Yankees Rumors: Can Nori Aoki Help The Yankees?

The New York Yankees found out all they need to know about Nori Aoki from his performance in the 2014 World Series. And that performance gave a clear indication of whether  he can help them climb back to the top in 2015.

Yeah, I know, he was 40th in on-base percentage in MLB last season, and he was 39th in batting average. But, as the song goes, so so so so so so so so what?

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When everything was on the line in the world series, he crumbled like a fortune cookie under a sledge hammer. His performance, or lack there of, could have been one of the biggest reasons the Royals´ fairy tale season didn´t end happily ever after.

Aoki was one for fourteen overall in the series. That left him with a batting average of .071 and an on base percentage of .188. This, from a player who was suppose to be the catalyst of the offense and the one who was counted on to spark  them to the championship they had been dreaming of for so long.

For the Yankees, signing Aoki might mean allowing Ichiro Suzuki to go. While Ichiro might not be what he once was, he still supplies solid defense and clutch hits. His versality in playing all three outfield positions well allows Joe Girardi flexibility. And it even gives the Yankees the option of carrying an extra relief pitcher.  Ask any Royals fan, and you will likely find that the only thing that was more disappointing than Aoki´s offense was his defense.

And it is not like Aoki´s best days are in front of him, either. He will be 33 years old on opening day. Plus, the Royals apparent lack of enthusiam to re-sign him is perhaps the most revealing indication of his true value.

The Yankees need to get younger, not older. And they need to bring in players who have proven that they can perform well when it matters the most. Because those are the games the Yankees will be playing in next season.