Philadelphia Phillies star Shane Victorino is exactly the talent that the New York Yankees need to compete for a World Series title.
According to CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees are looking to acquire an outfielder and have spoken to the Phillies about Victorino. Relieving the injury to stud left fielder Brett Gardner has to be a priority for these Yankees.
Hayden also mentions the Yankees have talked to the Arizona Diamondbacks about Jason Upton, though trading for Victorino would arguably be the better move.
The talks of shopping for outfield talent stem from the fact that Gardner is now on the 60-day DL after injuring his elbow while diving for a ball. Reporter David Waldstein of The New York Times said that he will likely be out the rest of the year.
Victorino is a proven talent in the outfield as well as at the plate. In spite of the fact that he has gone over a month without a homer, Victorino boasts a respectable eight home runs and 38 RBI.
What’s more? He has World Series experience, has posted at least 17 home runs and 61 RBI each of the last two seasons, and can make plays on the field.
He is notorious for being a proven threat in the hitting department and will add depth to an already strong-scoring team. The Yankees are third in MLB in runs, at 454, this season.
In the nine games Gardner played, his hitting was arguably the most impressive aspect of his game. He batted a whopping .321 and chipped in five runs and three RBI in 28 at-bats.
It is clear that his absence is a major loss at the position, and there is no doubt Victorino would be the answer to the team’s problem.
No Garnder in the lineup will not be a problem if the Yankees can snag this talented fielder from the Phillies.
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