Is there really a debate as to whether the Yankees should add Raul Ibanez or Eric Chavez?
Never mind the absurdity of the Yankees not having the money for both—they’re the Yankees—but let’s suspend disbelief that the holdup is financial and accept that they don’t have the money to add both players.
Why would there be a question as to which would be more useful?
Ibanez would hit his 20 homers while batting seventh as a part-time DH and once-in-a-blue-moon outfielder/first baseman and Chavez is…I’m not sure what Chavez is.
He’s handsome, was good once and is popular in the clubhouse.
So?
If the Yankees are going based on conventional good looks, it’s no contest. Ibanez with his shaved head and chaw in his cheek looks like an alien.
That the Yankees went after Carl Pavano as a free agent a year ago renders the clubhouse likability argument meaningless because in recent Yankees history, Pavano was the most reviled player this side of Jeff Juden and Mel Hall.
What exactly did Chavez do last season to warrant this fan/media groundswell that they “need” him?
It’s a factoid along the lines of Mike Scioscia’s “winning” aura; Billy Beane being “smarter than the average bear”; Keith Law’s “job offer” from the Astros; and Jason Varitek’s “leadership”.
It’s repeatedly said, printed and validated with no proof that it actually exists, but taken as true in a circular fashion with no legitimate evidence of its genesis or existence.
Statistically, Chavez was good defensively as a backup to Alex Rodriguez; offensively, he batted .263 with a .676 OPS and 8 extra base hits in 175 plate appearances. That .263 average was with a high BAbip of .320 and is not going to happen again.
He also spent time on the disabled list with a broken foot. In the past he’s had back problems that diminished him from All-Star to washout.
That is going to happen again.
Using advanced statistics, he was the epitome of the replaceable player with an across the board WAR of zero.
For that the Yankees paid $1.5 million last season and would presumably be paying something close to that again?
For that they’re trying to create payroll space?
The Yankees will be better off if they sign Ibanez and hope that Bill Hall shows enough in the spring to make the roster as a minor league free agent. Ibanez and Hall can provide something offensively and Chavez can’t.
What’s the argument?
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