It seems like the rumors are just going to continue pouring in before the MLB preseason even begins. With the Yankees' rotation and bullpen appearing to be in good shape for the 2012 season, Brian Cashman is still looking for a designated hitter that could come up big in tight situations.
Option number one on the general manager's list is free agent 1st basemen Carlos Pena. The 33 year old lefty hammered 28 home runs for Chicago, and he drove in 80 runs. Sounds like a potential threat, especially in Yankee Stadium. It would be a match made in heaven, EXCEPT Pena had 161 strike outs in his 493 at bats. With those numbers, the 1st basemen struck out 33% of the time he was up to bat. He managed to pull a .225 batting average with the Chicago Cubs. Pena has gone on record to say that he still wants to play the field a little, but with Mark Teixeira, his fielding will be minimal. He would also have to take a significant pay cut because New York cannot come close to the $10 million he made last season. If I was Carlos, I would do anything to be on a contending team with Yankee caliber.
The second option the Yankees have spoken about is bringing back a familiar face. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the Yankees have spoken to Johnny Damon. When he was with New York, he was a fan favorite, similar to the way Nick Swisher is viewed right now. During his four seasons with the Yankees, Damon batted .285 and hit 77 home runs. In his most recent year, he was mainly the Tampa Bay Rays DH. Here, he batted .261 with an on base percentage of .326. Remembering that this is a business, it might make sense to sign Damon. He is 277 hits shy of 3,000, and we all know that Yankees enjoy seeing milestones achieved in pinstripes. At 38 years old, Damon should come at a bargain price, and surely won't commend the $5 million he received last year.
I am sure that this next option is the one Yankee fans are hoping happens. Because Jorge Posada has not officially announced his retirement, Cashman has said that although it is unlikely, it is still possible to bring Posada back for one year. New York is sure that no other MLB team will need Posada's services, and he could come at a cheap price. After splurging on pitching, the Yankees have no more money for extreme spending and are trying to budget. After an abysmal season last year, fans knew it would be Posada's last season in pinstripes. He was 39 years old and his age was getting the best of him. He hit a disappointing .235 in 387 plate appearances. With Russell Martin claiming the starting catcher job, Posada was left to ride the pine. He was not happy and management knew it, so it would probably take a miracle for him to return in 2012.
The last option is a minor leaguer by the name of Jorge Vazquez. With Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees, Vazquez has played mostly first base, but also played a bit of third base. Last season, the 29 year old had 119 hits with a batting average of .262. He managed to get the ball out of the ball park 32 times while batting in 93 runners. Giving him some at bats in the big leagues would give Vazquez the opportunity to prove that he is no fluke. His power hitting cannot be compared to Jesus Montero, but he could fill the hole nicely. The big deal here is he meets the Yankee criteria as a hitter, and a cheap option to keep the Steinbrenner's wallets full.
With the four options I presented, which do you see the Yankees pursuing? Who will be the designated hitter of the Bronx? Time is running out, and Brian Cashman is well aware.
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