pinstripepress

After rounding out the rotation with the signing of Pettitte, you could make a case that if healthy, this is the strongest rotation in the league (at least A.L.). I read somewhere that the top-listed rotations could currently be the Yanks, Rays, D-Backs, and Cubs - the fact that we’re even being talked about in these discussions is nice for a change. But of course, you don’t win championships on paper, and a lot of things have to go right in order to bring home a 27th title.

One of the last questions to be answered this off-season is centerfield - do they go with Gardner if he impresses everyone in spring-training, or do they look elsewhere? Here’s a cheap option that has been thrown around before - Juan Pierre. He’s still 31, and he could be attained for very little. Pierre is a career .300 hitter, steals 54 bases a year on average, and has a .990 fielding percentage in CF. Doesn’t have much of an arm, but neither did Bernie (not comparing the 2, just saying).

The guy has played in big games before (.312 in 5 post-season series), not to mention the fact that he won a ring against us. His OBP could be better (.346), but he doesn’t strike out much and can lay down a bunt like the best of them. Stick him right in at the 9-hole, and you got a little pest that could give pitchers fits; maybe even lead him off some games.

If this isn’t appealing enough, maybe check back in with L.A. about Matt Kemp during the season - perhaps by that time we’ll have some pitching depth in the minors to entice them into making a deal. 

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