Odd Man Out

The Pros and Cons of The Outfielders

Nick Swisher:

Pros:

-Switch hitter. One of the biggest advantages Swisher holds over the other three outfielders is his ability to bat from both sides of the plate. This would allow for a more flexible lineup, and create a lineup that would be very similar to that of the 1998 Yankees..

-Walking ability. Swisher, is probably the best out of this group of 4 at walking. He has averaged 93 walks in the last three seasons, peaking at 100 in ‘07, and dipping to 82 in ’08. Getting on base allows for more runs to be scored, Swisher scored 86 runs last season, while batting just .219, the walks surely allowed for him to have that production.

-Power. Swisher also has the most power out of this group. He will give you on average 25 homers, and still has the potential to reach 30-35. Having power in the bottom of the lineup is always a plus.

-Flexible and Solid. Swisher has the physical ability to play all the outfield positions and even 1B, with at least average fielding ability. He is best in the outfield, but he provides flexibility for injury or rest days, and is sound in providing it.

-Age. Swisher is the youngest of this group of outfielders, at just 28. He is currently in his prime and should provide production until his contract runs out.

Cons:

-Strike Outs. Though Swisher walks a lot, he, like many hitters, seems to be hurt by the strike out. He has struck out at least 110 times in each of his four full seasons, but tends to be more around the 130-140 range. Being productive, however, could lessen the effect of this.

-Batting Average. When it comes to this category, Swisher is far from a star, however, there is potential to hit higher. Last season was a struggle for Swisher, and there was talk he was unhappy, a change in scenery should help boost his average. Keep in mind Brosius batted .203 before coming to the Yankees.

-Base Stealing. Swisher provides little ability to steal bases, though he isn’t a bad base runner. Speed is always a plus when it comes to close games and late innings, and with a lineup already lacking that ability, Swisher provides no help.

Xavier Nady

Pros:

-Balance. Nady provides a good balance in all of the offensive categories, not being fantastic at any one. He is probably just above average in most categories, and you could most likely expect at least .280 20 80 from him next season.

-Right Handed. Though not looking to be such a big issue this season, Nady could provide a right handed bat for the part of lineup, which will probably be more left handed.

-Super Utility. Like Swisher, Nady also has the ability to play all outfield positions and first and third base. He could play the corners above average, first and third (probably) average, and center above or slightly below average. Having him could allow for rest, or a position change given an injury occurs.

-Age. Nady is still just 30 years old, and with a contract only extending to the end of the season, he will be in his prime for the season.

Cons:

-Poor K/BB ratio. Nady lacks the ability to get on base via the walk, which alone isn’t a problem. However, with his newly found power, he has also found the ability to strike out. Coming close to, or going over 100 K’s in each of the last 3 seasons, Nady might not be a good fit for what may seem like an impatient lower half of the lineup as it is. He will strike out nearly 3 times as much as he will walk.

-Speed. Again, Nady is a player who can run the bases fine, but when it comes to stealing, he isn’t your guy. I would say his base stealing ability is below average, especially for an outfielder.

-New York Pressure. Overall Nady had a great 2008 season, however, the time spent with the Yankees was less than expected. His AVG and OBP took major hits, while his power seemed to be helped by the ballpark. The question is, can Nady be as good a player in New York as he was for the Bucs.

Hideki Matsui

Pros:

-Consistency. When it comes to being consistent, Matsui is among the best. When he is healthy, he will always drive in 100 runs and hit 20 homers. He is a middle to bottom of the order weapon.

-Toughness. Matsui is one of those guys that hates to not be playing, and even apologizes when he gets hurt. He displays a tremendous amount of physical and mental toughness, and always wants to be out there providing for the team. He always hustles and tries his best, he is a true warrior.

-Balance. Much like Nady, Matsui also provides a good balance within the offensive categories, however, he is probably a level up from Nady. He is not overwhelmingly good at any one category, but his makes him a solid player.

Cons:

-Age and Health. Unfortunately for Hideki, he is 34 going on 35, and age has taken a toll on his body. Injury has plagued him for the last 3 seasons, and he has missed large portions of 2006 and 2008. He is surely past his prime now, but can he be counted on to provide one more good year?

-DH. With his deteriorated knees, Matsui is likely relegated to DH, and only DH. His range was never tremendous, but now it will surely be below average. His effectiveness on the team could be reduced by being the full time DH.

-Double Plays. Considering the majority of pitchers faced are righties, Matsui always provides a hurt for all the good he provides, 55 GDP against righties in the majors. He is extremely prone to grounding in to the double play, and less productive Matsui coupled with a less productive Posada could mean disaster.

Johnny Damon

Pros:

-Speed. Unlike the other outfielders in this group, Damon can actually provide some speed. Though not quite game changing, 25-30 swipes could probably be expect from a healthy Johnny.

-Leadoff Man. If Brett Gardner were to have a bad spring, or not be able to adjust to the majors in 2009, Damon could be the leadoff man. He probably has enough left to provide good enough production for the one spot in 2009.

-Leadership and Personality. From what I’ve heard, Damon carries himself very well on and off the field. It’s evident he wants to have fun out there, but he also knows what it takes to get to the top. He is a very good influence on the youth, plus he apparently convinced CC to come to the Yanks.

Cons:

-Age and Health. As might be expected, Damon’s age causes health concerns, and has done a lot to make him less of a player. He isn’t getting any younger, and the season is long, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him spend some time on the DL in 2009. Last year was a rebound year for Damon, after a pretty bad 2007, but it seems unlikely that he can repeat his last season again.

-Fielding Ability. The range of Damon in the outfield is beginning to decrease as each year goes on, and with fielding always being among the top concerns, this is a problem. Not only is his range poor, his arm is among the worst in the majors (in my opinion), and that often allows for players to get an extra base.

-Money. If the Yankees are looking to dump a contract, not make a more positionally flexible roster, Damon, like Matsui, is the guy you point the finger at. He is going to make $13 million next season, which seems too much for a 35 year old.

Conclusion:

To conclude, I believe that Nady and Matsui should be the players put on the trading block. However, due to Matsui’s recent injury history, I think dealing him is highly unlikely, which would move Damon into that position. Therefore, Nady and Damon become the Yankees trade bait. The Yankees should start to test the waters now, just to see what kind of interest can be sparked. Like I said, I pick Damon over Matsui to be traded because he is healthier, and might gather more attention. Nady, however, was picked for other reasons. Each player provides similar abilities fielding and flexibility wise, though to me, Swisher is the better player. With his power, walk, and production abilities, not to mention he is a switch hitter who is 2 years younger, he has a clear advantage. I see Swisher bouncing back from his awful season last year, and potentially scoring 80-100 runs while providing that same amount of walks. Thanks for reading, what are your opinions?