Yankees Rumors: Carlos Pena, Johnny Damon and the DH Spot
By Editorial Staff
The New York Yankees went from a questionable rotation to a staff considered to be one of the team’s strengths within hours Friday night. Now that New York has its top of the rotation in order, the Yankees have turned their attention to filling a new hole that was created in the Jesus Montero/Michael Pineda trade. Without Montero’s bat, the Yankees are searching for their next designated hitter, and the club’s reportedly reached out to free agents Carlos Pena and Johnny Damon.
It was reported Saturday that the Yankees had expressed interest in Carlos Pena. Yesterday, while speaking with MLB Network, Pena confirmed that the Yankees have indeed reached out to him this winter. However, Pena also noted that he’s keeping all of his options open, as it may be best for the 33-year-old to stay at first base as long as he can.
In his first year with the Cubs, Pena posted a line of .225/.357/.462 with 28 home runs and 27 doubles.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com also reported that the Yankees have spoken with free agent Johnny Damon about taking over as their designated hitter in 2012. Damon hit at a clip of .261/.326/.418 with 16 home runs and 29 doubles over his 647 plate appearances with the Rays in 2011, most of which came as the club’s designated hitter.
Beyond Pena and Damon, Heyman reminds us that another former Yankee remains on the free agent market that could fill the club’s void at DH, Hideki Matsui. The 37-year-old spent last season as the A’s primary designated hitter, batting .251/.321/.375 with 12 home runs and 28 doubles over his 583 plate appearances.
While Pena’s power and numbers would make him a more favorable fit, Heyman says that the Yankees “don’t have a ton” of money left to give to a potential designated hitter. This could ultimately result in a Yankees reunion with a less expensive alternative such as Damon or Matsui.
For more on the Yankees, be sure to check out Yanks Go Yard.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.