Bobby Abreu
by jscape2000 on Sep 9, 2008 6:49 AM EDT
in New York Yankees Analysis
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PrintWhile the blood dries on the corpse of 2008, I've been thinking about Bobby Abreu. And the more I think about it, the more I think the Yankees are bringing him back.
First, it seems like it would take a perfect storm to lure Cashman to Seattle. First, a team headed by current Phillies GM Pat Gillick would have to purchase the club, and contingent on that deal current Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln would have to quit because Gillick and Lincoln hate each other. Then Cashman, a big Gillick fan, would have to be hired by the M's.
I call it a perfect storm because the sale and takeover would have to take place in a matter of days after the end of the season so that the Mariners, Phillies, and eventually the Yankees, could go on the market and find new GMs. When you factor in the time Cash has put into this organization, his previous, successful power struggles, he has the people he wants in key positions here, and he's just starting to see the fruit of his labors down on the farm I don't see any way he could leave. Toss, history, glory, money on top of all that.
But then again, I might be a little biased pro-Yankee.
With Cashman back in the fold, take a look at how this season is playing out- Nady in left, Damon in center, Abreu in left. The plan was to move Nady to right next season and let Abreu walk, but that's when Melky Cabrera was still the centerfielder. So the Yanks need to find a CF or a corner OF on the market.
I tell ya, there's nothing in free agency that I'd want on my team. Do you want to take a shot at Rocco Baldelli or Juan Rivera?
So I think Bobby Abreu is returning, despite potential draft picks, declining skills, and fear of the wall.
I might be crazy, but I think I'm right.
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I sure hope not
But you could be right.
This is the perfect opportunity to really clean house and make changes and I don’t see the point in re-signing a 35 year old DH who happens to play the outfield when this team has to get younger next season.
I say
we pass on Abreu, as he’s likely to get a multi-year contract in free agency.
I know you’re all for getting younger Anaconda, but you need to start throwing some ideas out, not just saying Abreu needs to go, Giambi needs to go, etc. Somebody needs to the outfield next year, who do you suggest?
I say we keep Damon in left and Nady in right. Between Melky, Brett Gardner, Austin Jackson, and somebody we can sign on a one-year deal, we have to be able to cobble together a decent season out of centerfield.
Abreu
Abreu’s batting eye has dropped a lot in the last season – currently at about 0.66 (bb/k) which is lower than it’s ever been for him. However among Yankees starters he’s 3rd best behind Damon and Matsui. A deline like that is hard to reverse although he might still have a few good years. His days of hitting .300 are probably gone.
He's only 34 and
He’s healthier than Damon or Matsui. The big problem is in center.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
What we have under contract
Is Melky Damon Matsui Nady and minor leaguers. OK Melky’s a minor leaguer too. We need a CF but I do not see how we’re better without Abrue.
I think he wants to be a Yank.
Sign him for a year or two. We need players now. Of course it all changes if we change the mix with a trade for a pitcher or a center fielder.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
Nady will be in RF
Damon could play some 1B and they could find another outfielder like Matt Kemp – a guy I would trade Cano for tomorrow.
The problem with the Yanks over the last several years is that they were not allowed to take a step back and take a breather because they always had to make the postseason.
But this is the perfect opportunity to finally tear down a couple of walls and replace them instead of using spackle to patch a few holes.
One of this team’s biggest weaknesses is age and the lack of energy and defense on an everyday basis. They need to let these players who are unquestionably in decline to walk or we’ll see more of the same next year.
Start with Giambi and Abreu and let them go. I’d try to fine a suitor for Damon as well if he agrees to a deal. If not, Damon and Matsui will both be gone at the end of 2009 no matter what.
It needs to be done. And it should happen sooner rather than later.
Center Field
We need a big time Centerfielder.
I don’t think we should go into the year with Damon or Cabrera or the prospects.
I think that means a really major trade, but we need that and starters. So we trade Cano, Damon and or Matsui, one of our CF prospects and young arms for a real centerfielder?
Then we try to sign pitchers and firstbasemen. Who’s going FA in after next year?
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
what do you have against Damon
his range is probably still league-average and you’re going to have to live with his arm in center or in left. it’s much more like to find a corner outfielder with a nice bat/glove combination than a center fielder.
Who??
What big time centerfielder is available? Do you think the Indians are going to trade Grady Sizemore, or the Tigers are going to trade Curtis Granderson?? Because those are the only two center fielders that I would be willing to trade anything of value for.
You guys need to start throwing ideas out there. We need to trade for a big time centerfielder? Then throw together some plausible situation – who we get and what we give up.
DO you want Damon or Melky?
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
Who knows?
Did you ask for Nady? He was obscure to me.
Who else might be available? One of the Tampa outfielders about to get too expensive for them?
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
Ibanez
How about trying to sign Ibanez from Seattle for the other corner spot. It probably won’t take much money, and he can play some first base too.
Bring him back.
I’m hearing names like Ibanez who is like 36. Abreu has been a consistent stick all season. Sure he’s lost much of his power, and he’s certainly not a great fielder, but he’s adequate. Can anyone imagine where we would be without him in the lineup everyday?
And another thing … Abreu busts his butt out of the box and in the field every play … Did you hear me Robby Cano, and Melky?
I’d rather move Cano, Melky and a prospect to the Tigers for Granderson and Polanco, and bring Abreu back for a reasonable two year deal.
"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will
are you serious...
Abreu is just tremendously bad in the field. I say package Cano/Kennedy for Justin Upton.
Justin Upton??
That’s not fair. Justin was one of my AAU kids when he was 14 and 15 years old. I love Justin and think he may have a higher upside than his brother. I would love to see him roaming cf, or fr for the Yankees, but I seriously doubt they would pull the trigger on a Cano/Kennedy trade. For one Kennedy has been a bust (even though I do like him). For two, Cano hasn’t progressed, but regressed. How far he’ll fall is anyone’s guess.
Abreu is fielding at a .992 clip and has 10 assists. I’ll take that all day long. He isn’t great, but he isn’t nearly as bad as you want to believe he is.
"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will
Fielding % is kind of meaningless
Zone Rating is more effective – measuring the % of balls hit into his “zone” that he fields -Abrue ranks 2nd from last in this category. Meaning he doesn’t cover as much ground as other guys do. Considering the relatively small confines of Yankee Stadium’s right field, ouch.
How about Randy Winn??
He’s older, but he’s fast on the bases (25 steals), has a good zone rating in right field, and has a decent stick? Plus he could probably be hand on a 2-year contract for well under $10 mill per season.
i've been trying to convince Rays' fans that Winn would be a good addition
and he’d been good for the Yankees on a one or two year deal. his bat is a bit above average and he’s a very good corner outfielder. we’re talking borderline All-Star overall. Abreu, with his awful glove, is about an average major leaguer. ouch.
i have the perfect solution
offer Abreu arbitration. if he accepts, we keep him for another one-year deal. if he declines, we’ll get two top draft picks and can sign Dunn/Ramirez.
Half joking, right?
Do we really want a guy who strikes out 150 times a year. Don’t we have enough guys who can’t put the ball in play? As for Manny, I might consider him as a DH, but given the 2009 scenerio, DH might be a contested position.
"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will
Dunn has his issues. The strikeouts aren't one of them.
He can’t really field, just like Abreu can’t. But I’d rather have Dunn’s bat than Abreu’s.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
Abreu can ...
do far more with the bat than Dunn who is a Dave Kingman, all or nothing guy. Abreu works counts to his advantage, has a solid two strike approach (perhaps the best I’ve seen), sprays the ball around with occasional power (true, it is in decline), but he’s skilled at moving runners over, and when he’s on base, he’s not a liability.
"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will
being able to do more different things does mean he can do more to help create runs
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
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