The Yanks are still looking for a cheaper (& younger) lefty-hitting DH than Ibanez, Damon and Matsui and according to sources, are targeting Garrett Jones of Pittsburgh.
The problem is that the Pirates aren’t biting on the bait—A.J. Burnett—no matter how much of the salary the Yanks may need to pick up ($25 to $27MM of the $33.5 he is still due).
Jones, 30 (31 in June) is 6’4″, 240 lbs. Besides DH-ing, he can play 1B and RF (and a bit of LF). In 2011, he hit .243-16-58 in 423 A.B., OPS+ 107. He hit 21 HR in 592 A.B. in 2010 (.247-21-86, OPS+ 94) and 21 HR in 314 A.B. in 2009 (.293-21-44, OPS+ 146).
His 162 g. average is .254-23-75, OPS+ 108.
For his career, he is a .275 hitter vs. righties, OBP .354, OPS .838, but only a .199 hitter vs. lefties, OPS .601. Big difference.
Should the Yanks be able to get him, they most likely could platoon the Jones boys at DH, Andruw (.384 OBP, .923 OPS vs. lefties in 2011) vs. the lefties, Garrett vs. the righties.
As opposed to what the I/D/M trio may want ($2MM to $5MM), Garrett Jones only made some $460K or so in 2011, hence the Yanks’ interest, what with them saying that they only have $2MM (if that) for a lefty-hitting DH.
I read Garrett is asking for $2.2M in arbitration.
Don’t know if he’ll get it, but even if he does, he’s within or close to the Yanks’ supposed limit for what they have for a DH, and not the $5MM that Damon is looking for, so we’ll see.
It’s looking now that Jones is not happening. But the Pirates will take on $10M.