No on Crawford.

Also, it is a little misleading to use 3-year numbers because 2008 was an outlier year for Jeter, so it does weight him down.

AL RF last three years (09 08 07) slugging: 0.451 0.459 0.465
avg of last three: 0.458

Jeter last three years slugging: 0.465 0.408 0.452
avg of last three: 0.441

AL RF OBP last three: 0.353 0.351 0.355
avg of last three: 0.353

Jeter last three OBP: 0.406 0.363 0.388
avg of last three: 0.386

AL RF avg OPS over last three: .811
Jeter avg OPS last three years: .827

So Jeter has less power but better OBP than the AVERAGE RF.
Do the Yankees want a near average RF?

[21] His power might be below average for those positions, but his OBP more than makes up for it, and most analysis has shown OBP correlates better to run production. OPS actually penalizes Jeter because it weights SLG and OPS equally, but OPS+ does make up for this a little bit (albeit inadvertently), and Jeter has scored well in that regard.

[18] I’ll look up the possible FA list and post it, but it’s better than this year in the outfield. Also, Jeter’s power over the last three years is average or just below for RF and that shows up in his OPS (a stat I hate but don’t have a substitute for).

[17] What FAs do you think are better next season? Halladay is one, but he could wind up signing an extension if he is traded. I really haven’t looked recently, but remember not being impressed by both the 2010 and 2011 free agent classes.

As for Jeter, with the exception of 2008, his offense has been plenty good enough to play elsewhere, probably going back as far 1998.

On the other hand, a one year contract would obviously be amazing for the Yankees with either player if they can get it. I looked at Posada’s numbers versus Matsui’s and was really surprised to see that Po has consistently better power (and OPS). That made me realize how much the DH will be useful for PO (and the Yanks) down the road and even next year.

I’m frustrated by how many people think the plan should be for Jeter to use the DH slot. When Jeter doesn’t occupy the shortstop spot in the lineup, his offense relative to position drops dramatically. He can’t be a corner outfielder and he certainly can’t be a DH without hurting the lineup. When Jeter needs a day off from the field, he needs to take a day off from the lineup too – which is certainly no big deal.

I would think that they would want to sign with a team where they could get playing time so that they could get a bigger contract. A situation like Orlando Cabrera’s comes to mind.

I was actually more conservative than the ’2 years for Damon and Matsui’ crowd. My sense was to try to get Matsui for a year, because I think Damon might get 3. At the least Damon gets Abreu numbers, surely. (Though Abreu also probably caps what JD can command.) Cashman DOES want to get younger, everyone does, but we won the WS with veterans. (Only one piece I have read has made this point, how it cuts against what everyone was saying in spring, how youth was now the mantra with steroids gone, etc.)

And I refuse to buy into a minor leaguer as a guaranteed massive bat for a decade and a half. Ask Texas and KC about their guarantees in Blalock or Alex “Return of George Brett” Gordon. These superprospects show up in 4-5 places every season. And 2-3 years later there’s a lot of headshaking.

I like the idea of a good 4th OF’er (maybe a Marlon Byrd), but think that requires that you bring back both Damon and Matsui.

The alternative is to get a Holliday (or trade for someone off the radar) and also bring back Matsui or Damon.

What I think the Yankees can’t do is subtract from this offense. Just about everyone had had very good years, so while I can see Alex and Tex being better, it is possible that everyone else could see a drop off. The Yankees shouldn’t make the mistake of 2008, which was to think they had enough offense to allow for outs in the lineups.

I would like the Yankees to target one bat—it doesn’t have to be an impact bat, just a solid hitter—that can play some OF. Unless both Matsui and Damon return, and we agree that is unlikely, this team will probably need another OF to play in LF or DH or at least provide bench depth.

[7] Damon is more versatile, but his defense is getting to the point that his versatility is actually a negative. Matsui is probably a more valuable player because he doesn’t have the negative defensive contribution of Damon. The fact of the matter is both are DHs, so I think the only thing that should be used to differentiate between them is how you think they’ll do with that bat going forward.

In other news, looks like the Jays are going to trade Lyle Overbay to the NL. After those four difference making years he had in Toronto, its only fair that they allow him to bring some other team to the great heights he took Toronto to.

But then I start thinking about who is more likely to break down over the course of a long season, Matsui batting 4 times a game and spending the rest of the day hanging out in the dugout with his feet up and eating sunflower seeds…or Damon hitting 4 times a game whilst going on his excellent adventures out in left.

Both of their bats are hugely valuable, but so much of Damon’s strength comes from his legs…and I don’t know how long those are going to hold up. Was him leaving Game 6 early a sign of things to come?

Personally I offer both of them 2 year deals with one year guaranteed and a club option/big fat buyout for the second year.