Yankees Should Pass on Manny Ramirez

The New York Yankees are considering signing free agent Manny Ramirez. While the Yankees' starting outfield is set, with Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson, and Nick Swisher they are actively looking for a fourth outfielder and part time designated hitter. Ramirez would figure to spell Gardner, provide a bat off of the bench, and could see some at-bats when Jorge Posada, who is slated to be their full time DH, catches occasionally.

Once one of the most feared hitters in the game, Ramirez has never really been the same type of hitter since serving a fifty game suspension in 2009 for testing positive for a banned female fertility drug. In 2010, he hit .298, with nine home runs in an injury shortened 90 game season. He was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Chicago White Sox late in the season as the Dodgers shed payroll and the White Sox made an ultimately unsuccessful push for the playoffs.

While Ramirez, 38, still seems to have some pop in his bat, it is really questionable what exactly he would offer the Yankees. He was never a good defensive outfielder to begin with, and as the Yankees look for a fourth outfielder, it would stand to reason that they would put a premium on defense over what might amount to be occasional offense. Their lineup, though aging, doesn't lack for offensive potential. As Posada is relieved from the stress of catching frequently, he figures to be a productive DH if he can stay healthy.

Second baseman Robinson Cano has developed into one of the premier offensive players in all of baseball, and even though both had slightly off years, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are still a formidable tandem at the 3^rd and 4^th slots in the lineup, respectively.

Their outfield production is very respectable, with Brett Gardner being one of the best bottom of the order hitters in all of baseball, and with Curtis Granderson finding his groove with the Yankees late in the 2010 campaign. Despite his struggles in the postseason, Nick Swisher had an All-Star caliber season.

While ideally the Yankees would find a right hand hitting fourth outfielder with a productive bat, the premium should be on defense to help support a starting rotation that looks vulnerable, particularly with the uncertain status of Andy Pettitte, who many believe is leaning towards retirement.

Of course, the 300 pound gorilla in the room through all of this is the disruptive dynamic that Ramirez brings to every clubhouse he is part of for any amount of time. While the Yankees are thought to have a team of focused professionals, it seems to make little sense to test their ability to block out the walking distraction that Manny Ramirez, now a fading superstar with subpar defense, is. The Yankees should pass on Ramirez and find a useful fourth outfielder who plays plus defense and can hit a little.

Source:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/12/25/2010-12-25_report_yanks_mull_manny.html