Defense is the new offense, right? Boras and Damon kinda missed that one, no?

You could say the exact same thing about Gardner. The Yanks have a strikeout/flyball oriented staff – no one who’s starting for the Yanks in 2010 had a groundball rate over 42.9% in 2009, unless Mitre makes a start or two – and only two guys who I expect to pitch some innings in the bullpen (Mo and Melancon) cracked 50%. Having a superb defender in LF + a guy who can probably keep his OBP at league average (.a 325 OBP is NOT replacement level; IIRC league average OBP in 2009 was around .335) is sufficient. It may be beyond sufficient, because the thing everyone forgets about Damon is that he had a career year last year at age 35. The odds of him declining in terms of offense this year are sky-high. A typical Damon year – .288/.355/.439 – docked a bit for being 36, plus his craptastic defense, is probably not all that far off in terms of wins than a .335OBP + superb defense out of Winn and Gardner.

In short – I, for one, welcome our Randy new overlord.

With his defense, speed and health factored in, Winn is a very useful player. Ideally, he’d be a 4th outfielder, but if the Yankees have to rely on him, they wont be in bad shape.

As for Swisher, his 2009 season was right in line with his 2006 and 2007. The year that stands out as an aberration is 2008, so the Yankees should be confident in expecting another season similar to last year’s.

a) Is Gardner really a platoon candidate? He has consistently hit lefties slightly better than righties. If the Yankees have an outfielder that is exposed against righties, it’s Granderson, and even his lefty/righty splits were not so bad outside of Comerica Park. As for Granderson hitting lefties in Yankee Stadium, his homer off of Mike Myers in Game One of the 2006 ALDS began the unravelling of the Yankees’ run (i.e. it caused Torre to leave Moose in the game to face Granderson in Game Two, and after Granderson trippled, Torre fell into panic/pushbutton mode).

b) The “righty-masher” would have been used largely as a late-inning pinch-hitter for Gardner and Granderson. Reed Johnson does not have good numbers as a pinch hitter.

c) When a players’ offensive numbers drop off the cliff at age 35, it’s generally not a fluke. In Winn’s case, however, his high line-drive rate and low BABIP suggest that his drop-off may have been just that.

d) The Yankees’ OF/DH arsenal is going from Swisher/Gardner/Damon/Matsui/Melky to Swisher/Gardner/Granderson/Johnson/Winn. Swisher’s 2009 season was in line with his career norms, so we can expect him to maintain his (streaky) production. Gardner is likely to improve. Granderson is a huge defensive upgrade over Damon, and Granderson/Johnson should be a slight offensive upgrade over Damon/Matsui (especially considering that Damon and Matsui far exceeded expectations last year and are due for significant regression). Winn, at his age, is a bit of a downgrade from Melky, but Yankees’ net upgrade at OF/DH is still sizeable.

Well, they DID bring A-Rod back … (but I forget if that was after A-Rod ditched Boras temporarily)

When you look at the Winn signing in logical or measurable terms, it’s a head-scratcher. When you factor in pride, and the Yankees’ attitude toward Boras, it all makes perfect sense.

I think Cash would have signed me to play LF before he capitulated to Boras (or rewarded Damon for casting his lot with the guy).

I am also one of those irrationally relaxed about Gardner batting 9th in CF or LF. I agree with the comment above about part of Cash’s job being to keep the blogosphere in stories till pitchers and catchers.

I saw a 10 year deal being floated for Mauer. That has to be 200 million, you know. Twinkies will have to make other moves if they lock up that kind of money. I see it as a small market crisis. Keep Mauer, release the players who help him make you a playoff contender (in a fortunately weak division).

I appreciate the effort!

[3] i agree with your first statement. which makes me wonder why cash didn’t just save the $2M for later in the season when he can make a mid-season trade.

if nothing else, it’s a Winn?-doh! of opportunity for those of us who appreciate 4th grade level puns.”

Just keep the puns clean, people. We don’t want anything randy here.

I just wonder if Cashman realizes part of his job is to give stories to the papers/radio/blogosphere including WTF stories. That would explain signing Winn.

Now I’m thinking you’ve gotta feel bad for a guy who’s getting booed in the blogsphere before his first at-bat. Here’s hoping Winn’s a productive Yankee.

if nothing else, it’s a Winn?-doh! of opportunity for those of us who appreciate 4th grade level puns.

Winn is going to be used like Dave Roberts in Boston, not Damon last year.

I like the signing. It’s cold hearted but it’s about winning now and in the long run.