they need to put prospect Bronson Sardinha. This kid was impressive late in the season for the Yankees. Now to replace A-Rod's power, Bobby Abreu needs to start hitting more home runs. Don't forget this guy hit 30 HRs twice with the Phillies. He's a humble guy in the mold of Roger Maris. At the all-star home run derby in Detroit in 20005, he hit a record 41 HRs. One of them went 517-feet. It would have been longer if not stopped by a pole. Simply put the Yankees also need to start manufacturing runs. In 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, they got on base by either taking the bases on ball, hit and running, bunting, sacrifice fly. It helped them to chip away at one run at a time. Notice that the 2002 Angels (Eckstein, Kennedy)and 2004 Red Sox (CoCo Crisp, Dave Roberts)also won this way. The Red Sox hit and ran twice with Mike Lowell in Game 4 of the world series and got them a win.
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10-30-2007 @ 9:34PM
Yankee Hater said...
I dont want to see any of the Boston players go to the Skankees...keep your team...Red sox #1 all the way
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10-30-2007 @ 9:44PM
CARLOS GARCIA said...
Wow,and still nobody has notice where the real trouble is with the Yankees.First, the big boss is not the problem, but the solution to keeping a winning Team in NY.He takes our money and spends it on good players! so he gets my vote for boss of the century. BUT, his biggest mistake and for the likes of me I don't know why he keeps this guy around is BRYAN CASHMEN, this guy thinks the only thing you need is hitting and no pitching.He has gone after all the big names in hitting and none on the pitching.And yes, I agree with my fellow fan, they should keep producing younger players.
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10-30-2007 @ 9:45PM
tobrien28 said...
Manny was a no one? Youkilis is a kid? Where do you get your information?
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10-31-2007 @ 4:50PM
j0e said...
hey u.. yah the redsox fans nobody cares wat the hell u want, who u want or anything involving the scrubby redsox.. Get off the yankee's jocks and stop bein scared.. wow u guys won a world series u still dont compare u homo's and get ur fat asses off the couch and do something with your disgusting unshaven, unbathed, still virgin lives
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10-30-2007 @ 10:21PM
Steve said...
Girardi is a lot like Billy Martin. He had a lot of young kids at Miami. He may have a problem managing a bunch of premadonnas in N.Y. The Yankees liked Torre and his low key attitude. This guy is different.
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10-30-2007 @ 11:05PM
John said...
I see that little creep Alper crawled out form under a rock again.
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10-30-2007 @ 11:16PM
jack reigle said...
first base is a bigger issue, A=Rod gone is good because he's too much like Barry Bonds, soaks up all the attention, disrupting the team feeling along the way. Yankees only need to find a Scott Brosius-type player, fix first base, get Posada and Rivera signed, and let the team re-form around the idea of playing, not starring.
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10-31-2007 @ 12:15AM
boomer said...
i wouldn't give up on wilson betemit yet . one poor year doesn't wash up a talent : he's still young . i think the dodgers will rue the day they gave up on wilson and basically gave him away to the yankees . put him at third and let him play every day .
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10-31-2007 @ 4:55PM
wag said...
It doesn't matter who they get. The Billy Martin era of the '80s is back and the Yankees will not be very good without Torre and Arod.
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10-31-2007 @ 4:35AM
KingGreat said...
I was going to comment on the matter at hand, but I got totally sidetracked by #6. Ramirez was a nobody? He hit 200 home runs for Cleveland in 6 years. I'm not even going to get into Youkilis being a "kid", and the fact that superior pitching (read: Beckett)actually put them in a better position rather than small ball hitters. Nice post. Yawn.
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10-31-2007 @ 12:08PM
KingGreat said...
You guys are killing me. Bronson Sardinhia, Melky's evil twin? Cashman is dumb? Bobby Abreu has to hit more HR's? You'll see a free agent 3rd baseman signing. No way the Yankees let A-Rod go without giving New Yorkers something in return to placate them. Cashman needs to get pitching? Where? Forget how Barry Zito and Jeff Suppan command ridiculous contracts and GET THEM. Look at how pitching is locked up. You still have to wait another year for Johann as it is- an ace who was locked up for years by a team that despises shelling large contracts. Oh, yeah, Abreu needs to hit more HR's. I like that. Wang- you need to keep the ball down, Giambi- you need to stop being such a pull hitter, Johnny- you need to tell your legs to work like they did in KC. I wiggled my nose. It's done.
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