Thursday, December 17, 2009
MLB.com: Yanks, Johnson discuss return as DH
Slugger could receive incentive-laden deal with Bombers
Even with World Series MVP Hideki Matsui out of the picture, the Yankees could have a familiar face as their designated hitter in 2010.
According to The New York Post, the Bronx Bombers are in talks with Nick Johnson to replace Matsui, who signed one-year deal reportedly worth $6.5 million with the Angels on Wednesday.
Slugger?
Although Johnson’s a health risk, he’d make a good DH. DHing may keep him healthier, and although he’s seemingly lost some power of late, the OBP is very attractive. Here’s how he’d project as a Yankee in 2010.
| % | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | HBP | SB | CS | DP | AVG | OBP | SLG | BR | BRAR | wOBA |
| 80% | 109 | 463 | 370 | 67 | 108 | 26 | 2 | 14 | 60 | 91 | 61 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 9 | .293 | .443 | .488 | 81 | 25 | .415 |
| 65% | 106 | 450 | 359 | 61 | 100 | 23 | 2 | 12 | 55 | 83 | 64 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 10 | .279 | .426 | .451 | 72 | 17 | .394 |
| Baseline | 104 | 441 | 352 | 56 | 93 | 21 | 1 | 10 | 50 | 77 | 66 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 12 | .265 | .408 | .415 | 63 | 10 | .373 |
| 35% | 98 | 419 | 335 | 50 | 84 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 44 | 69 | 67 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 10 | .252 | .384 | .382 | 54 | 3 | .348 |
| 20% | 93 | 397 | 317 | 44 | 75 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 39 | 62 | 67 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | .238 | .359 | .348 | 45 | -3 | .323 |
| 2009 | 130 | 574 | 457 | 71 | 131 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 62 | 96 | 84 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 17 | .287 | .416 | .397 | 80 | 10 | .371 |
The 441 PAs are a weighted average of his 2006-2009 playing time, and it came out higher than I thought. Johnson would project about 1/2 win better than Mr. Greedy Trader would over the same playing time, but obviously projected durability is a positive for Damon and a negative for Johnson.
An incentive-laden deal would mitigate the cost of Johnson missing time, but it would not mitigate the fact that if Johnson misses time, the Yankee offense may be a bat short. So if the Yankees do go for Johnson, I'd still like to see them add someone that they can at least put in LF against lefties. Maybe Xavier Nady?
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