New York Yankees: Free Agents Who Could Fill the DH Void Left by Jesus Montero

A role that once seemed destined for super prospect Jesus Montero, the designated hitter slot in the New York Yankees lineup is now left without someone to fill it.

There are a plethora of options available on the free-agent market, many of which the Yankees have been connected to in the past.

Ideally, the Yankees would love to sign a versatile player capable of spelling Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and even Mark Teixeira occasionally in the field. Unfortunately, not many of those options exist in this season's free-agent class.

No matter who they sign, it will most likely be on a one-year deal for around $2-5 million.

Let's take a look at the most realistic options available on the free-agent market.

Hideki Matsui

Matsui's successes in New York are well documented. He is a fan favorite and one of the best clutch hitters the team has seen in the past decade or so.

It's not as if Matsui left New York on a sour note, either. He only pounded out three homers with eight RBI and a ridiculous .615 batting average in the World Series against the Phillies.

He became the first Japanese-born World Series MVP.

Sure, Matsui's skills are declining. His already below-average speed is becoming worse, his mobility is dwindling and his bat is starting to slow down a bit.

Luckily for him, he would not have to play a single inning in the field if he were to come back to the Bronx. When Matsui first left the club, he was pushing for a team to sign him so he could see time in the field.

At this point in his career, however, I can't see that being a big issue.

An older option like Matsui, at age 37, would be ideal for the Yankees. Other aging stars on the team would be given ample time in the DH role, keeping them fresh and playing well late into the season. Matsui is in no position to demand at-bats, so starting him in about 120 games would be a perfect recipe for success for the Yankees lineup.

Johnny Damon

Another fan favorite in the Bronx, Johnny Damon would also be a nice addition to the lineup.

Although no longer a Gold Glove-caliber defender, Damon would still remain a serviceable fourth outfielder should anybody need a day off.

Damon's skills are slowly diminishing, but he is still a very good ballplayer. He had a very good season with the Rays last year, hitting .261/.326/.418 with 16 homers and 73 RBI. He also threw in 19 stolen bases.

Damon's speed makes him one of the more intriguing options available. Of course, the Yankees aren't looking for a stolen-base threat to fill their DH vacancy, but Damon's speed could prove to be an added bonus.

Throw in the fact that he is a great clubhouse presence and that he knows how to win, and the Yankees would do well to really consider signing Damon.

Vladimir Guerrero

I can see the headlines now: "Yanks Sign Guerrero and Hitting Coach Kevin Long Subsequently Goes Into Cardiac Arrest."

Guerrero would be a nightmare project for hitting coach Kevin Long. His free-swinging tendencies would probably frustrate Long throughout the entire season.

That being said, Guerrero has seen huge amounts of success in the majors and knows what he is doing. He may swing at nearly everything, but that's because he can reach nearly everything. He has astounding plate coverage and really doesn't swing and miss too often.

Guerrero could most likely be had cheaply and would fill a role similar to Hideki Matsui. Despite the cannon that he still has for an arm, Guerrero has less mobility than Matsui and probably wouldn't see any time in the outfield. 

Seeing Guerrero hit 15 to 20 home runs in Yankee Stadium seems like a realistic projection.

Carlos Pena

Pena, another former Yankee (granted for about four months), is best known for his huge power numbers and his pitifully low batting average. He swings for the fences every time and is usually pretty successful at hitting it a long way.

Unfortunately, Pena also strikes out quite a lot. In the past four seasons, he has struck out at least 158 times.

Pena brings something different to the table than the previous candidates: He can field his position very well. This type of versatility would allow Joe Girardi to be confident in giving Mark Teixeira a partial or even full day off.

His left-handed bat would fare very well in Yankee Stadium. His power numbers would likely increase given enough at-bats.

It just becomes a matter of whether or not the team wants to deal with a .225 batting average. 

Derrek Lee

A three-time Gold Glove winner, Derrek Lee would fit the mold of a versatile DH option for the Yankees. He would be able to spell Teixeira on occasion and play solid defense while doing so.

Lee had a respectable season with the bat last year with the Orioles and Pirates, hitting .267/.325/.446 with 19 home runs and 59 RBI.

Lee is an interesting option for the Yankees. He really hasn't been discussed much, but would probably do really well in a part-time DH role with the club.

Eric Chavez

Eric Chavez is the only option on this list that would be able to fill in for multiple players should they need a day off in the field. 

Chavez performed well in limited time last season with the Yankees, hitting .260/.320/.356 in 58 games. He hit two home runs and drove in 26 runs.

He played both third base and first base when asked to during the season and did not commit a single error.

Sure, there is an injury risk when signing Chavez, but the Yankees have Andruw Jones on the bench, who is capable of taking over DH duties for a time. The Yankees could also switch Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter to the full-time DH and have Eduardo Nunez play the field. 

With Chavez, the Yankees have options.

Final Thoughts

These options were ranked in no particular order; however I would probably prefer Eric Chavez over the other candidates. Even if he isn't signed as the DH, there is a strong likelihood that he will be back with the club in some capacity.

It's also a possibility that the Yankees decide to hand the DH duties over to 29-year-old Jorge Vazquez.

Vazquez absolutely dominated Triple-A pitching last season, mashing 32 home runs and driving in 93 runs. He did strike out 166 times in 455 at-bats, however.

The Yankees have options heading into the 2012 season, and we'll just have to see how it shapes up.

Either way, though, the Yankees lineup will be formidable and score a ton of runs.