Mariners to release Richie Sexson - Sign him up!?

[SDGiant]

per ESPN. I'm surprised noone has posted this yet. What do other people think?

In my opinion, Sexson seems like a good fit for the Yanks if we can find space for him. It seems like hes a better fit than Wilson Betemit (especially if Betemit can't field any position), and certainly more valuable than carrying a 3rd catcher.

As for the fit, first and foremost Sexson is an excellent glove at 1B, something the Yanks are missing. Second, unlike our last defensive 1B Mientkiewicz, he can hit lefties, even now when he could hit a right handed tee. His OPS vs. LHP this year is .998, over the last three years he put up a .880 OPS vs LHP. The Yanks are still weak against LHP, although better than last year.

[webassign]

no, keep it that way

[apalradio]

He's been slugging less than .400 for the past two years, and seems to have completely disappeared against RHP. A once mighty prospect, I don't know if at age 34 he's likely to help us much.

[iodon]

Already being discussed.

http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?t=112224

[YanksFan1992]

No...I watch him on an everday basis and he is the worst player in baseball. You really have no idea how terrible this guy is, it would be about the same as signing Jeff Weaver to be our closer, and I am dead serious.

All you really need to know about what he has left is that a few weeks ago, down 2 and with a runner at first the Mariners opted to have Miguel Cairo hit instead of Sexson.

[iamdoingthat]

^ Whoa

[primetime714]

He's pretty terrible, but his numbers against left handed pitching this year are fantastic: .340 BA .989 OPS.

That is the only reason to consider him. Although those numbers may be the result of a limited sample size. His career splits are better against lefties, but not nearly that good. Overall he is not very good and should never hit against right handed pitching.

[SDGiant]

He's pretty terrible, but his numbers against left handed pitching this year are fantastic: .340 BA .989 OPS.

That is the only reason to consider him. Although those numbers may be the result of a limited sample size. His career splits are better against lefties, but not nearly that good. Overall he is not very good and should never hit against right handed pitching.

That makes perfect sense to me, I'm surprised it doesn't seem to to anyone else...

[smckdwn989]

right handed power off the bench that can be signed for cheap? eh, maybe.... but his swing so damn long...

[YASS]

That makes perfect sense to me, I'm surprised it doesn't seem to to anyone else...

His great numbers against lefties are in a tiny 43 at-bat sample. Over his career, he's got somewhat even lefty/righty splits. As recently as last year, his OPS vs. lefties was .752 and vs. righties was .675.

There's nothing there.

[Yankees Empire]

Sure. I don't think we have enough 1B/DH/OF types.

[JeffWeaverFan]

I wanted to trade Pavano for him a couple years ago...

[WashingtonYankee]

Are you for real?

I agree with what Jamie said. I watched this player play EVERY SINGLE TIME and he stunk!

[SDGiant]

Are you for real?

I agree with what Jamie said. I watched this player play EVERY SINGLE TIME and he stunk!

With all due respect to you and Jamie, somehow while stinking he managed to hit LHP remarkable well, better than any Yankee but Giambi and ARod. And I'm fairly sure if you've seen him you'd agree he's a great fielder.

I don't doubt he stinks to watch when he's hitting .150 against RHP (which make up 2/3rds of major league pitching.) The point is he would only ever hit against lefties with the Yanks...

[SDGiant]

His great numbers against lefties are in a tiny 43 at-bat sample. Over his career, he's got somewhat even lefty/righty splits. As recently as last year, his OPS vs. lefties was .752 and vs. righties was .675.

There's nothing there.

Fair point on the splits in the past, possibly, but not necessarily meaningful. He's continued to deteriorate against righties, and is now useless against them. He would be useful as a lefty (and defensive) specialist even at a .752 OPS, better than Cano, Melky at the least, probably others. In case of an injury to the Giambi, Damon, Matsui crowd, a Sexson/Betemit (or Miranda) sounds better than any other option we have right now...

THe question is could continue to hit LHP at a good pace while playing part time off the bench. I don't have an answer to that. On paper Ensburg should have been able to hit lefties too...