The Yankees Should Push Hard for Garciaparra.

         Looking down at the list of free agents that have signed with teams so far this winter and even at some of the trades that have gone through, we see that very few would have made much sense for the Yankees.  B.J. Ryan, and Tom Gordon wanted to close.  Brian Giles and Paul Konerko wanted to remain with their former teams.  The Yankees did not need to acquire any starting pitchers with injury histories: Beckett, Burnett, Byrd or have a void to fill behind the plate.  With Torri Hunter and Andrew Jones free agents next year it makes little sense to overpay for 4 years of centerfielder Johnny Damon, and ruin the chance to pick up a real stud next winter.  Juan Peirre would have been a good one year option, but the Cubs likely gave away too much for a one year fill-in.  A case could be made that 1B Lyle Overbay would have been a good fit, but the Yankees did not have the pieces for that deal.  When looking at all of these moves, LHP Demaso Marte looks like the only guy who the Yankees could have acquired, for say Andy Phillips, that would have made sense for the team.  For whatever the reasons, this year’s free agent class did not cater very well to the needs of the Yankees, but one man would be a perfect fit: Nomar Garciaparra.        With his choice likely down to four teams: the NY Yankees, Cleveland Indians, LA Dodgers, and the Houston Astros, the Yankees should push hard for the services of Garciaparra.  The Yankees are looking for him to be a 1B / DH who could occasionally spell Robbie Cano and second and Gary Sheffield in right field.  Nomar’s injury history is a red flag, but this makes for a smart gamble by the Yankees.  Giving up only money, which is never much of an issue in New York, this is a low-risk–high reward move.  They are not trading prospects or bringing in Garciaparra to be the centerpiece of the offense.  Rather they are looking at him to be a complementary player with the potential to make a huge impact with his bat.  He would likely bat 6th and almost any production would be accepted.  If he does not contribute enough, or gets injured, the team simply sticks him on the DL, swallows the loss and moves forward.  That is the worst-case scenario.  Best-case scenario you’ve added a former batting champ on the cheap who showed last season that when healthy, he can still hit the ball hard, and a .290 average with 45 doubles would not be out of the question.  Unfair, or not, New York is a market where sports teams can make 6 million dollar gambles and the Yankees would be crazy to not push for this to get done.

    From the other side of the coin, the Yankees should impress on Garciaparra that New York makes the most sense for him.  It is the place where he will have the best chance to succeed, thus increasing his value for his next contract in 2007 or 2008.  In Houston and Cleveland, Garciaparra would be looked to as a major piece of the offense, batting in the middle of the order, while at the same time tackling the challenges of a new position.  Ironically, the pressure to produce might be greater in these markets than in New York, where he will be surrounded by other stars, be well protected in the line-up, and where the fans will not be looking to him to carry the team on his back to the next level.  In Los Angeles, which seems at this point to be the front-runner in this chase, he should realize that an every-day position would be a tenuous agreement.  At the beginning of the season he would slot nicely in at first base, but when Cesar Izturis returns to play second, pushing Jeff Kent over to first, Nomar may find himself as the odd man out of the infield.  With J.D. Drew and Jason Werth the incumbents at the corner outfield spots, Nomar would likely be relegated to a part-time player, which is certainly not in his best interest financially or otherwise.  

       Free agents don’t always sign to the highest bidder; playing time, geography, and clubhouse personalities are often a factor as well.  In this case, the Yankees should be able to satisfy Garciaparra’s financial interest as well as be able to offer him an opportunity to play every day and prove himself healthy enough for a long-term contract.   Batting in the second half of a dominating offensive line-up would give a healthy Garciaparra every chance to knock in runs and score himself as well.  By offering to 1B / DH and play sparingly at other positions deferring to the better players around him, Garciaparra would help to shed the pretty-boy, ego-centric reputation that forced him out of Boston in 2004.  In sum, this would be a good deal for both sides.  Garciaparra might succeed no matter where he goes, and the management of the Yankees should do what they can to make sure that he is playing for them in 2006.  He is an upgrade offensively over Andy Phillips and Bernie Williams and would represent an opportunity to bring someone in who has the chance to exceed expectations, which is a rare thing in New York.