Outfield Competition

The outfield positions will be for the most part up for competition this spring if you believe Joe Girardi. Left field seems to be slotted for Johnny Damon especially with Hideki Matsui pretty much relagated to being a full-time DH. However, center field and right field are up for grabs. Well, I disagree about right field. It's not that Nick Swisher couldn't be the starter there; it's just that I don't think that will happen. Why? Two reasons:
1) Nady is a Scott Boras free agent after this season. No way another team will be able to give the Yanks fair value for a guy who will be testing free agency in the off-season.
2) Nady gives the Yankee lineup a good power righty bat in their order to help balance the other lefty bats.
So what will become of Swisher? Well, when he was acquired he was going to be the first baseman, but that all changed when they acquired Mark Texeira. So because of his versatility in the field and his switch-hitting ability he will be used as a super-subbing role player. This may not be what he wants, but it will be what they need. It will enable him to get plenty of playing time and at-bats by being able to play 1B, LF, CF, RF, and DH at times. Plus, he'll be ready to take over one of those positions or spots if someone gets hurt. Or he could be trade bait? Three reasons:
1) Swisher is signed for 3 more years at "reasonable" money.
2) Swsiher, as we said, is versatile and a switch-hitter.
3) Swisher, in a package deal of some sort, could help bring the Yankees either a center fielder, another bullpen arm, or a couple of good prospects.

Then there's center field. Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner battling to show the team that they can handle the position on a regular basis and provide some type of offensive production. Maybe. Melky had the position and looked like he might be there for awhile, but he regressed last year to the point that he was demoted to Scranton. He's still young, a switch-hitter, and a good defender, but doesn't hit for power or drive in runs, his batting average dropped last year, he doesn't steal bases, and he isn't a very good on-base guy. Gardner can run and steal bases, and is also good defensively. However, he doesn't hit for power or knock in runs, and may be more hitting-challenged than Melky. So will either of them show that they are ready to take their games to the next level and warrant a starting job in Yankee center field? We'll see. If not, then my guess is that they both could be candidates for a trade, or in Gardner's case another trip back to Scranton. Then, the Yanks will have to put that package together for a full-time center fielder, or at least a stop-gap one as they wait and hope that Austin Jackson is the heir-apparent to the position.