The Yankees will have tough decisions in the upcoming years with their outfield. Nick Swisher will more than likely be gone next year especially after the signing of Andre Eithiers' massive contract. Swisher will probably also be in that range- 5 years 60-70 million. Curtis Granderson is another one whose contract will be up after the 2013 season and I expect him to be in the 5-6 year range and $20 million a year. Those are two spots the Yankees will need to fill because the more than likely will not dish out the money for either of them. The Yankees will more than likely resign Cano to close to an 8 year contract worth about $180 million. The Yankees can go with cheap strategies, money and prospect wise or they can go expensive. Here are the top 10 moves the Yankees can do to fill these spots.
10: Martin Prado
Prado will not come at a big expense to the Yankees financially as he is making 4.75 million and he is very versatile and can play the corner outfield positions, third base and first base. For the Yankees to get Prado I expect it would not be overly expensive, it would probably cost them David Phelps or Adam Warren and Zoilo Almonte. Prado is currently hitting .320 with 4 home runs and 25 RBI's. Prado has been compared to Jeff Francouer. A deal like this would be especially good for the Yankees because of Prado's versatility. He could this season platoon with AROD at thirdbase when he needs days off. Next season he could play right field in place of Nick Swisher who I don't expect will resign with the Yankees after this season. Prado could also be very versatile in the Yankees lineup as well. He could hit at the top of the lineup and be a valuable piece to the Yankees now and for the distant future.
9: Peter Bourjos
Since the emergence of Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo as baseball nobility, Peter Bourjos has lost playing time. He is under team control for 5 more years as he would be inexpensive financially, but may come at a price prospect wise due to his young age of 25. More than Likely the Yankees could trade possibly Francisco Cervelli or Austin Romine and a lower level pitching prospect such as D.J Mitchell or Brett Marshall. Bourjos is currently hitting .216 with a home run, 10 RBI's and 2 stolen bases in 102 at bats. Bourjos has been compared to Bobby Abreu. Bourjos could be a valuable piece for the Yankees in the future at right field and possibly left or center field because of his speed and potential to hit. Eventually when Jeter is retired or can no longer lead off for the Yankees Bourjos could be a table setter for the Yankees.
8: Brennan Boesch:
Boesch is still under control of the Tigers for 4 more years, but due to his struggles he could be a possible trade target at the age of 27. Boesch can play the corner outfield positions and his lefty bat would be perfect in Yankee Stadium. Boesch will not cast much financially or prospect wise. The Yankees could be able to get him for a major league ready catcher due to Alex Avila's struggles or a major league ready starter due to the lack of depth in the Tigers rotation. Boesch is currently hitting .241 with 7 home runs and 26 RBI's in 257 at bats. He can be compared to Matt Joyce of the Rays. Boesch could be one more of those crafty moves Cashman has made over the last few years. I'm sure with a little help from Kevin Long and like I said before how he could play in Yankee Stadium, Matt Joyce could be a very valuable player to the Yankees. Potentially Boesch could hit .280 with 25-30 home runs a season.
7: Jason Kubel
Due to the Diamondbacks struggles they may be willing to revamp their team by trading a major league player for a major league starter. Kubel will cost the Yankees financially with a 15 million dollar contract over the next year and a half and probably prospect wise as well. To get Kubel it would cost the Yankees David Phelps and possibly Ravel Santana. Kubel is currently hitting .297 with 8 homeruns and 41 RBI's. Jason Kubel is a little bit of an experienced solution, he's been around for a while and has some playoff experience. The only thing about a deal for Kubel that may turn the Yankees away is his history of being injury prone. He like Boesch though is a lefty and would play well in Yankee Stadium.
6: Alfonso Soriano
Already being a Yankee and the Cubs rebuilding will contribute to a trade like this. Can you imagine Theo Epstien and Brian Cashman talking trade, well it may happen this year. Soriano will cost a lot financially to the Yankees, but not much prospect wise due to his mega- contract. Soriano is owed close to 45 million over the next 2 and a half years, which would mean the Cubs would have to pick up 15- 20 million of it and the Yankees would have to trade maybe Ravel Santana and a low level pitching prospect such as D.J. Mitchell. Soriano is currently hitting .266 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI's. What would turn the Yankees awya from Soriano is his age and the fact that they already have an old team and need that DH spot for Jeter, AROD and if they resign Granderson, he too will eventually need to accept the role as DH. Soriano so far has not been optimistic about DHing.
5: Coco Crisp
Crisp will not cost the Yankees much financially or prospect wise they would just have to deal with his ego. Crisp is currently making 6 million a year over the next year and a half. He is 32 so at most the Yankees would need to give up a major league ready player, probably a pitcher like Warren or D.J Mitchell and if that doesn't do the job they could possibly also give them a player like Ramiro Pena. Crisp is currently hitting .199 with 10 stolen bases. He can be compared to Emilio Bonafaciio who is currently out until late July with a thumb injury. Although Crisp is struggling, putting him in a more hitter friendly ballpark like Yankee Stadium may help him. On top of hitting Crisp is a very good fielder and he could be good off the bench in the future for the Yankees because of his tremendous speed.
4: Cameron Maybin
Because of the Padres struggles and the struggles of Maybin the Padres may be willing to trade him. Maybin would be better suited in a hitters ballpark like Yankees stadium rather than a pitchers ballpark. Maybin would not be expensive Financially, but will be prospect wise. More than likely the Yankees will need to provide the Padres with players like Nunez, Heathcott and a pitcher like Warren or Phelps. The 25 year old Maybin is locked up to a 5 year 25 million dollar deal and is hitting .214 with 14 stolen bases and 3 home runs. He can be compared to desmond Jennings. Maybin also plays a very solid center field and has great speed which is something the Yankees are desparate for.
3: Dexter Fowler
With the Rockies struggling and the loss of Troy Tulowitski for 6 weeks the Rockies could possibly be looking to move some players. A player like Fowler considering the Rockies situation would cost the Yankees potentially a lot of money financially and prospect wise, a trade like this would be worth it. Fowler is making 2.35 million this year, but you can expect he will in the next couple of years get a mega- deal. To get him the Yankees would need to give up Nunez whom the Rockies would use in replace of Tulowitski and when he comes back Nunez would platoon with Marco Scutaro at second. The Yankees would also need to give up a couple of pitchers. A higher prospect like Phelps and a lower one like Brett Marshall. Fowler is currently hitting .261 with 8 home runs, 30 RBI's and 8 stolen bases. He is a lot like a younger Curtis Granderson. Fowler hits from both sides of the plate and of course, like I have been stressing, a power hitting player that can hit lefty will be valuable in Yankees Stadium.
2: Carlos Gonzalez
With the struggles of the Rockies and the injury of Tulowitski the Rockies will be looking to move players. Gonzalez is only making about 11 million dollars a year over the next 7 years which is cheap for his production, but would be expensive in the prospect category. The Yankees could possibly Trade either Banuelos or Pineda(although he is injured), Mason Williams or Eduardo Nunez and a pitcher like Phelps or Warren for him. Gonzalez is hitting .335 with 17 homeruns and 51 RBI's. Gonzalez would fit well in the middle of the Yankees lineup, but to be realistic, although a trade like this would be great, the chances of the Rockies trading Gonzalez are very slim.
1: Chris Young
You can look at this guys stats and think I lost it for putting him number one, but really he's cheap, both financially and prospect wise and with a little work and a change of scenery he has tremendous upside. In Yankee Stadium he could play any of the three outfield positions, hit 35- 40 home runs a year, hit .280 and possibly steal 30 bases while earning gold gloves. Young will be making $14 million over the next 2 years (7 million a year). He is currently hitting .227 with 5 home runs, but also missed some time at the beginning of the season with a shoulder injury that cost him a month and a .410 average with 5 home runs through April 18th. Young will cost probably Dellin Betances and maybe Ravel Santana or J.R. Murphy.
