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Yankees lose Granderson for 10 weeks with fractured forearm

The bad news hit the Yankees like led bricks, Sunday, when word came that center fielder Curtis Granderson will miss the next 10 weeks with a fractured forearm, after getting hit by a pitch. Granderson is not expected back on the field until early to mid May at the earliest.

This means that the Yankees will be without another big bat in their lineup when the season opens in five weeks. The Yankees lost Raul Ibanez and Russell Martin to free agency, and have watched Alex Rodriguez's career and credibility melt away with another steroid scandal.

Without Granderson, the Yankees will be without their leading home run hitter, 43 homers in 2012, and their best defensive outfielder.

The question now is what will the Yankees, who didn't spend at all during the winter do now to replace Granderson. The team will likely move left fielder Brett Gardner to center, and rely on either Juan Rivera or Matt Diaz in left field.

Diaz has never hit more than 13 homers in a season, when he was an everyday outfielder for the Atlanta Braves. Diaz is a guy who has struggled with his weight throughout his career, and has become a very light hitter who doesn't produce much. Last year, he hit only .222 with two homers and 13 RBI for the Braves.

As for Rivera, his presence on this team is at least interesting. He was in line to battle Travis Hafner for the DH role, but now he might be asked to be the Yankees starting left fielder for opening day. Rivera is a very streaky hitter. When he does get hot, he can hit home runs and drive in runs in bunches; when he gets cold, it's nuclear winter. The 35 year-old is not an ideal candidate, but who is? Rivera at least is a consistent .274 hitter, with his best season back in 2009 when he launched 25 homers and 88 RBI for the Angels.

If the Yankees are not satisfied with Rivera or Diaz, they could look to the wire for a cheap pick-up. Vernon Wells, yes that Vernon Wells of the bloated contracts with the Blue Jays and Angels, is available. But, let's be honest, Wells has nothing left.

He hasn't produced a season with a batting average over .270 in three years now. The last two years, he hit .218 and .230 respectively. While he used to be a complete player, Wells is not anymore, and the Yankees would be wise to look elsewhere.

That could also mean a possible return of Johnny Damon, who last played for the Yankees in 2009. Damon, inspite of his strong ties to the Red Sox, was beloved by Yankees fans during his short stay in pinstripes. However, Damon hasn't really played all that well the past three seasons, bouncing around the league, and is basically retired now.

Or the Yankees could do the right thing and actually look to their minor league system and find some young talent down there who can play center field. Why not? Because the likelihood that the Yankees are going to keep Granderson past this season, when he goes free agent, is highly unlikely. The future is now.

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