I hear ya. That makes good sense. But I just can’t help but think paying 26 million up front to not produce or paying him 26 million over the course of a year to stay on the team and not produce.

Of course, you can’t say that the Yanks are stacked at the first base position anyways. I guess you might as well just leave him be for another month like you said.

I’d have no problem with shelling out the money for Teixeira.

I think what concerns me most about Giambi is that he’s not even getting on base. His OBP is currently about 50 points below the league average. Even last year, he was only a shade (17 points) above average. And no matter how many times he claims he will, he doesn’t seem willing to adjust in a real game situation and do anything other than spray yet another ball into the shift. If he’s at the point where he can’t reach first base other than by HR, we really don’t need to see the return of the King(man).

Posada has stated that he things of himself as a catcher, hinting that he didn’t like the idea of being at first. His career as a catcher is coming to an end. He’s never been that good defensively and a sore shoulder is going to put him in Mike Piazza territory. A move to first base could prolong his career quite a bit an give him a legitimate shot at the hall of fame. He would be wise to be less resistant to the idea.

Giambi may come around, but he’s dead weight at the moment. Posada would be just as good defensively and provide a bigger bat. Ensberg or Duncan would be defensive improvements, but aren’t all stars at the plate yet.

Wilson Betemit serves the team best by remaining on the DL. Bring back Alberto Gonzalez to fill in as a utility man. Betemit can neither hit nor field.

Jeff
http://pinstripers.blogspot.com

I am referring to Big Tex. Personally, I want him very much to be the future first baseman. I don’t know if anyone else agrees — it will be a long, expensive contract — but I think he’s worth it.

gphunt, I’m not suggesting that Giambi doesn’t suck right now and that he’s not dragging the team down. My point is that you can’t just throw up your hands and cavalierly say “cut him.” 26 million dollars! That’s probably more than the entire Marlins’ staff. You hate to make decisions based on money, and right now I truly wish Shelley was up here in the bigs playing first base and left field, but because of Giambi’s contract you have to give him more time. It sucks, it’s hard to swallow, and trust me I wouldn’t shed a tear to see Giambi gone (though I do like the guy), but… I just keep coming back to that insane number: 26 million.

Giambi has always hit when healthy. But maybe his body has finally given out on him. In the end, I think the Yanks have to give him another month to see if he can get his swing back before they say good-bye and write him a check.

It’s worse to watch a $26 million pinch hitter. Giambi might be relegated to this until he starts hitting and Posada moves back to his catching duties.

baileywalk: Are you referring to Teixera?

Baileywalk–So if Giambi’s bat is slower and he can’t perform at the level of even getting his average up to .250 then what would you do with him?

He’s drawing walks, which is good, but he’s also striking out a lot. He’s not hitting for any power and he can’t make a throw to first base.

I think the negatives by far out weight his positives.

I know everyone’s on a release-Giambi kick since the Jays dumped Thomas, but to pay someone 26 million dollars to walk away is too steep even for the Yankees. He’s clearly in good shape, so it’s not hamburgers. And I really don’t think he’s forgotten how to hit. In a sense, he’s like Mussina — he’s old and his bat is slower now. We look at this older players and want them to do something to improve and sometimes they just can’t — their bodies are simply at a point where they aren’t as good as their competitors.

Also, it’s a disaster if Jorge can’t catch anymore and he becomes a first baseman. They just gave him a monster four-year deal as a catcher because they had no alternative. He wouldn’t have gotten that contract if they knew he was going to not even fulfil one MONTH of it as a catcher. Besides, their future first baseman — a long-term first baseman — is waiting on the open market at the end of the year.

The Yankees better pray that Jorge’s shoulder comes back to life.

Why not just outright release Giambi?? It’s the last year of his contract. And he isn’t exactly having the type of year you would expect from Giambi, given that it’s a contract year.

Go with Posada at first full time, or at least until his shoulder is 100%. Molina and Moeller are hitting at the moment. Why not ride the hot hand(s)?

Is Betemit useful still? Alberto Gonzalez is holding his own quite well.

Promote Darrell Rasner.