The 2013 Outfield

By On February 3, 2012 · 12 Comments · In Roster Decisions

One of the biggest responses on my post from the other day about the $189M mark and 2014 was that some of you thought that there was no way Nick Swisher would be on the team in 2013, let alone 2014. There is definitely the possibility of this, and while I love Swish on the Yankees for multiple reasons, I can envision a Yankee team without him. As friend of the blog , if the team does make a run at a big time pitcher like Matt Cain or Cole Hamels and only has money for one of those two/Swisher, well, then so long Swish. So I took to the internet and asked people for what they would offer Swisher if he has a typical Nick Swisher year. Before getting into this, it’s worth noting that Curtis Granderson’s contract has a $13M option/$2M buyout for 2013. I’m going to assume that gets picked up; that’s a pretty great price for a center fielder who can hit like Grandy can.

There were a few people that voted for not offering Swisher a contract at all. The most common option I saw was a contract of 4 years/$50M, with one person suggesting a fifth year as an option with a buyout of $2M. There were a few who suggested three years as well, ranging from $32M to $40M. There was one suggestion (a hybrid one) that suggested 3-4 years at 12-14 per year, which would be a minimum of a 3/36 and a maximum of a 4/56.

I think you could make a case for any of those contracts, and probably wouldn’t be too mad about any of them. I’d prefer to overpay than over-commit. Maybe go 3/42 or something like that. Anyway, if you do want to let Swish walk, for whatever reason, the question becomes, “How do you replace him?”

There are ways the Yankees could get creative, and the flexibility (or potential for it) provided by Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson could help answer that question. How? Well, if the Yankees decide to let Swisher go, they’re going to need someone who can replace his production both on offense and on defense. It’s possible that, instead of signing a free agent, the Yankees merely shift their outfielders over. They could convince Curtis Granderson to play right (not saying it’s likely) while Brett Gardner could move to center. Granderson already hits like a corner outfielder and is likely to be good in right. Gardner is a league average hitter who plays spectacular defense; his defense might take a small hit going to center, but I’m willing to bet he’s still a plus-plus defender out there. But, now that I finish writing this paragraph, I realize this doesn’t solve the problem at all; it merely shifts the problem from right field to left field. Unless it’s through a trade, letting Nick Swisher walk means the Yankees will have to sign a free agent to replace him.

You can find the list of outfield free agents here, and it’s not that inspiring. Just about every one of those players has a flaw. The only players there that you can say are definitively better than Nick Swisher are Curtis Granderson (Yankee) and Josh Hamilton, who’s injury prone and a half. If there is an alternative, it’s Hamilton. But, his price tag is likely to be a lot bigger than Swisher’s.

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12 Responses to The 2013 Outfield

  1. Kevin says:
    February 3, 2012 at 11:06 am

    Their is no way the Yankees sign Swisher. With the contracts of Cano and Granderson after 2013 they will use their resources to sign them while still trying to get under the $189 million mark.

    Reply
    • Michael P. says:
      February 4, 2012 at 5:31 pm

      Its a shame because Swisher is the kind of player that can be looked at as a safe signing. Hes about as consistent as anyone in baseball, playing average defense, showing great patience, and hits his 25 homers a year. Power and patience don’t rapidly decline.

      Reply
  2. Tom Swift says:
    February 3, 2012 at 11:34 am

    Ichiro on a 1 year deal?

    Reply
  3. RYan says:
    February 3, 2012 at 11:43 am

    Cano’s a must. Granderson could be heading toward a huge payday. Another year of 30-40 HR and 100+ RBI could make him a 20+ mill per year player. With Arod,Tex and Sabathia making big money it might just be too hard to hold onto Granderson, Swisher might just be the more affordable option. Yankees could always slide Gardner over to Center and keep swish in RF.

    Reply
    • roadrider says:
      February 3, 2012 at 12:02 pm

      And who plays LF then? You do realize that you need three OF don’t you?

      Reply
      • RYan says:
        February 3, 2012 at 12:25 pm

        Really three OF? That changes everything….. I dunno sign someone who doesn’t cost 100 mill. Easier to find a LF then a CF.

        Reply
        • roadrider says:
          February 3, 2012 at 12:55 pm

          I dunno sign someone who doesn’t cost 100 mill.

          OK – who?

          Easier to find a LF then a CF.

          Really? Based on what?

          Sorry, no partial credit will be issued for incomplete solutions based on hand waving and unfounded assumptions.

          Reply
          • RYan says:
            February 3, 2012 at 1:23 pm

            My original point was Granderson eventually being too costly for the yankees given their target of 189 by 2014. Keeping swisher and Gardner in the mix would allow them to maintain financial flexibility going forward. It is easier to replace Granderson’s production moving Gardner over to CF and signing a LF who can provide some offense. Partial credit????? ha your ridiculous

            Reply
          • Tom Swift says:
            February 3, 2012 at 3:49 pm

            Are you a math teacher?

            Reply
  4. Plank says:
    February 4, 2012 at 2:36 am

    BJ Upton will be a FA next offseason. I want the Yankees to sign him.

    Reply
  5. Michael P. says:
    February 4, 2012 at 5:08 pm

    They probably wont be signing Cano or Granderson to an extension next offseason because of their policy on contracts. So what it comes down to is how big a move they want to make to add to the rotation, and addressing the catcher situation. If they want to sign Hamels/Cain/Grienke then Swisher is as good as gone. Also they have to either retain Martin or sign M. Montero. I am not exactly comfortable handing over a position like catcher to a rookie, and doubt the Yankees are too.

    Personally I hope the Yankees resign Martin to a 3 or 4 year deal. He communicates well with his pitchers and looks like an above average defensive catcher. These are skills he can teach to Sanchez, JR Murphy, and Romine. I also think he would be cheaper than M. Montero. I would love to see the Yankees sign Hamels/Cain/Grienke if they reach free agency. The Yankees offense can still be effective without Swisher, and pitchers in their prime of Hamels/Cain/Grienke caliber don’t hit free agency often.

    As far as being conscious of extending Cano and Granderson, my hope is that they only resign Cano, and let Granderson walk. He will be 33 by the time he is due for the extension, we have a large well of talent at CF in the minors with Mason Williams, Slade Heathcott, and Ravel Santana, and Gardner can shift to CF in the meantime. Granderson is reliant on speed both in the field and with the bat. He takes poor routes to the ball but can compensate because of his speed, and its his bat speed that he generates all his power from. Can’t see him maintaining this level of production after 33.

    Reply

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