WHY SHANE VICTORINO MAKES SENSE

Yankee fans finally got the news we have been waiting on for months. After numerous MRIs and a few unsuccessful rehab stints, we know now that Brett Gardner is shut down and needs surgery, read HERE in case you live under a rock. It sucks that it has taken so long to finally get to this diagnosis….but here we are. Sure, with Gardner out it stings a little but we have been winning without him and we will continue to win with our deep bench. Now it's time to turn the page and focus on getting a new outfielder and BYB likes the idea of seeing Shane Victorino in pinstripes but we like him for more than just replacing Gardner. Let me explain….

Victorino has a lot to offer our team, don’t let his numbers this season fool you. Sure, he’s not the same guy we saw in 2009, but the Phillies are 13.5 games back in their division and they are going to be sellers by the trade deadline, and Shane would add a lot of value to the Yankees. Victorino is a switch hitter and although he has struggled against righties this year (.231BA), he is hitting well against lefties (.322BA) and he still has respectable career split with a .269 BA. I think with some practice in Yankee stadium he could hit some balls out to the seats in right field. He also has 21 stolen bases on the year which would add back some of the speed we have been missing and he could help us recreate that second lead-off man that we had when Gardner was batting 9th. I can see this work for us.

The Phillies are pre-occupied with making an attractive offer to keep Cole Hamels in Philly, and Victorino is in the last year of his contract. As far as the Phillies are concerned, they won’t want to pay him the money he will be looking for after having a down year. It would be beneficial for both ends because we need an outfielder and the Phillies need arms, they have tried many this year with little success. The Yankees have some arms that should be of interest to the Phillies, plus, Victorino has struggled this year and he is soon to be a free agent and that makes him more affordable. It is a “win-win” situation so I sense a trade in the making!

But Victorino could benefit us beyond this season as well. As much as I hate to even bring this up, he could take over right field if the Yankees do not bring Nick Swisher back. I hate to think of this idea, and before you get upset with me for even mentioning it….hear me out.

All of us here at BYB love Swish, he has done great things for our team and we even got the chance to interview him read, EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: NICK SWISHER. It is hard not to like Nick Swisher.

He is a fan favorite, and his energy is contagious but the Yankees are going to make some serious changes with their payroll next year and he is likely to be the first person to cut in order to save some money for other players and he knows that too, read that HERE. Plus, don't forget, he's never been a Free Agent, for him NOT to test the market and get a big deal would be foolish.  As much as I hate to think about this possibility, we have to acknowledge that this is a realistic scenario and if we could get Victorino at a good price then we would still have a strong outfield. Sure, he doesn’t play right field currently but it’s not like we haven’t moved our outfielders around before. We faced similar challenges with center field when we picked up Curtis Granderson and transitioning Gardner to left field was actually a good move, he became one of the best defensive left fielders in the game.

As much as I hate to think about how losing Gardner now and probably losing Swisher next year are going to force the Yankees hand, it’s a reality. Change can be a scary thing and we are so comfortable with what we have in GGS, but the trade deadline is a good opportunity to help us address our short term and long term needs and do it at a cheaper price. Writing about this makes me sick to my stomach... but this is business. Lucky for me, I don’t make these decisions, I just write about the possibilities and share all of the information. No matter what happens, I believe this team is built to bring another championship...this year and beyond.

--Jeana Bellezza --BYB Writer and Editor

ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.