Iwakuma 00740314

01/28/2008 10:00 AM ET
Mailbag: Who will be the left fielder?
Beat reporter Bryan Hoch answers Yankees fans' questions
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com







How will Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon compete against one another for playing time in left field? Wouldn't the Yankees be better off having both of them in the lineup as opposed to Jason Giambi's week-by-week streakiness?
-- Dylan M., New York, N.Y.
If Joe Girardi has sat down this month and tried to plot out how his left field and designated hitter arrangement is going to work, he's no doubt already realized that having three veteran professional hitters vying for two openings in the lineup is going to leave someone out in the cold.

The good news is that it doesn't have to make sense on paper in January. It's simplistic, but these things seem to have a way of working themselves out on the field. If you remember, Giambi missed two months last season with a foot injury, which opened the door for Damon to make his defense an asset in left field and helped Matsui find new life as a designated hitter.

The reality is that Giambi has a large contract and is going to have the opportunity to be a contributing player on the 2008 Yankees. If he winds up becoming a $21 million bench ornament, that seems extravagantly wasteful, and there appear to be few trade scenarios that could involve Giambi at this stage in his career.

On the positive side, when healthy, he can still be a presence in the lineup, although it seems safe to say that nobody wants to watch him play too often at first base -- especially since Girardi has already said that he will value defense in his decision-making process.

Brian Cashman has already gone on record as saying that he envisions Damon as the Yankees' Opening Day left fielder and leadoff batter, but that's subject to change. Carl Pavano was the Yankees' Opening Day starter in '07 and we all know how that turned out.

The Yankees are going to want Damon to report in better shape, but let's not forget that Matsui is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery as well. A lot of things can happen between now and Opening Day; if all three players make it through the spring healthy, it'll be a problem Girardi would much rather tackle then. We've asked him a few times about it and he'd rather defer it until everything is a known quantity.

The Yankees are reportedly close to a deal with Robinson Cano for four years and $30 million. Isn't this a lot for a 25-year-old? This is also a huge step up from the $4.55 million Cano requested for one year.
-- Elizabeth C., Scarsdale, N.Y.

It also appears to be a rather smart move for both sides, assuming that Cano continues the production he has shown over his first 2 1/2 seasons and fulfills the potential that the Yankees believe he will. While the Yankees haven't often taken this track with their younger players, Cano seems like a good place to throw your chips if you're going to bet on future performance.

The Yankees believe Cano's power will continue to develop and he's already had more hits since his debut than any other American League second baseman. Key in the reported figures of the Cano deal are the option years for 2012 and 2013: Cano receives some immediate financial security and the Yankees pick up a pair of seasons that otherwise would have been prime free agency years.

Before Luis Vizcaino signed with the Rockies, I think the Yankees offered him arbitration. If so, shouldn't we get a draft pick?
-- Frank W., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Correct. Because the Yankees offered arbitration to Vizcaino, who was classified as a Type B free agent, they are entitled to a "sandwich" pick between the first and second rounds in June. These picks are valuable; Joba Chamberlain was a compensatory round pick in 2006. This is part of the reason the Yankees were willing to let Vizcaino go to Colorado on a two-year deal while trying a one-year contract with LaTroy Hawkins.

Do you think the Yankees will retire Bernie Williams' number? Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are givens once they retire, but what about Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte?
-- Danny G., Mineola, N.Y.

You'll be happy to know this is something the Yankees are looking into. Cashman said at an appearance last week in New Jersey that the team is looking into a more concrete system for figuring out which numbers should be retired, especially with lower digits growing scarcer.

If the Yankees are going to tighten restrictions, the waits could be a little longer for players. You don't want to disparage any of these great Yankees, but at some point you have to draw the line. Seeing Chamberlain wearing No. 62 and Phil Hughes wearing No. 65 is just the tip of the iceberg. You could soon see players wearing numbers in the 70s regularly during the season.

Since we're in agreement that Jeter and Rivera are givens, let's also throw Posada and Williams in as probable future retired numbers. Pettitte's No. 46 going up wouldn't surprise anybody, and Joe Torre's No. 6 will likely seal off the single digits.

What happened to J. Brent Cox from the University of Texas? Do you think he will be in the Major Leagues anytime soon?
-- George F., Bronx, N.Y.

Cox missed all of 2007 with Tommy John surgery and has resumed throwing on the side, with his recovery on schedule. He wasn't invited to big league Spring Training because he's a bit behind the rest of the pitchers, but he'll be competitively pitching near the beginning of the Minor League schedule. The Yankees still regard him highly and a potential big league debut in late 2008 or sometime in 2009 wouldn't seem to be out of the question.

Now that the Yankees have a new pitching coach, can you tell me where Ron Guidry has gone? Will he still be part of the Yankees organization?
-- Gina S., Ridgefield, Conn.

Gator has said that, as of right now, he's just planning to spend some time at home in Louisiana. The Yankees may invite Guidry to Spring Training as one of their guest instructors to continue working with their young pitchers this year, and he has said that he would accept that.

I think its great that Bob Sheppard still works at Yankee Stadium after all these years. How is he doing? I would love for him to be in the new Yankee Stadium.
-- Dave C., Foxboro, Mass.

The Yankees report that Sheppard is doing much better and is looking forward to returning for Opening Day this season. You'll remember that Sheppard missed a handful of games at the end of the 2007 schedule, including the two postseason games at Yankee Stadium. Hearing him back in the booth on March 31, introducing the Yankees and Blue Jays, would be a treat.


Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.