SS-Jeter
CF-Beltran
3B-A-rod
3B-Sheff
LF-Matsui
1B/DH-Giambi
C-Posada
2B-Cano
1B/DH-Phillips

Oh well...

With Giles in CF and Shef in RF, that would be the toughest one-two punch in the majors.

Why can't we just resign Matsui, move him to CF (where even Torre admitted he is most comfortable), move Giles to LF, and keep Shef in RF.

Alvaro . . . I would add the decision to choose Sheffield over Vlad two years ago. In spite of Vlad's disappearance in the post season, I'd rather the prospect of him in RF for the next few years than Sheff's slow decline into DH.

Like even tougher than A-Rod and Sheff?

also: while posada is my first choice behind the plate next year, if we are so eager to move him, why aren't we more actively courting jojima? (the nydailynews is the only place that's go it)

As for Andruw Jones, he'll be younger than Matsui is now when he becomes a free agent after 2007, and his power spiked this year, but his other stats were consistant with his career numbers.

Meanwhile, Alvaro and RI are dead on about Beltran and Vlad. Sigh. Alex and I had dinner with Jay Jaffe and Christina Kahrl last night. Christina asked us what we thought about the Yankees' struggles this season. Jay said it proved we were all right about the moves the Yankees had (or hadn't) made. Frankly, I've never been less pleased about being right.

Patterson is an OBP nightmare, but he's got pop and is an effective basestealer. He'll give you league average defense. He certainly is worth a shot if it comes down to Bubba.

Rowand would be ideal, however. But I'm not as optimistic as Johnny C about the White Sox being willing to trade him, let alone so cheaply.

But no way can he play CF full-time for the Yanks. He just can't. Doesn't have the arm or the legs. Baseball in Japan is different. Don't be fooled by the numbers he put up there.

Frankly, I'd rather give Bubba a chance in CF. He'll never be a big hitter, but I think he can be the kind of guy who gets on base one way or another.

As a high-risk-high-reward variation, what about trading for one of the Sox' blue-chippers instead? I have always maintained that, with up-the-middle-players, the younger you start with them the better.

As for JohnnyC's suggestion of the White Sox trading for Womack to be DH, can Ozzie be THAT dumb? Doesn't a DH, by definition, have to be a hitter?

Though admittedly I have no idea how his numbers are in CF.

I also don't see the need to trade Sheffield for any old CF, Rowland or otherwise. I'd much rather have Sheff at DH and Giles in RF - if that's doable - for all the great reasons mentioned above. Cake - the Yanks should have it and eat it too.

Any idea why Sheff wouldn't love this plan? The idea of the same paycheck for less work seems like a pretty sweet deal. He'd be the monster DH we haven't had since... since...

Anwyay a guy like Sheffield batting DH would be plenty good.

I just realized a reason Sheff may not want to DH is because he wants an MVP award? Maybe that's why he was so bitter about not winning it in 2004? Maybe he fears moving to DH will mean there's no way he'll win one? I don't know.

http://www.sptimes.com/News/012301/Sports/Trouble_will_find_you.shtml

Guys, as long as the Yanks can get the pitching situated, Bubba in CF for one year is an appreciable upgrade from the 2005 duo of Williams/Womack. Why can't we just leave it at that?

For his season last year, as about the 10th best CF in baseball, he was paid approximately $17 million and will be paid that for the next six years. That contract looks like a terrible value now. The Yankees did indeed have a weakness coming into the 2005 season in CF, but I'm glad that they didn't just throw money at the problem and get tied down in that onerous contract.

I was even more astounded at his drop-off this year... talk about being a non-factor. That bell-ringing he had didn't help, but just a terrible debut year. Yes, the non-signing looks good right now. Lucky maybe, but still good.

I'm with brockdc (#31) — given the age/contract/trade cost of the current crop of FAs or tradeable CFers, I would still lean toward giving Bubba the shot, then see who's on the mid-season trading block. He'd improve offensively if playing every day, and we could use his speed on the bases.

Also, very glad to hear the possibility of Tino staying with the club in some coaching capacity. A consummate Yankee and a class act. On that note, anyone hear of Roy White's status?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2221393

How bout Furcal in center, batting leadoff? Is he worth 4 yr/$40 mil?

And besides, if we sign Matsui AND Giles, thats already another 75 million at least (3 years for 25M for Giles, prob. 5 years for at least 50M for Hitdeki) spent on two older outfielders who can't play defense. Not exactly addressing this team's biggest needs, which are getting younger, getting better D, and getting a bullpen...

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.758
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Not exactly a #5 hitter. With his career OBA hovering around .348, he's not the ideal #1 hitter either. He'd end up in the #1 or #2 slot, though, cause if the Yanks are paying him $10M/yr, he better not be betting in the bottom third of the order. He is fast, and he steals at a high percentages (career 189 for 242 - 78%), but he has never played CF before. What if he sucks? Then what do you do with him? Play him at 2B and trade Cano?

I don't like the idea of signing Furcal to play CF. I'd rather play Crosby there this year and then sign someone next year or trade for someone as the trade deadline approaches.

Oh yeah, in case anyone is curious, Brian Giles career CF Rate is 98. A bit below average, but nothing horrible. His career Rate in LF is 104.

A trade for Wilkerson wouldn't be horrible, as long as we don't give up the farm for him (career CF Rate is 100). But he had an off year last year and strikes out a lot (FYI: career OPS .817).

The Giles talk makes sense to me as a stop-gap measure that ensures the post-Sheff transition is smooth. He's essentially going to be a very similar player to Sheffield the next three years. He's going to hit, and hit well, but become less and less effective in the field. Meanwhile, Vernon Wells will be available come next off-season, and the Yanks, who won't have to resign Sheff, will be able to use money to sign him.

For 2005-2006, an outfield of Giles, Matsui, and Bubba will be fine because Sheffield will take the majority of bats at DH (and god knows he needs to play less in the field). Bubba can track all the fly balls that promise to get away from Hideki and Giles while he hits .250 with 4 homeruns. It won't matter because our line-up will be ridiculous (or some word that hasn't been created yet) with Jeter, A-Rod, Giambi, Sheff, Giles, Matsui, Posada, and Cano. No weak DH to ruin the dominance in 205-2006. No Ruben Sierra.

Exactly. Plus, who knows? If given 500 AB's, perhaps Bubba can do even better than that baseline (though I wouldn't expect it). I wouldn't be shocked to see him bat .270 with 10 homers. And, if he can do that, well, hell, he'd already be better than three quarters of the FA's available at that position this winter.

I say forget CF for THIS year, and use a kid. If it turns out really horrible, we can get someone mid-season.

Save our money for '07 or '08 when there is a really attractive OF'er on the market. Lets spend for the pen and the bench. If we had a good pen and good bench last year, we would have breezed into the PS. Almost ANYONE we play in CF will equal last year's production.... better it with luck (Melky, etc).

With taxes going up every year, we are in for a BIG fall if we need to spend $200 mil for a winning team. We need to promote from within, and see what we have. Now is a good time to start.

We don't have to go after a stud for every position every year.

No need to hurry, as our needs will be dictated on signing Konerko and/or someone else. But the Sox will have a need.