How About A Trade?
The Yankees have a very strange roster right now. They have three catchers, two relievers who should only pitch against lefties and a bunch of interchangeable righty bats on the bench. They are younger and they have increased their positional flexibility, but they also have some holes.
As great as Francisco Cervelli has been, he has done all of his damage against LHP. Put a lefty against him at your own peril (.362/.483/.426) but he is utterly futile against RHP (.241/.310/.299). As great as his glove is, he doesn't hit righties enough to be an everyday catcher. The ideal situation for the Yankees would be to DH Posada on days they face a lefty and catch Posada on days they play a righty. But, that would require the Yankees to keep Chad Moeller on the roster and that isn't an optimal situation.
What the Yankees could use is someone who could catch, but also hit RHP. Someone like Greg Zaun perhaps? Zaun is old, but he can still catch and he can still hit righties. Last year he hit .269/.347/.454 against them in 242 PA's and this year he has put up a line of .310/.375/.465. His bat stops working against LHP (.523 OPS) but he would be a perfect platoon partner with Cervelli. He is a Brewer and they are struggling, I can't imagine the price would be very high.
Getting Zaun would upgrade the third catcher position and allow you to make Posada into a DH on most days. I know Nick Johnson is supposed to be back in a few weeks and also has his brace off, but do you really trust him to recover and come back this season? I don't and I think Zaun gives the Yankees the best options right now.
The Yankees are locked in a tight race. They are tied with Tampa for first and the Red Sox are very close behind them. I have said it a number of times, every win counts this year and they have to maximize their chances. A guy who can hit RHP and catch provides a lot of value right now.
As great as Francisco Cervelli has been, he has done all of his damage against LHP. Put a lefty against him at your own peril (.362/.483/.426) but he is utterly futile against RHP (.241/.310/.299). As great as his glove is, he doesn't hit righties enough to be an everyday catcher. The ideal situation for the Yankees would be to DH Posada on days they face a lefty and catch Posada on days they play a righty. But, that would require the Yankees to keep Chad Moeller on the roster and that isn't an optimal situation.
What the Yankees could use is someone who could catch, but also hit RHP. Someone like Greg Zaun perhaps? Zaun is old, but he can still catch and he can still hit righties. Last year he hit .269/.347/.454 against them in 242 PA's and this year he has put up a line of .310/.375/.465. His bat stops working against LHP (.523 OPS) but he would be a perfect platoon partner with Cervelli. He is a Brewer and they are struggling, I can't imagine the price would be very high.
Getting Zaun would upgrade the third catcher position and allow you to make Posada into a DH on most days. I know Nick Johnson is supposed to be back in a few weeks and also has his brace off, but do you really trust him to recover and come back this season? I don't and I think Zaun gives the Yankees the best options right now.
The Yankees are locked in a tight race. They are tied with Tampa for first and the Red Sox are very close behind them. I have said it a number of times, every win counts this year and they have to maximize their chances. A guy who can hit RHP and catch provides a lot of value right now.
