Kuzul

In the last year of his current contract, New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada will be primarily a DH. He may play some catcher sporadically, but in 2011, for the first time in his career, the switch-hitter will be the everyday DH.

Frankly, it’s a move long coming. Never a defensive guru or a master game-caller, Posada finally broke down this season and looked every bit of his 38 years.

Posada was fourth in the AL with 72 stolen bases, second in passed balls and third in errors. Always more of an offensive catcher, the wear and tear of catching over a decade and a half took its toll on Posada’s bat, as his offensive statistics in 2010 dropped in every category.

OK, so he’s the 2011 Yankee DH. But what happens in 2012 when his contract ends?

Entering the 2012 season, Posada will be 40 years old. And the talk is that the Yankees would like to move Jeter to third base (another move long overdue) to hide his range deficiencies and move Alex Rodriguez and his aching hip to the DH for the rest of his gargantuan contract to reduce wear and tear.

So where does that leave Posada? In the past, the Yankees for the most part weren’t afraid to tell someone that their time was up—Bernie Williams anyone? Will the Yankees tell one of their Core Four to go home and sit on the couch?

Most likely, they will have to.

Assuming Posada doesn’t have a career year in 2011, at the age of 40, the Yankees won’t have a place for him the following year. With Jesus Montero and Austin Romine close to being ready to take over—if not in fact ready, in Montero’s case—the Yankees would most likely go with the younger and cheaper prospects than a fading, aging Posada.

Also, they may not have the money.

So far in 2012, the Yankees have to pay large money to Jeter, A-Rod, Sabathia, Burnett, Teixeira, Granderson, as well as pay Cano his substantial option. Just those guys alone add up to about $125 million. And that doesn’t include Swisher, Rivera or Pettitte. Or Cliff Lee. Considering all that, signing a deep, in-decline Jorge Posada would be a luxury. And contrary to popular belief, the Yankees resources are not, in fact, limitless.

Does Posada want to retire? Again, he would be 40 years old in 2012. At that age, Bill Dickey had retired. Yogi Berra’s last year with the Yankees was when he was 38—and he was an outfielder at the time. Ernie Lombardi was done by 39. Michey Cochrane was done by 34. Gary Carter, 38. Johnny Bench, 35. Point being, Posada’s body, regardless of what his gut tells him, might be due to step down after 2011.

The only problem with that might be if Posada thinks he has more in him. A proud guy, Posada might balk at any suggestions of retiring. Again, this all depends on the projection that Posada doesn’t rebound with a career year at the age of 40, which is extremely unlikely.

On the topic of retirement, Posada said back in February 2010, “I am going to make it tough…I don’t want to go away.  I am having fun and enjoy playing.  To tell you the truth, they are going to really have to rip [the uniform] off me.”

Not the words of a guy who will go gracefully. So considering the Yankees plans for the future and Posada’s intransigence, something will have to give.

Point being. 2011 might—and most likely will be—the last year we see Jorge Posada in pinstripes for a meaningful game. If you are a Yankee fan, you might want to enjoy what time you have left to watch him.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, for years one of the worst defensive shortstops in all of Major League Baseball, somehow managed to win his fifth Gold Glove on Tuesday afternoon despite having a truly horrendous season with the glove.

As if the anecdotes regarding Gold Glove misses in recent years—Mike Young 2008, Nate McLouth 2008, Rafael Palmeiro 1999—had not yet killed the reputation of the Gold Glove and any utility to be derived from the meaning of having won the award, we now have evidence at the most fundamental of levels that the Gold Glove is a laughable award.

Which is a shame, because there are certainly Gold Glovers who regularly deserve the award, such as other 2010 winners Scott Rolen, Shane Victorino, Michael Bourn and Brandon Phillips, each of whom was announced as a 2010 Gold Glover in the National League on Wednesday.

In order to properly honor Derek Jeter and all his achievements with the glove, BaseballEvolution.com has decided to start its own set of fielding awards: the Derek Jeter Awards.

From this point forward, the Derek Jeter Awards will be given to the worst fielding big name player at each position in both the National League and the American League. In this way, we can take time to honor all of baseball’s biggest stars who, oh by the way, are terrible fielders.

In 2010, the American League Jeter for shortstop will go to Derek Jeter–even though technically it belongs to Yuniesky Betancourt–and hopefully we’ll never again see any overlap between the Gold Gloves and the Derek Jeters.

Let’s have a look.

Begin Slideshow

Courtesy of Yankees ‘n More
Our long national nightmare is over. According to multiple reports, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman informed Jorge Posada that he will be the team’s designated hitter in 2011—the final season of his contract.

This information should not come as a surprise to anybody who has paid even casual attention to the Yankees these past two years. Defensively, Posada has degenerated and become an horrific catcher. He blocks virtually nothing (be they balls in the dirt or the plate with a throw coming in) and his arm is an absolute rag.

However, Posada can still hit, his bat is needed in the lineup and the idea of risking the loss of his offense an injury suffered while catching makes no sense at all.

Speculation has been that Posada would slide to DH next season, but the first solid word of the move came from the veteran’s wife, via her Twitter account on Tuesday.

“Yes, Jorge will DH next year,” tweeted Laura Posada.

Wednesday morning brought more in the way of details, via this New York Post report.

The Post reports that Posada was informed of the decision during a face-to-face meeting with Cashman in Manhattan this week. Cashman did tell Posada to “prepare to catch” this offseason. It figures that Posada will catch some next year, but the team is obviously headed in a new direction at backstop.

The plan, according to today’s Post report and multiple rumors, is to have Jesus Montero take over as the Yankees‘ starting catcher and start about 100 games behind the dish next season. Behind Montero, there will be a spring training battle between Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine.

Questions remain about Montero’s defensive ability and his future as a catcher, but the Yankees are ready to start getting answers from the 20 year old on all those issues. And honestly, how bad could Montero be behind the plate? You can’t be a worse defensive catcher than Posada in 2010.

For his part, Posada is said to be OK with the decision. Earlier this week, Posada had said he just wanted the team to be upfront with him regarding his role.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It is almost a foregone conclusion that Jorge Posada will spend significantly more time at DH in 2010, as his days as a full-time catcher appear to be over.

While that should certainly help keep him healthy, which will make fantasy owners happy, does it really matter?  Does he bring enough to the plate that justifies using him, even in one-catcher formats?

It sure didn’t appear so in 2010:

383 At Bats
.248 Batting Average (95 Hits)
18 Home Runs
57 RBI
49 Runs
3 Stolen Bases
.357 On Base Percentage
.454 Slugging Percentage
.287 Batting Average on Balls in Play

A lot of his numbers were down due to his lack of playing time.  If he had gotten 500 AB, the RBI and HR both would have been extremely attractive numbers from a catcher. 

If the Yankees do utilize him more as a designated hitter, you would have to think he’s going to get more at bats, but I’m still not sure he’d be a lock to reach 500.  The Yankees in general are an aging team and they are going to need the DH slot to give guys like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez a little more rest, yet keep their bats in the lineup.  I just don’t see the Yankees utilizing the DH role for any one player, so if the Yankees don’t trust Posada behind the plate, he’s going to find himself on the bench.

Of course, that assumes that playing DH will allow him to stay healthy.  He’s only had 500 AB once since 2003 (he had 506 in 2007).  Over the past three seasons he’s had 168, 383 and 383.

He’ll be 39 years old entering the season, so even in a limited role there’s no guarantee his body holds up.

You also have to wonder a bit if playing in the new Yankees Stadium has helped to buoy his numbers:

• Home – .288, 11 HR, 33 RBI, 32 R
• Road – .205, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 17 R

It’s actually the second consecutive year that he had a similar split, as you can see from his 2009 marks:

• Home – .325, 14 HR, 44 RBI, 33 R
• Road – .245, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 22 R

Playing in the Yankees lineup is going to help give him ample opportunities to drive in runs, no matter where he hits.  They are stocked, from top to bottom, so chances are he’s going to consistently come up with men on base.

However, we are talking about a 39-year-old catcher with a lengthy list of injury concerns who we wouldn’t want to use when playing on the road.  Does that sound like an attractive option?  In two-catcher formats he’ll have value, but in one-catcher formats, he’s just too risky of a proposition. 

I’d love to have him as a bench option that I can plug in when he’s playing at home (and maybe when he’s hot on the road), but that’s about it. 

What about you?  Is Posada someone you would like to own in 2011?  Why or why not?

Make sure to check out some of our 2011 Projections:

• Butler, Billy
• Freese, David
• Jaso, John
• Morrow, Brandon
• Willingham, Josh

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

We can finally close the doors on the 2010 Major League Baseball season.

The San Francisco Giants won the World Series over the Texas Rangers 4-1, and are now the current champions.

Now will begin the period where players will become free agents. On Sunday, five days after the World Series has concluded, teams can negotiate with players on the open market.

For the now former world champion Yankees, it is now time for them to re-shape and re-tool their roster for the 2011 season.

They already made their first commitment by re-signing manager Joe Girardi to a three-year deal worth about $9 million.

Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman have a lot of work to do if they are looking to continue their winning trend.

What could be on the list for the Yankees for 2011? Lets find out:

Begin Slideshow

Overall, the 2010 season was a disappointment because the Yankees did not win the World Series, but last year’s championship softens the blow a bit.

This is not the collapse of 2004, the gutwrencher of 2001 or the frustrating drought of 2005-08. Instead, this was a good team, but not a great team.

With that in mind, let’s hand out grades for 2010 to every pitcher with at least 26 innings and every hitter with at least 72 at-bats.

Begin Slideshow

By Eric Marmon

Interesting read in the NY Post today, which took at a poll on their official website asking fans of the New York Yankees who they want back in pinstripes in 2011. The most noticeable was, when asked who they wanted to start the majority of games behind the plate for the Bronx Bombers next season, Yankee lifer Jorge Posada received just 32.5 percent of the vote, while Triple-A phenom Jesus Montero received 67.5 percent.

New York’s displeasure with Posada doesn’t come as a complete shock. Of the Yankees “Big Four”, the catcher seems to be the least beloved. And the fact that he seemed physically unable to throw out base-stealers by the start of fall (a major necessity with guys like CC and AJ pitching), combined with his drop in production and 39-years-of-age make Jorge an easy target for fan frustration.

That being said, Montero is a complete unknown. Sure, he batted .289 with 21 home runs in Triple-A last season, but come on… the guy isn’t even old enough to drink yet. There is ZERO reason to believe he is ready to replace Posada. He’s kind of like how Brett Ratliff was viewed for the Jets a few years back.

Does Jorge Posada need to be replaced? Yes, if not in 2011, then beyond. But is the 20-year-old Jesus Montero ready for the role? Probably not. He’ll get a chance in spring training to compete for a spot on the 25-man roster, but it just feels like a guy his age would probably be best suited with more time in the minors.

Sorry fans. Look for the Yanks to either go with a Francisco Cervelli/Jorge Posada platoon for the majority of 2011, or to sign a veteran catcher to help Jorge out until Montero has fully developed.

Some other interesting things from the poll:

– While 87.1 percent of voters thought Derek Jeter should be the starting shortstop, voters in a separate poll weren’t really sure whether the Yankee captain should come back at all. Of nearly 16,500 voters, over 20 percent said the Yankees should let Jeter walk. [Just a reminder: this was an informal, unofficial poll on NYPost.com. Mets fans (and everyone else) could vote too, which might explain the anti-DJ results]

– The closest vote was over who the primary designated hitter should be, with free-agent-to-be Adam Dunn getting 24.4 percent, Lance Berkman getting 19.3 percent, and guys like Marcus Thames, Hideki Matsui, Victor Martinez and—believe it or not—Manny Ramirez all within 10 percent of each other.

– Gardner not needed. When asked about center field, 86 percent of voters took Curtis Granderson over Brett Gardner, and when asked about right field, 57.4 percent wanted free-agent Carl Crawford over the speedy Gardner.

-And if you’re looking for one more sign that the 2009 honeymoon is long over for AJ Burnett, more fan votes went in favor of Javier Vazquez being the fifth starter over AJ.

This article originally appeared on The NY Sports Digest. If its off-beat and it’s about the Mets, Yankees, Knicks, Giants, Jets, Islanders, or Rangers, than The Digest is the spot to get it. Stop with the mega-sites and get a feel for the true pulse of New York at www.NYSportsDigest.com

Possibly Related Posts:

• Joe Won’t Go! Yankees Re-Sign Skipper To Three-Year $9 Million Contract
• Signing With The Yankees Would Be Cliff Lee’s Biggest Mistake
• Dr. Lou Tells Us How To Fix Baseball
• World Series Will Be Fine Without The New York Yankees
• Perseverance Works Out For Texas Rangers Manager Ron Washington

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The members of the “Core Four” have been the faces of the New York Yankees for many years. As the 2010 season comes to a close, one must realize that the Core Four cannot go on forever.

Andy Pettitte turns 39.

Derek Jeter turns 37.

Jorge Posada turns 40.

The Great Mariano Rivera turns 41 this November.

The great question is: How many more years will the Core Four continue to play?

Here is my observation of the Core Four, future Yankee legends.

Begin Slideshow

Courtesy of Yankees ‘n More

You hear a lot of names mentioned as possible offseason targets for the New York Yankees. Cliff Lee, of course, gets more attention than anybody else, and rightly so. Then there are guys like soon-to-be free agent outfielders Carl Crawford and Jason Werth. Even names like Zack Greinke and Johnny Damon have received some play.

But one you never hear that might make a lot of sense is catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez. This is 100 percent pure speculation, but here’s why we think Victor Martinez-to-the-Bronx makes sense.

1) The Yankees are, according to multiple reports, ready to move Jorge Posada to more of a full-time DH role in 2011, which happens to be the final year of his current contract.Yankees ‘n More

2) Most people who follow this team believe the Yankees will attempt to break in top prospect Jesus Montero as their major league catcher of the future next season. If they do, they will need something more substantial than Francisco Cervelli in reserve.

3) Brian Cashman and the Yankees LOVES them some switch hitters (Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Lance Berkman, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams…) and Martinez is one of the very best in the game today.

4) While Martinez is not a great defensive catcher by any stretch, he’s at least as good as Posada is, and the Yankees obviously don’t emphasize defense at catcher. If they did, Posada would have been replaced long ago.

5) Martinez also gives the team some versatility/insurance at first base in the event of Teixeira being forced to again miss time with injuries or the like.

6) If 2011 marks the final season in pinstripes for Jorge Posada (and you have to think there is a good chance it does), Martinez transitions nicely into a fulltime, switch-hitting designated hitter role starting in 2012, when one would certainly hope at least one of the truck load of talented catchers in the system is ready to take over full time.

7) Signing Martinez takes him away from the Boston Red Sox, leaving them with another hole to fill.

8) Martinez was the regular catcher for both CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee when all three were together in Cleveland.

No doubt the Yankees are going after Cliff Lee with both barrels this offseason. And we would not be the least bit surprised to see them make a run at Carl Crawford, as well.

But don’t go to sleep on Victor Martinez. You might wake up one Winter morning to find out he just signed a contract with the New York Yankees.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Not to sound awkward, but it’s a good thing George Steinbrenner wasn’t here to witness the disintegration of his New York Yankees.

And not just in the ALCS—They looked off their game more or less since September. 

In fact, if not for the catastrophic injuries to the Red Sox this year, they may not have made it to the playoffs at all. 

The Core Four (Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Pettitte) and Alex Rodriguez will all be past their mid-30s next year. If they hope to return to contention and win a title, there are (at least) five issues they need to tackle.

Begin Slideshow