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The big knock on Granderson is that he can't hit lefties and he certainly was miserable against them last year, putting up a .484 OPS against them.  But, in 2008 he hit .259/.310/.429 against them, nothing amazing, but certainly respectable enough for everyday play and an indication that he has the ability to hit them. 

In this way he is very much like Paul O'Neil.  O'Neil came to New York with a reputation of being useless against LHP.  In 1992, the year before he arrived, O'Neil put up a .565 OPS against LHP.  But, in 1990 he had hit .261/.312/.408 against them and once he got to New York he rediscovered how to hit LHP.  He was never as good against them as he was against righties, but he got the job done.  Maybe Granderson can follow in that path and the Yankees should give him every chance to do so before going to a straight platoon. 

The Yankees do have an option of using Melky against tough lefties.  The thing is, before 2009, Melky was useless against LHP, but he suddenly hit them (.763 OPS)  in 2009.  Is that a trend you can count on?

I'm not sure and it's another reason why I wish the Yankees had kept Shelley Duncan around.  Duncan absolutely killed lefties and the Yankees could have played him in right with Swisher in center against lefties if they felt Granderson couldn't handle it.  But, that door is probably closed, so Melky it is right now, but the Yankees should keep exploring their options. UPDATE- Tyler Kepner of the Times has an excellent candidate- Reed Johnson.  He hit .323/.400/.500 against RHP in 2009 and .313/.378/.463 in his career.  Made $3 million last year with the Cubs.

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On to the Damon negotiations, I don't think this deal changes the Yankees plans with Damon.   Melky Cabrera had a better 2009, but .274/.336/.416 isn't enough to play everyday.  With Austin Jackson gone, the Yankees do not have an heir apparent for left in AAA so I think they would be willing to go to two years with Damon.  I am not sure if they would have done that with Jackson in the wings, but I bet they would do two-years/$20 million now.

I think it also increases the chances that Xavier Nady could return.  If Damon goes elsewhere, the Yankees may turn to Nady to plug leftfield.  That wouldn't shock me at all.  It also wouldn't shock me to see both Damon and Nady return, if Nady takes low money on a one-year deal.

What I do think this deal does do is close the door on Hideki Matsui.  Matsui cannot be trusted to play leftfield and with Granderson in the fold, the Yankees don't need to panic to keep their lefty power.  This deal really signals the Yankees are serious about getting younger and better in the outfield and Matsui doesn't help them in either of those departments.