Let’s pretend the Yankees really are interested in Jim Edmonds, as reported. It will give us something to write about.
The latest episode in the Yankees season-defining drama “The 4th Outfielder” has apparently placed former Top Play mainstay Jim Edmonds as the next player the team is targeting. The first question that comes to mind is: why? Edmonds, while once a perennial gold glove defender with a bat ranging from solid to great, will turn 40 over the course of the season and did not play at all in 2009. While this would make him prime for a buy low option, it does not seem like a prudent option for the Yankees. His current work in the outfield makes Johnny Damon look like Joe Dimaggio, sporting a -23.3 UZR/150 in his last full season, and despite posting a .822 OPS in 2008, one would have to expect a signicant regression this season, no matter what ballpark he is playing in. Even though Edmonds would only be brought in as a backup and wouldn’t see a great deal of plate appearances barring an injury, the Yankees would be wise to stay away from him and leave the reclamation projects to Theo and friends.
22 Comments
Kevin S. January 23, 2010 10:25
Last year, before Teix and Swish, I advocated Edomds as a platoon-mate for Nady. This year, with the Yanks needing a righty bat? Not so much.
michael kay January 23, 2010 10:52
Can we please just spend the damn $7million and get damon and his 25+homers. We won a championship with him in left field, let’s just get this over with and win another.
Gil January 23, 2010 11:11
The Yankees need to make a move to counter the Mets’ acquisition of Gary Matthews Jr. That’s why they’re interested.
Rob A from BBD January 23, 2010 11:39
That would give the Yankees 3 outfielders who could use a caddy against tough lefties.
Alvaro Fernandez Ravelo January 23, 2010 11:53
It must’ve been George Constanza who called him …
Business Suit January 23, 2010 11:58
Damon has never hit 25 homers.
Joe Morgan January 23, 2010 12:50
Jim edmonds is exactly the type of gamer the Yankees need if they’re going to compete with the red sox.
Voomo Zanzibar January 23, 2010 15:09
I know i’ve mentioned this a few times, but how many outfielders do we need when our only infield backup is Ramiro Pena?
Tejada is about to go back to the Orioles.
If we need all these backups in case people get hurt, why arent we worried about Jeter and Rodriguez? Over 300 PA.s last year from Berroa, Ransom, Pena, and Hairston.
Aaron Boone?
Morgan Ensberg January 23, 2010 19:53
I hear I’m not doing much these days.
Memories Off Anime January 23, 2010 21:25
I think Kevin Russo is doing okay in the minors
and Reegie Corona is on the MiLB site new today as far as infield, and I agree, infield should be a bigger priority than the outfield. Then again, for the last few years the OF at AAA were occupied by Colin Curtis and Austin Jackson, plus a few veterans..
Jerry Hairston Jr January 23, 2010 23:16
We won a championship with him in left field, let’s just get this over with and win another.
Actually, that was me in LF.
Rob Jackieson January 24, 2010 02:44
Since when do the Yankees have a time machine that allows them to go back and sign players from 2001?
JoeThunder January 24, 2010 07:53
Jim Edmonds would have helped us out from 1999 – 2004 if we had him but too bad we didn’t. We didn’t need him then and we don’t need him now. No knock on Edmonds, he was a fine ballplayer, but truth be told the man is done. Hence, why he played 0 games last season. If anything we should make a push for Bo Jackson.
Steve January 24, 2010 08:04
Cashman denied there is anything to this.
Which is basically the case whenever a rumor connects the Yankees to a crappy player.
Kevin S. January 24, 2010 11:24
Why would Tejada have taken a backup role? Jeter and A-Rod are going to DH/sit, what, 15 games a year? That’s only 30 games on the left side of the infield for Tejada. He’s no longer good enough with the bat to DH. Your backup plans for the left side of the infield are entirely illogical.
Voomo Zanzibar January 24, 2010 12:47
Kevin, i was suggesting that maybe jeter and a-rod could be made to see the benefit of DHing more like 30-50 games per year. That would give Miggy 60-100 games in the field, and be the DH vs lefties.
Defensive downgrade?
Sure.
Is he done with the bat?
Led the league in doubles… and double plays last year.
So no/yes.
My point is not to replace our two hall of famers with an aging Miguel Tejada.
Just looking at backup solutions other than Ramiro Pena.
Kevin S. January 24, 2010 13:46
I find it highly unlikely that either player would accept DHing that often, and given that they play at a high level even with taking the field the vast majority of the days, I’m not sure I see the benefit in running out a player who’s inferior in the field to them and inferior with the stick to Johnson in something like half their games, all to avoid Ramiro Pena getting something like 100 PA.
Kevin S. January 24, 2010 13:57
By the way, Nick Johnson’s got no demonstrated platoon disadvantage over the course of his career, even showing a slight reverse-platoon split. He’s only got 810 career PA againts lefties, so maybe we should regress it a bit against the standard lefty platoon split (I think it’s like 50 points of OPS), but even still, there’s no reason to think Tejada hits lefties any better than Johnson does at this point in their careers. Pena is going to start maybe 15-20 games giving A-Rod and Jeter a blow. Given his solid glove, I’m completely fine with that. It’s not worth marginalizing Johnson just to remove him and create a scenario A-Rod and Jeter won’t be on board with anyway.
Voomo Zanzibar January 24, 2010 14:01
Yes, agreed.
But wouldn’t you like to have to have SOMEBODY on the roster who can both hit and play shortstop, or third base, or second base?
Sure, Cano is young and healthy, but Anyone can get hurt. Right now we can lose an outfielder to injury without taking too much of a hit. We’ve got no backup for three skill-position players, two of whom are over 35.
Berroa, Ransom, Rena, and Hairston got 324 plate appearances last year. All on the infield except for ten OF starts for Jerry Jr.
That’s 1/18th of all Yankee AB’s.
Negligible? Maybe.
But what happens when another catcher sits on Jeter’s head in game 2?
Kevin S. January 24, 2010 14:23
If he’s out for a significant enough period of time, Cashman will trade for somebody, but nobody good is going to sign with the Yanks to be a long-shot insurance policy.
Butcher January 25, 2010 07:49
I’d rather see Gardner start over Edmonds. That’s for sure. I don’t think it makes sense to platoon Edmonds either. There has to be a better option…even if they’re passing on Damon. Another name I hear being tossed around that makes me cringe…Jermaine Dye…please…..NO!
Shelley Duncan January 25, 2010 23:12
PEOPLE USED TO SAY I COULD BE THE NEXT JIM EDMONDS! *SMASH*