In the time since their disappointing performance in the ALCS concluded with a dreary loss in Texas, the Yankees have added the following players: A former All-Star catcher under 30 coming off an injury and a durable 80-game lefthanded reliever who somehow managed to be the longest tenured Met.

After adding Russell Martin and Pedro Feliciano, the name that has surfaced is Andruw Jones.

You might remember him for being a 19-year-old who crushed some long home runs in the opening game of the 1996 World Series. You might remember him for being one of three White Sox to connect off Javier Vazquez on May 1 in what was perhaps the first sign Vazquez's second stint was not meant to be.

Perhaps you remember him as an outstanding defensive outfielder, who at times seemed to possess limitless range. Combined with the fact that through the age of 30 he had nearly 350 home runs and over a 1,000 RBI, it seemed the Hall of Fame was a destination.

That was through 2007. Since then Jones has played for three teams (Dodgers, White Sox, Rangers) and hit 39 home runs and 105 RBI. Those are great numbers for a single season but those are over three seasons.

Despite that, the Yankees appear somewhat interested in a man whose last four batting averages have been .222, .158, .214 and .230. Obviously the interest is not for the every day role but for the fourth outfielder spot filled by Marcus Thames' bat in 2010.

The area where Jones and Thames are similar is their performance against left-handed pitching. Thames crushed lefties to a .302 average, while Jones hit eight of his home runs and batted .256 off southpaws.

So the question is this: do you want your fourth outfielder to be sub-par defensively but potent against left-handed pitching or do you want your fourth outfielder to be adequate with diminished range and slightly above average against southpaws.

It's the question the Yankee braintrust is weighing as they decide how to complete the 2011 roster going into spring training.