According to the New York Daily News, the Yanks have held priliminary discussions with the White Sox about trading for third baseman Joe Crede. Crede underwent back surgery in June and missed almost all of the 07 season. He is a wiz defensively and would compliment Jeter on the left side of the infield, but with his always injury prone back and inability to hit for average, I think he is exactly what we don't need offensively. With high contact guys like Jeter, Abreu, Matsui, Cano, and Melky in the lineup, the Yanks need one of two things from the third base position.... average or tons of power (or ideally both). Adding another contact hitter would make the Yankees a very different (but succesful) kind of team than we've seen in the past. It would be a team of hit and runs and bunts, a tactic that has worked for the Oakland Athletics for year. Arod is the only player who hit over 25 HR in 07, so the Yanks want to have the same offensive dynamic as last year, they need a big power guy (a.k.a. Colorado's Garrett Atkins). Joe Crede does neither of these things. He has hit over 22 HR only once in his career and constantly bats around .260. Unless Cashman has big plans for first base, I say stay away for Crede. Besides, if the Yankees want a .250 hitter with the power to hit 30 home runs, Wilson Betemit already has his jeresey fitted.
On my wish list:
Chone Figgins (contact)
Garrett Atkins (power)
Miguel Cabrera (both)
Miguel Tejada (contact)
Mike Lowell (contact)
Edwin Encarnacion (youth and contact)
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Unfortunately, the "Wish List" that is presented is only that, "Wish". There is a severe flaw with each player making the Yankees ability to acquire them nearly impossible.
First of all, Figgins is not going to New York, he fits in perfectly in Anaheim with the team they are trying to build, he is however, still under contract for a relatively low salary of 4.5 million and wont be eligible for FA until 2009, and without a need in LAA for a salary dump, he's more than likely going to stay.
Atkins and Edwin Encarnacion are still under team control and unlikely to be moved, especially considering they are each making the major league minimum and look to cement themselves in the heart of their teams orders for years to come.
Miguel Tejada would be just as big a mess in the clubhouse as A-Rod was, often seen as the face of the Orioles Franchise, a Franchise that recently players have said is "the most defeatist atmosphere in the majors". Tejada has seen his range decrease significantly over the past few years, so a move to third would be wise, however, his attitude (repeated trade requests and withdrawals) as well as his lack of hustle and determination would be highly counterproductive to the Yankees rebuilding process.
Boston has the inside track to Lowell, and especially knowing that the yankees are without a third baseman will overpay to keep Lowell in NY. Regardless, if you look at Lowell's home/away splits, he batted in excess of .370 at home (where he could hit fly balls off the monster) and barely broke .270 on the road. This isn't a player who revitalized his career, he merely found a ballpark that suited players with weakened offensive capabilities, he would see a HUGE dropoff in offensive numbers were he to leave Boston.
The asking price for Cabrera might be too high, however, he would be worth taking a flier on, considering the offensive numbers he put up in that lineup with little protection. The only problem is his lack of shape and dedication (maybe a product of the florida environment, maybe the next mo vaughn) While the upside for him is good, the risk however, is Very high. This is a gamble that is worth taking if you can get him cheap, if florida starts asking too much, its best to cut and run.
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