Nosebleed Diaries: Yankees Should Make One More Move

Bombers Could Stand One More Deal to Improve Outfield    

The Yankees have gone far and beyond anything their faithful could have hoped for this offseason, snatching up the likes of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and Nick Swisher.

These acquisitions provide the Yankees a solid utility player in Swisher, two potential aces in Sabathia and Burnett, and a slugger—not to mention a Gold Glover—in Teixeira.

Dedicating over $400 million to these players, the Yankees have made a statement, showing that they will do what it takes to be a solid World Series contender this season, if not the preseason favorite.

However, in my mind there is still a move the Yankees have to make: trading for the Kansas City Royals' David DeJesus, a Brooklyn native and former Rutgers outfielder.

The 29 year-old is in the prime of his career, and his stats would be immensely bolstered, transferring from a dull and mediocre Royals lineup, to the elaborate batting order that the Yankees currently posses.

DeJesus, who played 135 games last year, racked up a .307 batting average with 73 RBI. While DeJesus only had 11 steals last year, it is well known that he has potentially game-changing speed on the bases, and he is a quality defender in the outfield. At the plate, DeJesus also has great plate discipline, and is fantastic against right-handing pitching, batting .310 against righty hurlers last year.

DeJesus is fearless when it comes to playing outfield, though that reckless abandon does make him slightly injury prone. All in all, DeJesus could prove to be a very solid everyday outfielder—a young sense of stability that the Yankees could use.

Would the Royals give him up? Yes. Kansas City's outfield is currently over-stocked with players, as they have Ross Gload, Jose Guillen, Mark Teahen, Coco Crisp, and DeJesus. Similarly, the Yankees have Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Brett Gardner, Xavier Nady, Melky Cabrera, and Nick Swishser. If the Yankees were to get DeJesus, at least one of the players I just listed would have to go. In my mind, that would be Xavier Nady, if not Cabrera as well.

To get rid of those two guys, I think the Yankees should use them as trade bait, part of a deal to lure in a sixth starter, possibly an Erik Bedard-type, although I wouldn't go for Bedard himself, as he is injury prone, and has been said to have had a poor attitude.

Getting rid of Cabrera and Nady, and bringing in DeJesus would make an outfield of: Damon in left, DeJesus in center, Swisher in right, Matsui as a DH, and Gardner as a bench guy, filling in for whoever had a day off.

DeJesus is an ideal fit for the Yankees, and he could easily develop into a fan favorite, due to his hustle and New York background. It's tough for me to ask Brian Cashman for more, as he has done so much to please the Yankees fans this year, but one more fitting addition would always be nice.

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