New York Yankees: Will Curtis Granderson’s Injury Hurt Value After 2013 Season?
February 24, 2013 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees got bad news on Curtis Granderson.
After taking a ball to the forearm in the first inning of Sunday’s spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays, it was revealed that the Yankees left fielder will be out at least 10 weeks, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports and WFAN:
fractured forearm for curtis granderson. out 10 weeks. huge blow. #yankees
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) February 24, 2013
The Yankees had just moved Granderson to the left field spot and put Brett Gardner back in center field for the start of spring training, and the team was thinking of making this a permanent solution.
However, the injury definitely weakens the already aging Yankee lineup and takes perhaps one of their biggest sources of power out until at least May.
Now, whenever Granderson does return from injury, how will it affect him on the field?
Will he be the same player he once was, hitting a ton of home runs atop the Yankees lineup, or will it diminish his power?
Granderson is a free agent-to-be after 2013, and before this injury, he was supposed to be one of the top free-agent outfielders on the market.
There has even been some speculation on this site about the possibility of trading Granderson before the trade deadline to get some value back if, in fact, the Yankees don’t want to re-sign him.
The soon-to-be 32-year-old will make $15 million in 2013, and if he continued the trend of 40-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI seasons, could have gotten another deal worth $13-15 million per season.
But if this injury is a sign of worse things to come for Granderson in 2013 and he has an off year, especially in the power department, might that be enough to detract potential suitors in free agency?
And if so, maybe the Yankees could bring him back at a very discounted rate if the market for Granderson drops off tremendously.
Granderson has stated in the past that he wants to remain a Yankee past 2013 and wants to get a contract extension, but the Yankees are also trying to get under the $189 million mark for their payroll by 2014.
If Granderson isn’t making $13-15 million annually, then I think it’s doable, in addition to figuring out an extension for Robinson Cano, as well.
For the time being, the Yankees need to hope Granderson’s forearm heals properly without any setbacks and hope he brings his pop back into the lineup for the 2013 season.
With Russell Martin, Nick Swisher and Raul Ibanez’s departures, plus the injury to Alex Rodriguez, the Yankee lineup is missing enough pop as it is.
Losing Granderson is another tough blow.
But the injury could be a blow to Granderson’s value after 2013.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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