New York Yankees Rumors: 10 DH Replacements for Jesus Montero

Jesus Montero was all set to be the New York Yankees full-time DH in 2012 until he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Michael Pineda. Now, the Bombers find themselves with an opening in an important offensive position.

With their pitching all set, the Yanks have one more major move to make.

Here are 10 possible replacements for the Yankees at DH.

Billy Butler

On a team full of failure year in and year out, Billy Butler is one of the few bright spots on the Kansas City Royals.

In 2011, Butler hit .291 with 19 home runs and 95 RBI. He would certainly love the protection he'd be receiving upon joining the Bombers, and Butler's production would go up entering a hitter-friendly park.

So how would the Yankees pry him away from Kansas City? Rumors have been swirling that the Yanks might be considering a trade for Butler possibly involving Phil Hughes.

Butler is making around $8 million this season while Hughes is making around $3 million after signing a one-year deal recently. Most importantly in the Royals' eyes, they'd be getting more pitching and saving money at the same time.

The Royals DH/1B is signed through 2014 with a club option for 2015, making him the most productive and inexpensive choice on this list. His tremendous upside at the age of 25 makes him the most ideal option, regardless of what he would cost.

Carlos Pena

Last season, Pena hit 28 home runs and drove in 80 RBI. He did spend 2011 as a member of the lowly Chicago Cubs, so those numbers could be improved with better surroundings.

Not to mention, the short right field porch makes him an ideal power hitter at Yankee Stadium.

He won't be much of an average hitter, but Pena has proven he can drive in runs on a consistent basis each year and play some first base as well.

Johnny Damon

When Johnny Damon was a member of the Yankees, he had some of the best offensive seasons of his career.

No doubt the short right-field porch helped boost his numbers, and his power to pull the ball will make sure that wouldn't change if he returned to the pinstripes.

Damon hit 16 home runs and 73 RBI, batting .261. Those numbers would no doubt improve with a better lineup around him. He's no stranger to the pressures of the Bronx and already has a good track record with the Yanks.

Hideki Matsui

I'm not sure how much those knees have left, but when healthy, Hideki Matsui has always been a guy who can drive in runs. And the Yankees know that first-hand.

Matsui won't hit a lot out of the park, but he is good for at least 70 RBI, which is a total he has surpassed every year of his MLB career with the exception of two injury-plagued seasons.

Come playoff time, there are few who are more clutch than Matsui. He's proven time and time again that he can get it done in a big spot, and even propelled the 2009 Yankees to a World Series championship.

The Yanks certainly could've used his bat in their failures to hit in the clutch last season.

Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrero might be the biggest question mark of all the players on this list. Although he played almost a full season in 2011, I'm not sure how much Guerrero has left physically.

When healthy, Guerrero still has a beast in him. His production was down in 2011, but with better protection than he had in Baltimore, he could improve on the 13 home runs, 63 RBI and .290 average he posted last season.

One thing's for certain: If Guerrero can make it into the batter's box, he can still swing the stick.

Jorge Posada

It's unlikely the Yankees will go down the Jorge Posada road to fill in their DH spot, but it's a fun concept to consider anyway.

Posada spent his first season at full-time DH in 2011 and didn't do so well.

He hit 14 home runs, 44 RBI and a lowly .235 average. Posada is 40 though, and didn't prove to be consistent enough to be kept in such an important offensive position.

Posada has already had one rough exit from New York, and I don't think the Yankees would go through that again.

Derrek Lee

Derrek Lee hit 19 home runs and 59 RBI with two different teams in 2011. He still has the power to be a big hitter, and with some help around him, he would drive in more runs as well.

Not only can he handle the bat, but Lee can play a solid first base and would give Mark Teixeira plenty of opportunities to rest during the season.

He missed 49 games last season, but some of those injury fears would be alleviated since he'll be spending most of his time at DH.

Manny Ramirez

Because of this Yankees deal with the Mariners, could we see Manny being Manny in the Bronx this season? If so, I bet a lot of supporters of the Montero-Pineda trade would quickly change their minds.

All jokes aside, Manny Ramirez could be a solution that would take some time and would certainly create some interesting headlines.

Ramirez will have to serve a 50-game suspension upon being signed by a team, but could give a first-half boost to whatever team he joins, especially the Yanks.

Yankee Stadium might be one of his best options if he wants to put up good offensive numbers, and Ramirez's ability to go the other way gives him a good chance to abuse the short porch much like a left-handed hitter would.

But the Bombers need a solution now, and Ramirez can't provide that for them.

Eduardo Nunez

If it wasn't for a horrible defensive season in 2011, Yankees fans would have a much higher opinion of Eduardo Nunez. His inconsistent defense really soured what was a good offensive season.

So what better position for Nunez to play than DH. He could showcase the best part of his game while keeping his glove in the dugout for all nine innings.

Realistically, if the Yanks went this route, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter would be spending a good amount of time at DH while Nunez would go back and forth between the two positions.

If he continues to progress and gets more playing time, Nunez could easily surpass the RBI production they got out of the DH slot last season. He would also add more speed to the lineup and a higher average.

Carlos Lee

Since he's becoming a free agent after this season, Carlos Lee will almost undoubtedly be on the trading block of the Houston Astros.

Lee is owed around $18 million for this season which, for a penny-pinching team like the Yanks, might be a little steep right now. It's possible the Astros would pick up a chunk of that, but it still might cost the Bombers prospects they won't want to part ways with.

Still, if it's reasonable, Lee can produce 25 home runs and 100 RBI when given the at-bats, and he'd abuse Yankee Stadium if he has the chance.

Between money and prospects, trading for Lee would be the most expensive option on this list.