An aging New York Yankees ball club may be getting older soon. With Mark Teixeira out of action for at least 8-10 weeks, Brian Cashman (kudos to the ESPN radio caller who referred to him as "Crashman") has feelers out all over the place for a first and/or third baseman.
Kevin Youkilis can play either position, but with a third baseman hard to find, Cashman has already stated that getting a first baseman would be easier to do. That being said, it doesn't mean that the GM won't look at third basemen either.
The Yankees are already going to give third baseman turned outfielder Ronnier Mustelier a look. The Yankees like the bat he's shown in camp and in the minors last year, and want to see if he can field the position he played in his native Cuba.
Cashman has also reached out to veterans Derrek Lee and Scott Rolen. The 37-year old Lee sat out last season after hitting 19 home runs with 59 RBI for Baltimore and Pittsburgh in 2011. His best season came in 2005 when he finished third in the NL MVP voting as a member of the Chicago Cubs. He led the league in batting average (.335), slugging pct (.662), OPS (1.080), hits (199), and doubles (50).
He also hit 46 home runs that year, drove in 107 runs, and scored 120. He was bothered by a litany of injuries after that, but produced a 35-home run, 111-RBI season in 2009. Lee is reportedly interested in a comeback.
Rolen, a 17-year veteran, is a 7-time Gold Glove winner at third base. He played in 92 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season with a .245/.318/.398 split. Rolen spent 1996-2007 with Philadelphia and St. Louis before he was dealt to Toronto for fellow third baseman Troy Glaus. In 2009, The Blue Jays honored a request from Rolen to be closer to his family and dealt him to Cincy.
Rolen was Rookie of the Year for the Phillies in 1997 and has compiled 316 home runs and 1,287 RBI. He finished 4th in the 2004 NL MVP voting when he hit 34 HR, drove in 124 and had a 1.007 OPS.
A free agent, Rolen issued a statement to the media in mid-February:
“Right now I’m simply not ready to make a commitment. I would like to leave my options open, without closing any doors. I am looking forward to all of the challenges, both personally and professionally, I will face in the future.”
Cashman joked with reporters Monday morning that Chipper Jones, who retired after last season, would be a good fit. The only problem was that he didn't have Jones' agent's contact info. Agent BB Abbott relayed the info to Jones who was "flattered", but basically said there's no way in hell he is coming out of retirement, via Twitter.
"Enough with the rumors! While I am flattered about the speculation of being enticed out of retirement, I'm happy with life as a bad golfer!"Anyone have Scott Brosius' number?
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