WHY FREDDY'S THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

(Photo: Getty)
Freddy Garcia and the Yankees like each other, there is no question. After last winter when Brian Cashman found Freddy Garcia on the top of the trash heap and offered him an opportunity, and Freddy capitalized on that opportunity, there is no question, there is a love connection.

I refer to Freddy as the anchor, because no matter what happens before him, whether it low morale or a loss, Freddy usually comes in in his spot of the rotation and either gets the win, or hands it off to the bullpen who will handle it for him. Either way, he delivers.
Now comes word that the Yankees have reached out to Freddy and of course, Roy Oswalt and CJ Wilson too. The arms race has started in the Bronx, hasn't it? You can read Marc Carig's piece HERE.

It's smart for Freddy to get a call from New York, he deserves to come back, he earned it, but it's also smart for Freddy Garcia to test the market, just to see if he can get a 2 year deal somewhere else. There is no question the Yankees will offer Freddy a 1 year deal, not 2 and for Freddy's sake, he should take it.
Freddy's a cheap alternative and if you think about it, he may be a smarter one too. Yes, the Yankees need a nice quality pitcher following CC Sabathia in the rotation and Freddy is not that, but Freddy is cheap and lasted all season in 2011. Here's his line: 12-8 / 3.62 ERA / 96 K

That's a 4th of 5th starter in the Yankee rotation. If the Yankees offer and Garcia's bites, our rotation could look like this:

1. CC Sabathia
2. Ivan Nova
3. AJ Burnett
4. Freddy Garcia
5. Phil Hughes

But I would suggest then going out and getting that #2 stud, be it Gio Gonzalez, or CJ Wilson, or even veteran Mark Buehrle, That would push everyone down and do what I think is a smart move, put Phil Hughes back in the Yankee bullpen where I think he belongs. Read HERE. Crazy right? No, not really, this is the reality. The Yankees are kicking themselves because they let Ian Kennedy get away and they're trying to prove to everyone that Phil Hughes will one day be the Yankee pitching stud they always wanted. They won't show the Yankee base they messed up, instead, they're trying to force a square peg in a round hole. Hughes is that peg and while we all know that Phil Hughes was once a future starter, it's been literally years now and he can't get it together. I say get a stud, slot him in the 2 role and slide Phil Hughes to the pen. He'd be lights out, he's lengthen the bridge and he's reliable out of the pen, we saw it in 2009. Personally, I don't think you can go wrong and you can look at that rotation and complain that AJ Burnett shouldn't be in, but I'm telling you, Cashman will either keep Mr. Burnett in there to prove he's worth some of that contract or trade him if a team will eat some of that contract. But, we'll have to wait and see on that.

But back to my point; I like that the Yankees are looking to get back Freddy. I think he's provided some stability and I know he will again, plus, he's cheaper and just a good egg...he's the gift that keeps on giving, no doubt.

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