Keeping Nady in New York

From Nick Cafardo (Boston Globe):

Xavier Nady spent most of the season watching the Yankees’ championship run from the dugout or a rehab venue in Florida, as he comes back from his second Tommy John surgery. The outfielder will be a free agent and feels he’s going to be playing somewhere by spring training.

“I feel I’m going to be able to play from the get-go in spring training,’’ Nady said. “I’m going to start throwing in December and gradually build my arm strength. I’m not a pitcher, so this should happen faster for me.’’

Nady, 30, would have been the Yankees’ starting right fielder this season after he hit .305 with 27 homers and 97 RBIs combined for Pittsburgh and New York in 2008. The plan was for Nick Swisher to be the super utility guy, but Swisher wound up cracking 29 homers and may lay claim to right field next season.

“I’d love to come back here, but I’m not sure what their plans are,’’ said Nady. “I know it’s not going to affect my hitting and I know I can go out there and be a productive starting player for someone.’’

There’s no doubt teams would take a chance on Nady as a fourth outfielder, but as a starter?

“At some point, I’m sure we’ll have teams come out and watch me throw,’’ Nady said. “You’ve got to prove to teams you’re healthy and can do your job as an outfielder. I feel I’ll be able to, but I understand teams wanting to see for themselves and I’m certainly willing to do that.’’

As for his frustration in having to watch his teammates win the World Series.

“I suppose I could have been watching for a team that went home,’’ Nady said. “I learned so much being around these guys and what they went through to get to this point.

“I didn’t play but I felt I was a part of a special team. Any time you win a World Series, it’s something no other team has accomplished that year, so I’m certainly upset that I couldn’t have been a part of it on the field, but being around it is something I’ll never forget.’’

Despite Nady’s apparent desire to be a starter, he knows that he has to prove himself to other clubs. Even if he throws well in the spring, I wouldn’t be surprised if teams are still hesitant to commit to him as a full-time player. In the event that he’s unable to find a starting job with another organization, perhaps he would be willing to sign on with the Yankees as their fourth outfielder in 2010. That would allow Nady to reestablish himself as a viable outfielder for the following year, in 2011, and it would be a boon for the Yankees, providing them with much needed offensive depth (if they resign Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon, Nady could be an important piece next season). However, I’m not sure if Nady’s agent, Scott Boras, would be amenable to the idea.

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