Many people are seeking to trade one of the extra corner OF/1B/DH’s the Yankees currently have on the active roster, most likely to obtain a veteran pitcher. Since trading for Xavier Nady last season, and having 35 year old’s Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui, plus 37 year old Jorge Posada in the mix, there was no need to make the November trade for Nick Swisher. Especially when the Yankees were going to sign Mark Teixeira. 

Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera are two other outfielders who need at bats, too, while both players provide better defense than the others involved.

After the Swisher deal, I wrote about the Yankees logjam at the corner OF spots, and this logjam intensified with the signing of Teixeira.

Where do all these guys get their at bats? Word from some in the Yankee circles have said even if he can’t throw out a single runner, Posada will still be the everyday catcher. His switch hitting bat in the everyday lineup is too important. I am not sure if those pitchers with high leg kicks will like that.

If the Yankees allow Gardner or Cabrera to play center field, then they have Damon, Matsui, Nady and Swisher for three spots. All those players are used to being starters their entire careers. Swisher could be a versatile, switch hitting bat off the bench, but, based upon 2008, his hitting can be considered suspect. Also, why pay him $5.3 million to be a bench player?

Many people want Matsui to be traded, but he is coming of an injury plagued year and makes $13 million. It will be extremely difficult trading him to either San Francisco or Seattle without eating a bunch of the final year contract. Matsui should be kept because if he is healthy, he is a productive offensive force. In 2007, he provided the necessary protection for A-Rod the last three months, and Alex won his third AL MVP award that year.

If you missed why A-Rod needs protection, read about that here.

I have always felt that Damon provides the best opportunity for a trade, as he offers more value for another team as a potential CF and leadoff hitter. But it appears the Yankees like those attributes, too. I would like trade Damon and give Gardner that dual role, but the Yankees don’t agree.

It then appears that Damon plays LF, Nady plays RF, Teixeira is at 1B, Matsui the DH and Posada is behind the plate.

Other than Nady (who is due for a payroll increase via arbitration) the best option for a trade is Swisher, the new bench player. I know he was just obtained, but with the lack of at bats available, Swisher is the best option. If everyone is healthy, he is the odd man out.

Swisher’s versatility in the field could be a valuable addition in Cleveland, who has stalwarts Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez coming off injury plagued, down seasons. Who knows if injuries were even the reason Hafner declined with the bat? The Tribe also traded away starting RF Franklin Gutierrez in that three way deal with the Mets and Mariners.

There are many spots Swisher, who grew up in Ohio and played ball at Ohio State, can fill in Cleveland - including first base and RF plus some empty seats. Swisher manageable contract is also an advantage for Cleveland.

If the Yanks deal Swisher, they would need to find a bat for the bench - someone without an ego and with AL East experience.

That would be available free agent Eric Hinske.

Hinske, 31, went to camp with the Rays last spring as a non-roster player, made the club, and delivered 20 homers and 60 RBIs in only 381 at-bats. He even stole 10 bases in 13 tries, playing games in right field, left field, first base, DH and third base, showing a versatility similar to Swisher, but at a cheaper cost.

Hinske made $800,000 last season, and, in this market, would likely command only a one year deal at $1.5 million.

Hinske’s stats against RHP in 2008 were pretty good: .262 BA/.344 OBP/.500 SLG/.844 OPS, similar to what Jason Giambi put up in 2008. Hinske has been a valuable spare part on the past two American League champions (Boston and Tampa Bay), and while a starter earlier in his career with Toronto, Hinske has now adapted to the role of super utility man.

His work ethic and attitude are unquestioned. He came up as a third baseman and made 20 and 22 errors his first two years, then worked hard on his defense and reduced his error total to 8. Several trades and acquisitions by Toronto pushed Hinske to first and then right field, and he played the part of team player without complaint.

He is no Jorge Posada in the attitude department.

However, the Yankees also like Swisher’s versatility and low salary. Nady then provides the best option for trade based upon his value, and the best spot for Nady would be one of his prior teams.

The New York Mets.

Based upon the whining from Met fans I hear on the radio, plus a few Met fans here at NYBD, there seems to be some unrest going into the new Citi Field. The proposed left field platoon of Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy is not making anybody think of Hank Bauer and Gene Woodling. Many fans want to have Manny Ramirez for left field, freeing up Murphy to play multiple positions, including maybe second base.

The Mets ownership, though, doesn’t want the headache that comes with Ramirez.

A better option for the Mets in left field would be Xavier Nady, providing stability in LF. His presence would also strengthen a currently weak bench. In addition to Nady, the Mets could probably get one of the young Yankees pitchers included in a deal.

With the Yankees needing young position players, especially in the outfield very soon and at shortstop in three years, Fernando Martinez and Wilmer Flores would be of interest.

If the Yankees seek to deal one of their corner outfielders, Swisher and Nady are your best bets.