Godzilla Back in the Bronx? Is Hideki Matsui Headed to the New York Yankees?
January 18, 2012 · Michael Nargi · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Jon Heyman has reported that the New York Yankees have been in contact with Hideki Matsui.
Last week, I wrote about the likelihood of Johnny Damon joining the Yankees. Now Matsui has become another option.
Ken Davidoff reported that the Yankees have also received calls from Raul Ibanez and Vladimir Guerrero’s representatives. It looks as though the Yankees would not mind having an older bat in their lineup.
The Yankees could use the extra bat after trading Jesus Montero, but are aging veterans the way to go?
To Yankee fans, it would be an appealing idea to be reunited with Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui. It would certainly benefit the Yankees to have one of the two men back on the team.
But which veteran is the better option?
Johnny Damon, who is trying to get to 3,000 hits in the next two seasons, will be looking to play every game in hopes to get there. The Yankees already have resigned Andruw Jones to share time at DH. That’s in addition to the aging veterans that New York will give half-days off to throughout the year.
Damon would cost more than Matsui as well. The Yankees are looking to spend only $1-2 million on an extra bat.
Damon would probably cost more than that, unless he is willing to take less. It might not be a complete stretch considering he has said before that he would like to play for the Yankees again.
Damon’s upside is obviously the pop in his bat and that he can still play the outfield, which would allow the Yankees to shuffle guys around.
Hideki Matsui can also play the outfield, proving it last year when he played 27 games in left field for the Oakland Athletics.
Joe Girardi was always hesitant to play him in the outfield with his bad knees. It would be very unlikely that he ever plays the field for the Yankees.
Matsui would cost closer to the Yankees budget and has proved that he can still be productive for the price.
Last year, he drove in 72 runs in 141 games for the offensively inept Oakland Athletics.
Of the guys available, Matsui seems to make the most sense. He can be extremely effective when he is in the lineup and can hit lefties and righties.
Matsui would jump at the opportunity to play in New York again. If the two sides stay in contact, there would be no reason to believe that a fair offer wouldn’t be presented to Matsui.
He is a proven clutch hitter that can be beneficial to the New York Yankees.
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