Damon for Crede?

[Coco's Disciples]

Rumors of Damon/Crede Swap Heating Up
4th November, 2007 - 4:59 pm
MVN - Buster Olney of ESPN.com has mentioned a possible Johnny Damon for Joe Crede deal between the Yankees and White Sox.

The Chicago White Sox would be able to solve their "third base logjam" and would be able to acquire a center-fielder who is going to cost quite a bit less than any free-agent center fielder that the White Sox are interested in. Damon is due $26M throughout the next two years, and the Yankees would surely eat some of the salary to make the deal work.

As for the Yankees, acquiring a veteran third baseman was their ideal choice this off-season, and Crede brings this. He also won’t cost anywhere near what Mike Lowell is set to cost. As for Damon’s open position, Melky Cabrera will do quite well with a full-time jo

Haha, Crede is awful. Career averages: .259 AVG, .305 OBP, .446 SLG.

[26 to 6]

I'll make that deal.

[Coco's Disciples]

Explain your reasoning please. I do not think its a good deal. Crede is a mediocre player. He has power, but his OBP is awful. I suppose in the specific situation the Yankees are in, with Cabrera in the wings and the lack of a 3B, it makes sense...but still, not a fan of the value.

[jacksonianmarch]

I like the idea of Crede. His IsoPower and HR totals have increased 3 yrs in a row until he was injured last yr. He also doesnt strike out often at all. Then again, he doesnt walk either. But he would provide some right sided balance to a team that will be loaded with lefties. Also, he is about as good a defensive 3b as you will find.

Losing Damon will hurt IMO. I like his capability to carry a team out of the leadoff spot. But he is 34, has shown that he can no longer stay healthy and has had 2 consective down yrs OBP wise out of the leadoff spot. And one of his best assets, speed, has already shown decline. Plus, with his arm being absolutely horrible and his legs slowing, he isnt an asset in the OF anymore.

For Crede, the injury issue is tricky. He has a back injury and that is a scary proposition. But in a deal that takes from one of our strengths and fills a hole, you gotta think about it at least. I'd do it.

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by Coco's Disciples

Explain your reasoning please. I do not think its a good deal. Crede is a mediocre player. He has power, but his OBP is awful. I suppose in the specific situation the Yankees are in, with Cabrera in the wings and the lack of a 3B, it makes sense...but still, not a fan of the value.

I love the idea of Crede. Think about it. Was a big time contributor to a WS championship team. He is 29 yrs old. He is a fantastic defender. He bats right handed, hits for a good amount of power, and is right handed on a mostly lefty hitting team.

He isnt an all star. But the all star all the time teams have failed for 7 consecutive yrs. This is the kind of guy who is solid, provided he is healthy.

I just didnt want to give up a lot for him. And when you talk about dealing a mid 30s, declining, injury prone, DH who gets way more cash than he deserves, why not?

If we had Damon in CF and nobody to cover the position, then I wouldnt do this deal. But with Melky being one of the better defensive CFers in the game and developing offensively, you dont need Damon in CF. In RF, Damon's arm would be such a detriment that he wouldnt be useful. In LF, his speed is nice, but his arm also kills him. And when you have Abreu in RF and Matsui in LF, Damon really doesnt hold a candle to them offensively. It is dealing a guy we'd have to fight to get into the lineup for a guy we could pencil in for the entire yr. You do it every time.

[TheKilo]

lol please trade for Crede

[jacksonianmarch]

.283 30HR 90RBI was his last full season. His career average in 162 games is .259 25HR 85RBI. Nothing to scoff at.

[One Red Seat]

Isn't that what Betemit will do for you? So, you are OK with trading a guy you want to keep in order to get a guy who will do what someone on your roster will already do? I smell ballwashing. The wagons are circled and everything will get defended by you right now.

[a700hitter]

I hope they do it. Damon will be completely healthy to start the season and should be able to reclaim his status as a lead off catalyst. Let him do it for the White Sox.

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by One Red Seat

Isn't that what Betemit will do for you? So, you are OK with trading a guy you want to keep in order to get a guy who will do what someone on your roster will already do? I smell ballwashing. The wagons are circled and everything will get defended by you right now.

If we dont acquire another 3b, I dont have a problem with Betemit. But with Crede, we'd move Betemit to 1b where he would be in a platoon with Duncan. And Giambi will be the DH.

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by a700hitter

I hope they do it. Damon will be completely healthy to start the season and should be able to reclaim his status as a lead off catalyst. Let him do it for the White Sox.

Damon was completely healthy when this season started too. You guys warned us of this. He breaks down. He has for 2 seasons now.

[a700hitter]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

Damon was completely healthy when this season started too. You guys warned us of this. He breaks down. He has for 2 seasons now.

I don't think you have any complaints about his 2006 performance?

[jacksonianmarch]

Just to back up my point.
Over the past 3 seasons..

Betemit vs Righties .277/.355/.841
Betemit vs Lefties .227/.277/.631

Duncan vs lefties .303/.378/.984 (and had .900+ OPS vs lefties for the third straight yr)
Duncan vs Righties .220/..289/.801

[riverside sluggers]

If the Yankees take themselves out of the running for Lowell, it would then be down to Boston and Philly

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I'd love to see Joe Crede get traded to the Yankees because that means they won't be looking at Mike Lowell or Alex Rodriguez which gives the Red Sox a huge advantage to signing one if not both players.