Really? Are you honestly suggesting that 24 million dollars is a good price for Delgado for 1 year? Maybe we get an ok prospect for trading him but still…

Matsui hit .285/.367/.488 last season and that is almost identical to his career line of .295/.371/.485. Last season was NOT an off year for him. He should not be expected to be better going forward but rather slightly worse simply because of his age.

“He’s no Manny, but Matsui is an instant upgrade for a lot of teams in left field, and he costs less than anyone on the FA market for certain.”

He is approximately average for his position offensively. By definition that means he should be an upgrade for about half the teams in baseball, as would an average player at any position. Pointing this out doesn’t make him more valuable. His perceived value is higher than this for many both because of the media attention from Japan and the boost his counting stats have gotten from his middle of the order placement in some very good line-ups. If the Yankees can use those things to their advantage to get better value in the trade market than he would otherwise then they probably should. Like I said before though it’s very possible that he really IS much more valuable than an average corner OFer to any team but that’s a result of increased revenue in asian markets rather than anything he is likely to do on the field,

Learn to read. ALL OF YOU LEARN TO READ AND STOP ASKING YOUR RIDICULOUS “WHY?” QUESTIONS WHEN I TOLD YOU WHY.

How about telling me why the trade isn’t good? Cuz you say so? How about telling me the pros and cons of Delgado or better yet why Matsui > Delgado. I’ll tell you why Delgado is better than Matsui:

1. Giambi falls to injuryfor 3 months, Duncan and/or Betemit hold down 1B. Who they getting without teams asking for a king’s ransom? Delgado falls to injury, Duncan/Betemit DH but get this: Giambi’s bat is still in the lineup and as bad as he was last year, he’s > Duncan/Betemit or at least much more of a known quantity. Damon LF and Delgado or Giambi 1B > Damon LF and Duncan and/ or Betemit 1B, period, end of story, case closed.

2. Yanks can still keep Duncan and Betemit with Delgado, so if Giambi falls to injury, Duncan/ Betemit DH, both play some 1B to spell Delgado who can DH a bit.

3. Damon falls to injury, Yanks can call up Gardner and see what he’s made of or they could get a super #4 OF type who remains when Damon returns.

4. Delgado > Giambi, Duncan, Betemit, any two, or all three at 1B.

5. Delgado is better at his position than Matsui who actually has no position but being a 20-25 HR/yr. DH thus a waste there.

The very real possibility of 2008 Matsui posting .268 BA, .330 OBP, 12 HR, 71 RBI, and subpar defense for $13M…with another $13M due him to produce the same or worse in ’09 if his knees or whatever doesn’t break down after years of playing on Japanese artificial turf and keeping that ridiculous consecutive games played streak alive until he got knocked out in early 2006. Don’t think he’ll wind up like Steve Kemp? Think again.

The guy has been a bust since his extension cuz think about it: lost 2006, crap 2007 without his big July, flopped two postseasons in a row, soaks his knees in ice water after games and he’s not even 35 yet.

At least the Yanks can get rid of Delgado after 2008 and again, the Yanks shelled out $9M on guys who didn’t even play for them last year PLUS Pavano, so spare me the jive about Delgado. If Delgado and Matsui have a similar 2008,
Matsui will be with S.F. in ’09, not the Yanks and the Yanks can bid adieu to Delgado or GET THIS: pick up his $12M mutual option if he accepts (he’ll accept on a so-so year) and offer him and $4M to whoever wants a DH for a year and $8M.

Delgado’s contract is as follows:

$16M for 2008 with $4M buyout (so $20M to get rid of him) or $12M mutual option ($8M savings) if he isn’t ranked #??? in the M.V.P. voting (the source, Cot’s Contracts, doesn’t specify what that rank is, my guess is it’s top 10 if not top 5).

$15M vested option ($5M savings) if he has an M.V.P.-candidate season.

Why wouldn’t the Yanks want him back if he posted say 33 HR and 117 RBI in ’08? Are you people on drugs? If he’s pre-2007 like 2008-09, he’s worth every penny at $31M total ($16M for ’08 + $15M for ’09).

B.t.w. folks, Giambi’s $26M, Abreu’s $16M, Pettitte’s $16M, Mussina’s $11M, and Farnsworth’s $5.75M for ’08 will be off the books after ’08, so no need to get your panties in a bunch over the Yanks taking on Delgado. I don’t see Delgado as the 1B for the next 5 friggin’ years, just 2008 only with the hope he bounces back from his off-year back in the A.L.

You all want to have a subpar corner OF with Matsui taking starts from Damon in LF and Abreu in RF and an atrocious 1B by committee, be my guess. I’ll take Delgado at 1B, Giambi at DH where he belongs, and Damon having LF all to himself thanks.