Well now that the Yankees have apparently signed Mark Teixeira out of nowhere (and it really is out of nowhere–the team showed no indication they were interested in him up until now) we can start the lineup projections and drool or be angry.
Situation #1, which allows all the best bats on the field at once is:
Johnny Damon (CF – L)
Derek Jeter (SS – R)
Mark Teixeira (1B – S)
Alex Rodriguez (3B – R)
Jorge Posada (C – S)
Hideki Matsui (DH – L)
Robinson Cano (2B -L)
Xavier Nady (LF – R)
Nick Swisher (RF – S)
The bench would be Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera, Jose Molina, and some unidentified utility guys like Cody Ransom.
If the team wants to go with the best defense in the outfield it would be:
Johnny Damon (LF – L)
Derek Jeter (SS – R)
Mark Teixeira (1B – S)
Alex Rodriguez (3B – R)
Jorge Posada (C – S)
Hideki Matsui (DH – L)
Robinson Cano (2B -L)
Nick Swisher (RF – S)
Brett Gardner/Melky Cabrera (CF – L/S)
I personally like option #2 better because Nady could play against LHP and spell everyone so there are lots of days off and rest all around. Damon has average range in CF but his arm is made out of wet, then dried, then soaked again noodle so I’d prefer not to see that. Swisher is a very versatile guy and could also play CF in a pinch although he doesn’t play there often and said he isn’t very comfortable. I am just a bit scarred from the defense last year, plus I don’t really think that much of Nady.
My thoughts are that the Yankees are probably done tinkering with the lineup as such, but I wouldn’t really be surprised to see them move Nady for a hitting prospect of some kind. There is also the dilemma of what to do with Jeter because even if he doesn’t think so his days at shortstop are certainly numbered. The Yankees have no internal replacement for him but he should probably be moved very soon. This gives me nightmare visions of Derek Jeter: Designated Hitter I would prefer not to think about.
Anyway that is a really good lineup and they spent a lot of money on pitching too so it isn’t a Detroit Tigers 2008 scenario, though of course a lot of people could all get hurt again and then it’ll be like the early 1990s and I will be sad.
My biggest fear is that if the Yankees lose in the first round Cashman will get fired. He has managed to appease the powers that be by spending lots of money while continuing the youth movement. This is the first youth movement we’ve seen without a Steinbrenner being banned from baseball. If it gets derailed the future is bleak. If he can hang on, we could see a new dynasty.