The Daily News today had a nice layout of prominent Yankee faces this season with the title mentioned above. Let's go down the list and review the names and make the decision.
Joe Girardi
Keep him. He's not a bad manager. A little quirky at times, but good with the media and good with his players. Next year, he should have better tools to play with in order to manufacture #28.
Robinson Cano
Dump him. Na I'm just kidding. Keep him of course. Trading him for any player in the league would be a mistake. Homegrown talent, has a great glove, great power, and a lovely smile. Overall the best player on the team right now. Possibly in the league. If he doesn't get MVP and a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, I'll be sorely displeased. He did everything the Yanks needed him to do besides hit 7 home runs a game.
Derek Jeter
Keep him. Okay, so he didn't bat +.300 this year, but I'm gonna say it's not a decline in age as much as it is a year without Yankee-aided stats. The early offseason pays off for him as he needs the rest and the time to work on his swing. He finished with 179, the same as 2008, albeit fewer at-bats. A four year deal that goes down like this: "Hey Jeet, you get to spend two years playing on the field. The last two, you spend time DH-ing. That is if you're not doing any photo shoots as the Face of the Yankees."
Mark Teixeira
Keep him. But would someone please help the guy get started earlier. Another putrid April is unbearable. Other than that, I love the guy. Gold Glove repeat? I think so. The only reason any of the infield has committed so few errors is because the guy at first has a net for a glove.
Alex Rodriguez
Keep him. But don't always sit him in clean up next year. Perhaps put him behind Cano. After the stellar year Cano had, it would be easy for pitchers to walk him to face Alex. That's probably not gonna work nor will it happen, but A-Rod definitely has a few more years left swinging the bat.
Brett Gardner
Keep him. Speed, defense, and at some times, a solid singles hitter. But this year, he should spend about 200+ hours learning how to put a bunt down. And in 2011, he lays down a bunt once every 10 at-bats, is successful in 4, he's got a great average booster as well as putting himself on base.
Curtis Granderson
There's no way you can trade him now so you're gonna have to keep him. But at the same time, I wish he would work on his throws a bit. He had that great double play earlier in the year and a few great dives towards the end. If he worked on his throw, perhaps Andrus wouldn't have tagged. Doesn't matter. Next March, Kevin Long helps him get his swing in the groove earlier, and we finally see all that production we were promised.
Nick Swisher
Keep him. Teach him some plate discipline and how to bunt and you've got probably you're best outfielder. Keep him healthy, too. But please, stop him from doing those All-Star campaigns.
Jorge Posada
Keep him. But only on a two year contract. Just long enough for Austin Romine or Jesus Montero to come up and replace him. He plays another year behind home plate splitting time. The next year full time DH with an occasional start, like in interleague. He retires after 2012 and has his jersey retired by the Yankees.
That rounds out our starting fielders, on to reserves.
Ramiro Pena
Keep him. Great, versatile glove. And if he works on his batting, he becomes a great give-alex-and-jeter-a-day-off guy. I love his attitude and work ethic.
Francisco Cervelli
Keep him for the next two years. Like Posada, we're just waiting for Romine or Montero. Once they get the call and prove they can be viable hitters, we're not gonna need Cervelli or Posada anymore.
Greg Golson
Keep him. In a year or two, either they let him start playing more. Or they get some trade value out of him. That one awesome throw alone is worth letting him play the outfield in the 9th inning of every game.
Marcus Thames
Keep him. One year deal. Don't ever let this guy field. He's got a decent off the bench bat. And is pretty potent on flame throwing righties.
Austin Kearns
Dump him. Looks like Cashman is gonna have a long winter ahead of him. After last year's offseason acquirement fiascos of Johnson, Winn, and Park, he tried to fix his mistakes with Berkman, Kearns, and Wood. Other than Wood, the rest was of little help. So that makes him 1 for 6 (excluding Thames). Good luck Brian.
Lance Berkman
Dump him. Sure, having him play 1st after Mark got injured seemed prudent. But he doesn't wanna stay and play part time DH and reserve 1st basemen. Grant him his wish and let him go. Assuming the Yankees find another washed up player who can't field anymore, we won't miss him anyways.
Nick Johnson
He's still around? Get rid of him. Now. Useless.
Starting Pitching!!!
CC Sabathia
Keep him. Stellar year. Mediocre post-season performance but it's hard to ask a guy to carry a team. He needs some support behind him. I'll explain later
A. J. Burnett
DUMP HIM!!!! Swallow the salary. Get rid of him, even if it costs the Yanks 60 million. This guy is an embarrassment. You can't expect to win any game he starts because you never know when he's gonna open up the hitting buffet.
Andy Pettite
Age doesn't seem to affect his control or his calmness on the mound. The groin injury was a sign though. I'd leave this up to him. If he wants to come back for another year, then let him do it. He's a great 3rd pitcher and his postseason ERA was great! But he is getting old, so 1 year deal for now. Two at most. Three if you're Brian Cashman.
Phil Hughes
Keep him. Develop that changeup and use it more. The future of the yankees is in his hands. He's got a great fastball and decent curve. It's his third pitch he needs to work on. Watching him throughout the year, I feel he can develop that third pitch and from there, it's all gravy.
Didn't we have a fifth starter? Who was it. Ivan Nova? Dustin Moseley? Sergio Mitre? No, those are spot starters and long relievers. Then who was it? Oh, I know. . .
Javier Vazquez
Dump him. I'd rather not talk about this, but after hitting three guys in a row, someone needs to give him the boot. Round 2 wasn't better than Round 1 for Javy. Possibly, the worst move made by Cashman. Just take your money and leave Mr. Vazquez.
And now, relief corps!
Joba Chamberlain
Dump him. I'm sure we can make some decent trades for this guy. He's got good stuff, but he deserves to be a starting pitcher. Send him somewhere for some prospects or something. Good luck Joba!
David Robertson
Keep him. Overlook that 5 run outing and you see he's not a bad reliever. Certainly, no Rolaids Reliever of the Year but he's definitely worth keeping around, if only for another year or two.
Damaso Marte
Keep him. He's undergoing shoulder surgery now. It'd take anyone a year to recover after that stellar World Series last November. He deserves his chance.
Boone Logan
Keep him. But let him get his work in. See if he is not only a lefty specialist but also a righty's nightmare.
Kerry Wood
Keep him. Best pickup this year! He's got a lot of life in his 33 year old arm. Perhaps he's the bridge not just between the 7th inning and Mariano but between Mariano and the future closer. Just don't let him grow the 'stache again.
Sergio Mitre
Dump him. He had a great time but there's no real need for him now. He's proven he can get back on the horse after Tommy John surgery. Perhaps there is a future out there for him as a starter again. Just not with the Yankees.
Dustin Moseley
Keep him. Not a bad sport starter and perhaps he can be of some trade value in July. He's earned himself another pinstripe year, at least for me.
Ivan Nova
Keep him. Starter number 5. CC, [insert C. Lee here], Pettite, Hughes, and Nova. Young arm, needs some work. I'm willing to let him try it rather than Vazquez or anyone else.
Mariano Rivera
KEEP HIM!!! Let him retire when he is good and done. Still an outstanding closer. A true Living Legend.
Good luck Mr. Cashman. I hope you make wise choices this time around. And if you need it, my wallet is always available to help you get Cliff Lee. And if you have the time, see if Greinke is interested.
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