Why Rocco Baldelli as the Yankees Starting Left Fielder In 2010 Is a Bad Idea

Once upon a time when the team was known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Rocco Baldelli was a can't miss prospect.

He was a young center fielder who hit for power and average and played very well in the field.

Then, Baldelli started getting hurt. A lot.

He missed the entire 2005 season with a torn ACL, which required major surgery and resumed his career in 2006 doing fine, but only played in 92 games.

But, in 2007 and 2008, Baldelli played only 35 and 28 games in those seasons for Tampa Bay. Something was not right with Baldelli.

It wasn't until the end of the 2008 season where tests finally confirmed what was wrong with Baldelli.

Baldelli has a rare neuromuscular disease known as mitochondrial myopathy, a disease that makes the body fatigue and makes the muscles feel very weak.

There is a problem with this disease. There is no found cure to this date.

Baldelli has tried several amounts of medicine and cures to make him play, but right now, it's all experimental.

So now, after all that, here's a question. Do you trust this type of player to be an everyday starter?

Rumors have been circling that the Yankees are interested in bringing Baldelli to New York to be their left fielder.

Personally, I think it would be a bad choice, because it's clear that because of Baldelli's condition, he can't be an everyday player. Because of his condition, it's hard to say if Baldelli can even play at a high speed.

I do feel bad for the guy, because this is no fault of his own and I strongly wish that they could find a cure for him because at one point, he seemed like he had enormous potential in baseball.

But, since 2005, he's been a walking injury. He didn't serve the Red Sox any better in 2009, where he only played in 62 games as a backup outfielder.

Unfortunately, that might be what Baldelli will be for the remainder of his career, a backup outfielder. He's only 29, but because of his injuries and disease, Baldelli went from a top prospect to declining outfielder before the age of 30, which is very sad.

Now, if the Yankees were thinking about using Baldelli as an extra outfielder and someone off the bench, I wouldn't mind that. Because who knows, maybe he beats the disease or at least can play baseball with it. Or maybe medicine is found for it and is treated if he is in New York. As a backup outfielder, he's not a bad option.

But the Yankees do have Brett Gardner and Rule V draft pick Jaime Hoffman on the roster, so I don't know if adding Baldelli on as another backup fielder would be any good.

But as far as being a starter, I don't like the idea of Baldelli, mostly because he's way too injury prone and you can't trust him to play a full season healthy.

It's unfortunate because back in 2003 and 2004, I would have been very much up for the idea of Baldelli being on the Yankees.

But now in 2010, it's not a good idea anymore, which is a shame. I do wish Baldelli the best of luck in his treatment of mitochondrial myopathy, and hope he can continue his career being productive. There's another rumor swirling around that the Cubs are also interested in Baldelli's services, which would be fine with me.

But Baldelli as a starter in the Bronx would not be a good move to make.