Yankees Finally Add Righty-Hitting Outfielder
Marcus Thames, who came up through the Yankees' system before a 2003 trade sent him to the Texas Rangers, has agreed to a split contract with New York that will pay him $900,000 if he makes the major league roster.
Thames, soon to be 33, made $2.275 million last season in the final year of his contract with the Detroit Tigers.
The agreement comes on the day when New York's deal with outfielder Randy Winn became official, and the two agreements are tied together for more reasons than that.
Winn, who it was reported had agreed to a $2 million one-year deal with New York, actually is only guarantee $1.1 million with another $900,000 possible through incentives. It's a safe bet that those incentives are bases on plate appearances and/or games started that would only come if Winn is a near full time player.
It had been reported for many weeks that the Yankees had $2 million to spend on their final outfield spot (left field). If Winn becomes a full time player, the Yanks spent their $2 million.
If Thames makes the team and platoons left field with Winn, the Yankees spent the same $2 million, but on two players -- $1.1 million for Winn and $900 for Thames.
Such a platoon would accomplish a couple of things:
1) It would allow the Yankees to hold Brett Gardner in reserve as a premium late-inning pinch runner/defensive upgrade.
2) It would take advantage of the very best of both Winn and Thames, at least based on last season.
Winn -- a switch hitter -- performed much better against right-handed pitching in 2009 than he did against lefty pitching, while Thames -- a straight righty hitter -- performed better against lefties than he did against righties.
Winn vs. Righties: .292 avg., .354 obp, .397 slg%, .751 OPS.
Thames vs. Lefties: .257 avg., .347 obp, .457 slg%, .804 OPS.











