Hot Stove Coal: Randy Winn to the Yankees

After all that debating, it looks like the Yankees' search for an outfielder is over. Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that the Yankees have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent Randy Winn saying "@nyp_joelsherman: #Yankees considered Winn a better overall player than Reed Johnson, though Winn is not a good hitter from RH side".

Um, wasn't that the point of whoever they got (being able to hit lefites)? Now they have Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner and Randy Winn who are all not good against lefties. Here's what I wrote about Randy Winn a few weeks ago (click on the link to read my opinion of the other candidates):

Randy Winn: 

• Pros: From 2002-08, posted .294/.350/.440 line. Career UZR of 48.5 in the OF in 12,968 innings. Professional player and veteran presence who can still play all three OF positions. Posted WAR of 2.7 or better in 6 of 7 seasons from 2002-2008.
• Cons: Brutal season with the bat last year. Only .758 career OPS vs. lefties. 

I would have listed "old" as a con (he'll be 36 next season), but I think that may go without saying with Winn. And there is concern among some that his brutal season with the bat last year may be more about his decline than anything else. Winn is a really good defensive OF and projects to be the same way next year (though you wonder with his projections much better in RF and Swisher's better in LF, whether they consider switching them when they both play the OF...but I doubt it). But you wonder if he will see some decline in the OF as well.

Sherman followed up by saying that Winn will get the $2 M that the Yankees had allocated to the 4th OF spot.  So it's not a horrible contract. But it takes up a spot on the roster that I think could have been better used.

I think it's now officially time to say good-bye to Johnny Damon. We will miss you in the Bronx. And welcome to Randy Winn, a professional player who will fit in, but may need to find a way to start hitting righties. I'm really hoping that Winn's Major-League high streak of 1601 games played without a postseason appearance will end this season. And I hope the Yankees made the right decision by going with Winn.

Update: Just added his wOBA from FanGraphs vs. lefties and righties. He was BRUTAL against lefties last year: