TwitterStrange
5 Dec 2012
Apparently Eric Chavez is on his way to Arizona. He has reportedly agreed to a one-year/$3-million deal. I’m curious as to why the Yankees didn’t retain him considering the money is small and the need at third is currently great. It could be that Chavez, who is from Arizona, simply wanted to go home, but it is curious. While he is certainly an injury risk, he hit righty pitching very well last year (.298/.365/.543 in 274 PA’s) Chavez could have been a very solid half of a platoon to cover for A-Rod until he manages to get back on the field.
I am also confused by the Yankees’ insistence that Eduardo Nunez is a shortstop and only a shortstop. While there is certainly a chance Derek Jeter takes longer to rehab his foot, the fact remains that he is likely to be in the Opening Day lineup while A-Rod certainly won’t be. Why won’t the Yankees look at Nunez as a potential replacement for Alex?
joel Sherman suggested that the Yankees might go after Mark Reynolds to play third at the start of the season and move to DH when Alex returns. It’s an interesting idea. While he is a bad thirdbaseman, you can generally survive with a bad glove at third much better than you can at any other infield spot. He is a righty power bat, something the Yankees are really lacking right now and he takes a lot of pitches. I certainly would prefer seeing what Reynolds can do at age 29 than taking a flier on Kevin Youkilis at age 34.
Dec 05, 2012 @ 23:05:40
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I’d pay some of Youk’s salary to see him and Joba in the same dugout/clubhouse for extended periods
Dec 05, 2012 @ 23:34:56
I know, who will Joba throw at if Youk ends up a Yank?
Dec 06, 2012 @ 08:38:56
I believe he would still throw at Youk
Dec 06, 2012 @ 18:36:43
Yep, I think BL is correct, Joba would find a way to plunk Youk. Youk would then retaliate by sweating all over Joba. Ah the joys of baseball …
Even more amusing would be the Fenway Faithful’s reaction to Youk stepping into the box in Bahston as a Yankee.
I too was really curious as to why Cashman seemed to take a pass on Chavez. Perhaps he was considered too brittle?
Dec 06, 2012 @ 19:09:02
I can picture it now
joba sets up from the stretch and fires a bullseye AT the thirdbaseman!
Youkilis might need to pull an Olerud and wear a helmet in the field!
Mitchell, my guess is it had to be the health issue. The Yankees certainly have the internal medicals on him, so it would make sense. I would have given Chavez the $3 million and platooned him at third with Nunez, but the Yankees seem to want to give Youkilis $12 million for some reason. ugh