Yankees Winn?

Perhaps you’ve heard this bit of news: The Yankees signed veteran outfielder Randy Winn to a $2 million dollar deal. Really? Randy Winn? Since when are the Yankees intent on sticking with a budget? After all, they make the most money; they charge an incredible amount of money for tickets. Because of their new found stinginess, the Yankees have seemingly parted ways with Johnny Damon, their second place hitter who just so happened to be the player who made the best base running play in World Series history. Additionally, Damon hit .282/.365/.489 with 24 homeruns and 82 RBI during the regular season. Winn hit just .262/.318/.353 with 2 homeruns and 65 RBI in a pennant race for the first time in his career. How can the New York Yankees quibble over $5 or $10 million dollars? Damon is a much better player and was a leader in the clubhouse too. Because of Brian Cashman’s need to prove he can balance a budget, the Yankees are worse than they were in 2009.

Except…they are not worse and the above is little more than New York talk radio reaction (mostly callers) to the Yankees’ signing of Randy Winn. Brian Cashman has stated since the last out of the 2009 World Series that the Yankees were going to reduce payroll. That meant the departures of Hideki Matsui and, yes, Johnny Damon. But Cashman didn’t stay idle. He improved the team by acquiring centerfielder (who might be a leftfielder) Curtis Granderson. He re-signed Nick Johnson on a one year, $5 million dollar deal. He re-acquired Javier Vazquez from the Braves for two minor league pitchers and Melky Cabrera. With the goal of staying under the $200 million dollar mark for team payroll, Cashman earmarked $2 million dollars for an outfielder to compliment Brett Gardner who seemingly has the leftfield job (or centerfield) to lose. Many speculated that the Yankees would reunite with Damon as it has become increasingly more apparent that Damon is this off-season’s Bobby Abreu, a player who overvalued his worth.

But, this is not 2002; this is the Brian Cashman-led Yankees who have a large checkbook, but only use it when it is wise. Could the Yankees have gone over $200 million dollars? Sure, they have more than enough revenue to cover that payroll. But, in order for the Yankees to avoid similar mistakes made just eight years ago, the Yankees do need to stick with a budget. That means Damon will be in another uniform because of his unwillingness to lower his demands. While Damon is the better player when compared with Randy Winn, the Yankees are a better team because of Cashman’s decision. Winn brings quite a bit of value to the roster, especially in the one area where Johnny Damon cannot.

Defense Matters

Johnny Damon was a very good hitter for the Yankees. During his four seasons in the Bronx, Damon hit .285/.363/.458. Last season, he was shifted from his customary leadoff role to hit behind Derek Jeter and flourished with a career best 24 homeruns. But, Damon has severely regressed on defense. He was shifted to leftfield because of his lost range, but, after initial success, Damon further regressed. Last season he posted a UZR of minus-9.2. Coupled with one of the worst throwing arms in the game, decreased range has basically made Johnny Damon a liability in the outfield. Entering his age 38 season, it is apparent that Damon would require more time at the designated hitter position.

Randy Winn is an above average outfielder. Even better, he is an above average corner outfielder, while being an adequate option in centerfield. Last season, Winn appeared in 54 games in leftfield, posting a 7.9 UZR. He appeared in 104 games in right field, posting a 9.6 UZR. Winn is an asset to the Yankees for his defensive abilities alone. He is the quintessential fourth outfielder who can compete with Brett Gardner for the starting job. Even better, Winn isn’t the type of player that would command an everyday job, even though he would be more than adequate. Unlike Damon, Winn’s presence allows for Brett Gardner to find out if he is the next Brett Butler. With Gardner’s above average defensive ability (7.2 UZR last season) and the presence of Rule 5 draftee and defensive specialist Jamie Hoffman, the Yankees have four above average (including Curtis Granderson’s 1.6 UZR) defensive outfielders. For a team whose pitching staff is likely to battle through some early season struggles due to their innings accumulated during the 2009 post season, shoring up the defense is the proper thing to do.

No Need to Worry About Offense

If one looks at this transaction in a vacuum and plays the Winn for Damon swap, the Yankees do lose offense. However, that is always foolish. One always has to consider the surrounding offense and their chances of replicating or regressing from their past season. The Yankees don’t have too many players that should severely regress. The only true regression candidate is Jorge Posada as 38-year-old catchers are never a sure thing. Derek Jeter is another candidate only because of age. Everyone else in the lineup can be expected to replicate or even better his 2009 season. Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, and Alex Rodriguez are in their respective primes. Having a healthy Rodriguez for the entire season can surely help the offense. Nick Swisher isn’t a star, but he will provide his 25 homeruns and on base skills.

It’s also important to realize that the Yankees did add a career .272/.344/.484 hitter who is coming off of a 30-homerun season in the cavernous Comerica Park. Granderson, a left-handed hitter, is likely to enjoy the homerun happy Yankee Stadium which does favor left-handed hitters. They also added on base machine Nick Johnson to the lineup. Johnson, the former Yankees farmhand, hit .291/.426/.405 for the Nationals and Marlins last season. He has compiled a .402 on base percentage over his career. In Granderson and Johnson, the Yankees have essentially replaced Damon and Matsui in a productive, yet cost efficient way. Adding Randy Winn to the lineup either as a starter or as a fourth outfielder does not hurt the offense.

Winn had a poor 2009 season at the age of 35 as noted. But, for his career, he is a .286/.344/.418 hitter who has stolen at least 10 bases in 10 of his 12 seasons. Prior to 2009, Winn posted on base percentages of .363, .353, .324, and .360. Perhaps 2009 was the first sign of age, but he is not coming to be a run producer. He is coming to the Bronx to be a quality defender. Winn’s two homeruns are not a worry. Prior to last season, he’s had seven consecutive seasons of at least 10 homeruns. Even if he has another season with just two homeruns, the Yankees won’t be lacking power. He is not, however, inept at the plate. As a fourth outfielder, he is more than adequate. As the starting left fielder, he won’t hurt the Yankees’ lineup one bit.

Having a veteran like Winn affords Manager Joe Girardi the opportunity to rest his outfielders regularly. Nick Swisher won’t have to play everyday like he did last season. There won’t be too much pressure on Brett Gardner to produce. Curtis Granderson can get the day off against a tough left-hander. Girardi didn’t have that option last season due to the injury to Xavier Nady and Hideki Matsui’s inability to play the field. The switch-hitting Winn gives him options.

Closing Thoughts

It is perhaps Baseball’s biggest nightmare that the Yankees are being fiscally responsible within their payroll level. They will always have the highest payroll, but they no longer will just sign the biggest name to the biggest contract. Last season, Brian Cashman brought in three big names, but paid attention to their character as well. Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira helped loosen up the Yankees’ clubhouse. Nick Swisher was also largely responsible for the newfound exuberance. This season, Cashman focused on bringing more players who would not only produce, but also fit in. Granderson is known as one of the best people in the game, let alone one of the best centerfielders in the game. Nick Johnson and Javier Vazquez have been in pinstripes already. Johnson won’t complain about sitting to allow Girardi to give a DH day to one of his veterans. Randy Winn won’t complain about playing time either; he just isn’t that type of player.

It is time for Yankees fans to let go of the “gotta have a superstar at every position” attitude that resulted in poor, unlikeable teams during the mid 2000’s. The Yankees still have an above average lineup. Now, they have better outfield defense and a better bench with the addition of Winn and the subtraction of Johnny Damon. Damon will find another team and post a quality offensive season; he can still hit. But, the Yankees needed more in an effort to defend their World Series title. If the Winn/Gardner combination hurts the team, one can rest assure that the Cashman will acquire someone because that will be the smart thing to do. But, entering the season with a better outfield defense is even smarter.

Unfortunately for the rest of Baseball, the defending champions enter Spring Training with a better, more efficient team. Their acquisitions may not have the marquee value of Sabathia, Teixeira, and Burnett, but they are more than useful. Next off-season may have a different tone with players like Carl Crawford (he’ll be the Yankees’ primary target) and Josh Beckett hitting the free agent market. In a lackluster free agent class, Cashman went the route of finding valuable pieces without having a long-term commitment. Winn is nowhere close the player that Johnny Damon was/is, but he is a much better fit for the 2010 Yankees.

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