Granderson Trade Makes Sense

Picture yourself at a Hold Em' table in Vegas. You've been dealt pocket rockets and just hit the third ace on the flop, the whole table folds except for one man in an Armani suite, sitting directly across from you, he looks like he has the fourth, a gleam in his left eye, and a sinking feeling in his right. He clearly has the money to go on with the loss, but knows he could lose big.

You are the Yankees, and the man sitting across from you is Johnny Damon.

The Bombers acquisition of Curtis Granderson from the Tigers has given them all the cards and while he's not admitting it yet, has shoved Damon against a wall with only a shorter, but probably more lucrative escape route in place.

By nabbing Granderson at a relatively small price, he slides into center field with the likely non-Damon solution being Melky Cabrera in left field.

This means that the Yankees have tons of options regarding the rest of the club. Without Damon, the Yankees slide Cabrera to left and can feel comfortable resigning Hidecki Matsui for a 1-year deal because they won't have to spell Damon in that spot. Certainly A-Rod will see time at DH, but Matsui will need a break from time to time anyway.

Granderson will add power to the outfield that the Yankees (and myself) were afraid they would sorely miss if they lost either Damon or Matsui this offseason. The trade allows them the flexibility to sign either, but not both and helps them meet their goal of lowering the payroll this year.

If Damon does resign, he'll split time between left field and DH and the Yankees will have no need to resign Matsui because of the power surge in center.

And if neither if they don't resign Matsui or Damon? Watch out Red Sox, because that leaves a lot of money free to sign Matt Holliday.