BLUEPRINT
5 things Yanks can do
BRIAN CASHMAN has made it clear that he won’t change the Yankees’ offensive philosophy, built around power and patience, but he also shouldn’t continue to dismiss repeated postseason failures as cases of unfortunate timing that can’t be predicted.
With as many big contracts as the Yankees have, Cashman couldn’t make sweeping changes even if he wanted to. But he has to try to change the mix in search of a more diversified offense, as well as better situational and clutch hitting.
So here on these pages is my unsolicited advice for the GM. In putting together a plan, I tried to make it realistic, which starts with keeping Alex Rodriguez, because I don’t believe the Yankees will eat nearly $100 million to trade him, even if they could convince him to waive his no-trade clause.
Also, I kept in mind that Hal Steinbrenner’s $189 million payroll edict by 2014 means limited spending. So the changes are few but significant, and they presume that CC Sabathia’s elbow is okay. If that turns into a major issue, starting pitching obviously becomes the priority, and Cashman’s job becomes a lot more difficult.
1. Trade Curtis Granderson to the Phillies for Darin Ruf
It's not that Granderson can't cut down on his strikeouts and get back to being something closer to the player that finished fourth in the 2011 MVP voting. It's just that I don't believe the Yankees are going to commit to a long-term, expensive deal to keep him after 2013, so the time is right to trade him.
Granderson makes a lot of sense for the Phillies, who desperately need power, as well as a center fielder, and they're still very much in a win-now mode, trying to cash in before their high-priced starting rotation gets too old.
Granderson's long-ball stroke (84 HRs the last two years) would play as well at Citizens Bank Ballpark as it does at Yankee Stadium, and it might help rejuvenate that aging lineup.
Ruf, meanwhile, is a promising young righthanded hitter who put up big numbers as MVP of the Double-A Eastern League, hitting .317 with 38 home runs and 104 RBIs, as well as a 1.028 OPS, and then had an impressive brief stint with the Phillies in September.
At age 26, Ruf is not really a phenom, having developed his power gradually after being a 20th-round pick out of Creighton. The Phillies are converting him from first base to the outfield, and scouts believe he can play a serviceable left field.
His bat could be valuable to the Yankees in a part-time role in 2013, if he proves ready, and eventually he could become a mainstay in the lineup.
The Phillies might be reluctant to deal one of their few highly-touted prospects, but some scouts, pointing to his high strikeout total (102 K's in Double-A) aren't sold that Ruf will be able to put up big numbers against major league pitching. And Granderson could be a long-term answer in center for the Phillies if they're willing to commit financially.
2. Sign Free-Agent Catcher A.J. Pierzynski
This becomes especially appealing if the Yankees do trade Granderson, helping to replace his lefthanded power bat.
At age 35 Pierzynski is no kid, but he has been very durable over the years, and last season he hit 27 home runs for the White Sox, to go with a .278 batting average and an OPS of .827.
No less significant, Pierzynski would bring a little attitude to a Yankee team that seems to need it at crunch time. Put it this way: Pierzynski, a noted agitator who seems to get under the skin of opponents, wouldn't be affected by being