Melky Cabrera's Future

I started this post a long time ago and scrapped it but I think its time to revisit it.

Melky Cabrera's comeback year has been no secret. He's come back from a season where most onlookers, detractors and fans of his alike, left him for dead to have the best year of his short career. He's stepped in for Brett Gardner well and the Yankees have not missed a beat. His line of .275/.337/.437 is not going to blow anybody away. However, considering the circumstances it presents a very interesting situation.

First of all, Melky is only a few days past his 25th birthday. Although he is already a veteran and it seems like he's been around forever, he is probably just beginning to approach his ceiling. He has reversed a three year trend of declining offensive numbers and is playing the best defense of his career, saving the team a few extra runs out in centerfield. Besides that, their is the added bonus of his penchant for getting the big hit late in the game. He has been nothing if not clutch. With some hard work over the winter, Melky has put himself back into the picture for the Yankees. Nobody thinks he's going to be a superstar but theirs some value in a 25 year old centerfielder with a .335 wOBA who can also handle the field pretty well.

The problem for Melky is that their is a bit of a logjam in centerfield. While he was healthy, Brett Gardner was doing a fantastic job for the Yanks and probably outplaying the "Melk-man." Despite being as devoid of power as we expected, Gardner has gotten on base at a decent clip and then he has the ability to really do some damage. Besides that, he is playing the best centerfield we've seen in the Bronx since the golden days of Bernie Williams. Austin Jackson also is making his way into the major leagues. Projections for him to start 2010 with the major league club appear to have been a little optimistic but he figures to be a part of their future plans.

None of these three guys really have the bats to play in left or right field, which will always be stocked with big power hitters. Sure the balance of Gardner and Melky is working for now but at some point, hopefully, A-Jax is going to be ready and that complicates matters. Melky is starting to get to the point where he's making some serious money through arbitration, as well. With Ramiro Pena learning the outfield, it seems like the Yankees are preparing to be rid of Melky. These next two months or so, could be pivotal in deciding whether Melky really is a part of the Yankees future plans or not.