Hot Stove Coal: Would Eric Byrnes Fit on the Yankees?

I saw an interesting name pop up on MLBTradeRumors today: Eric Byrnes had been designated for assignment. Byrnes is owed $11 M in 2010 and presumably will just be released (unless the team tries to trade him for another salary dump candidate like Carlos Silva, Pat Burrell or Luis Castillo). If he is released, Byrnes, a right-handed bat who plays all three outfield positions, would be an interesting candidate for the Yankees to kick the tires on. Let's see if he's worth offering a contract.

Eric Byrnes came up with the Oakland Athletics and despite having good seasons with the bat and glove in Oakland, was traded twice in 2005 before becoming a free agent that next winter after being non-tendered. He signed with Arizona and put up a .267/.313/.482 line with 66 XBHs (including 26 HR) and 25 stolen bases (to only 3 CS) and played exceptional OF defense to a tune of a 10.7 UZR in 1180.1 innings in the OF that season (all fielding data and WAR from FanGraphs). This all resulted in a nice 3.3 WAR showing for his $2.25 M deal (all salary numbers courtesy of Cot's Contracts). In 2007, he resigned for $4.575 M and posted his one of his best seasons in the majors. Byrnes hit .286/.353/.460 with 59 XBH (21 HR) and 50 SB (to only 7 CS). He again played great defense (to the tune of a 9.3 UZR), posted a career high wOBA of .364 and put up a WAR of 4.0.

The Diamondbacks rewarded Byrnes in August of 2007 with a 3-year/$30 M extension and have regretted that decision ever since. Byrnes has posted OPSs of .641 and .663 in the last two seasons and the power and speed combination he featured in the two years previously were gone. To make things worse, the D'backs decided to trade Carlos Quentin and keep Byrnes and Quentin has posted great numbers for the Chicago White Sox since the trade. But now Byrnes looks like he'll be back on the market as Arizona seems more willing to pay him $11 M to go away than to have him stay and take up a roster spot. Should the Yankees want him?

Well he fits certain criteria the Yankees are looking for. He's hit lefties well his entire career, posting a .284/.345/.511 line against them in his career. He's also an excellent defender, having posted a career UZR of 32.1 in 6942.1 innings in the OF. Anthony McCarron of the Daily News wants someone who is a "get-the-uniform-dirty type" and Byrnes certainly fits that description (his nickname on his Baseball-Reference page is listed as "Crash Test Dummy").

On the other side Byrnes' decline the past two years has to scare the Yankees as well as his history of injuries. He will turn 34 next season and with his speed looking diminished, he would be losing a part of his value. But I think he would be a great fit for the Yankees at a low price (which is, unless I'm horribly mistaken, what he would command in this market). Career-wise he has been a better hitter in the AL posting a .261/.326/.444 line and if he can post numbers like that while playing great defense and hitting the ball well against lefties, I think he could be a nice 4th/5th OF addition to this Yankee team. At the very least, the team should take a look at him (if they don't sign Rocco Baldelli).