Josh Hamilton?

Some rumors started to fly today that certain Yankee personnel, not Brian Cashman, were doing their due diligence on Free Agent Ranger Slugger Josh Hamilton.  This sounds at first like market driving crap designed to get some closure for Hamilton.   But maybe it's not.   The Yanks could really use a right fielder for next season, and they have a history of acquiring some big ones, like Ruth, Maris, Reggie, Winnie and O'Neill as well as a few less successful ones like Barfield, Tartabull and Mondesi.  So it is something the Yanks have done in the past.  

But could they possibly do it now?  Especially with their 189M target for 2014?  They probably could. If they can get a reasonable 4 year deal with Hamilton (that may be the trickiest part) they could try him out in 2013 and if he moves attendance, ratings and team fortunes enough, perhaps the Yanks could give up their 189M target for 14 and continue to thumb their noses at baseball in the grand tradition of George.  Or they could simply trade Hamilton or Cano (or not re-sign Cano) to stay within their 189 plan.  The truth is they probably have a couple of ways they could sign Hamilton and still make 189.

This would also allow them to turn around and trade Granderson to Texas for some of their plethora of prospects.   The Yanks would be wise to accept a package of low minor leaguers who they could slot into A or low A.   We'll see.  But if Hamilton is off the market the Rangers will be a good landing spot for Granderson.   Just some thoughts.