It's been pretty quiet since the end of the World Series, as is the nature of Major League Baseball, but there are still things to talk about. Today, the general manager meetings (not to be confused with the much-more-exciting winter meetings) will begin in Chicago. And with that, our focus will turn to the Yankee free agents and whether they'll be in pinstripes come 2010.
Johnny Damon
In the last year of his 4-year, $52 million contract, Damon had a banner year, hitting .282 and tying his career high of 24 HR. His defense, once acceptable in center field, is now barely acceptable in left. He was invaluable to the Yankees' championship, but moving forward he's nearly a DH defensively and he's lost a ton of the speed that once made him valuable. That being said, Damon's swing in tailor-made for the right field porch and he and the Yankees have mutual love for one another. I could see Damon returning to the Yankees, but he should not get more than a 2-year deal (a 1-year contract would be ideal) and probably should make about half of his '09 salary. As of right now, Damon seems like the most likely candidate to be patrolling left field coming Opening Day 2010.
Hideki Matsui
Matsui is in a similar situation to Damon in that he is coming off an identical contract, had a very good offensive season, offers nothing defensively, and is getting old. The problem is, he's already a DH with two bad knees and, while 2009 was excellent, there's simply no telling when his knees will shelf him. Of course, winning the World Series MVP certainly curried him some favor and, as with Damon, both he and the Yankees like each other. Matsui could easily come back to the Bronx, but only if Damon is not and he's willing to take a one-year deal.
Xavier Nady
Nady missed essentially all of 2009 due to Tommy John surgery, and is entering free agency for the first time of his career. I've heard that Nady is interested in coming back to New York, but I simply don't see it. He doesn't seem like a better bet offensively than either Damon or Matsui, and there are other better corner outfielders to be had. There's no two ways about it: Nady's played his last game for the Yanks.
Andy Pettitte
Andy Pettitte always seems unsure about what he'll do next, but it's hard to see him signing with another team. As with last season, it'll likely be Yankees or retirement for the lefty, and if he does come back he'll probably have more than the $5.5 million guaranteed he got last offseason. With all of the jubilation of winning the World Series, I think Andy will come back with a similar contract, provided guidance for Chamberlain and Hughes in the rotation.
Chien-Ming Wang
I don't think Chien-Ming Wang is a free agent yet, but the Yankees might release him, essentially making him one. Wang was always one of my favorites, which made it difficult for me when the Yankees always seemed to mistreat him by going to arbitration over $600,000 and refusing to offer him a multi-year contract. It turns out they were right, as Wang never fully healed from his foot injury in 2008 and he lost his 2009 as well. I think Wang can be an effective pitcher once more, but he has a lot to prove and I just can't see the Yankees guaranteeing a spot to a pitcher like that as other teams could. I'd love to see Wang given another shot with the Yankees, but chances are he'll end up elsewhere for a team with lower expectations.
Jerry Hairston Jr.
Jerry Hairston Jr. was a welcome addition to the Yankee team, giving them a veteran utility who actually has a semblance of a bat. He made $2 million in 2009, and I could see the Yankees offering him a similar deal to be their utility guy in 2010, especially considering Ramiro Pena is the alternative.
Eric Hinske
Aside from hitting a handful of homers, Eric Hinske didn't do too much as a bat off the bench in 2009. He made $1.5 million, a good amount for someone in that role, but money that could probably be better spent elsewhere. Being a good luck charm in the AL East aside, the Yankees might opt to find another play for that role.
Jose Molina
Molina did play defense well, but the Yankees have a younger, cheaper catcher (Francisco Cervelli) who can do the same thing for cheaper. A.J. Burnett may have developed a rapport with Molina, but with Cervelli around there's really no reason to bring Molina back.