New York Post: Yankees Need Shane Victorino

And not necessarily among others. Davidoff (New York Post) notes the folly in (1) holding out hope for Brett Garnder, who’s only played nine games this season and, after suffering his third setback rehabbing a right elbow, doesn’t look to be playing too many more (2) relying on Raul Ibanez (40) and Andruw Jones (35) the rest of the way, (3) banking on Kosuke Fukudome (just three days younger than Jones), just added to their Triple-A Roster. That leaves the team with the best record in the sport but with one choice: Trade for Victorino.

Writes Davidoff:

“Victorino has experience with a Northeast contender, he can run the bases — he entered action last night with 19 stolen bases while getting caught just twice — and he can play the outfield well. With the Yankees, he’d be asked to switch from center field to left field, where he hasn’t played since 2006, yet that shouldn’t be a deal breaker.”

Follows up that endorsement with a “Stay The Hell Away” from Arizona’s Justin Upton (asking price) and Kansas City’s Jeff Francoeur (talent).

Floored how their is a market for this guy, even if it’s cornered by the team with financial privilege to the end that there will never — NEVER — be consequences for their actions. And the Phillies need just one buyer to bite. That’s all.

Yesterday, when Davidoff wrote that the Yankees will be “in the loop” about Cole Hamels, we told you that given what they had in the farm system — outfielders Tyler Austin and Mason Williams, catcher Gary Sanchez, all talented, but all longer-term projects — New York couldn’t afford Hamels. But that swap seems perfect for Victorino, 31.

Plus, it pulls the Phillies out of the iffy situation of wondering whether to risk extending an offer sheet to Victorino (what they’d have to do under new league rules to get compensatory draft picks back), who you’d think after this contract season (inarguably the worst of any in his career) would accept $12.5 million for a do-over. Victorino in the offseason rejected a three-year, $30 million deal.

Now all the Phillies need to do is lower that “very, very high” asking price, and we’ll be in bidness.