"I consider this position I’m playing in as a bench role," said Cashman. "Right-handed hitting outfielder that Joe can look on the bench and say, I’m not going to start one of my left-handers, I’m going to start a right-hander."

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And on Monday, they announced the signing of Marcus Thames to a minor-league deal.

"He hits left-handed pitching well and we know him as a person so we will see where it takes us," Brian Cashman said of the career .256 hitter with a .516 slugging percentage and 40 homers and 105 RBIs in 620 at-bats against lefties.

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Well, that's all fine and dandy, but...

Thames versus LHP: .256/.329/.516 in 691 PAs
Reed Johnson versus LHP: .313/.378/.463 in 1027 PAs

Thames career UZR/150 in LF: -12.2
R. Johnson career UZR/150 in LF: +23.3

Johnson signed for $800k. Thames gets $900k if he makes the team. Johnson was a better option than Thames and came cheaper (if Thames makes the team).

While it seems to be sacrilege to critique the Yankees front office nowadays (is the Kool-Aid coming south?), we're not afraid to say that Cashman & Co could have used their remaining funds better.

Eric Hinske + Reed Johnson > Randy Winn + Marcus Thames