What To Do About Abreu

Word is buzzing that the Yankees are getting cold feet about offering Bobby Abreu arbitration.  Mr. Abraham lays it out for us again:

The slow market seems to be causing some consternation. Bobby Abreu, for instance, doesn’t have any offers in hand. Might he accept a one-year offer from the Yankees? Abreu made $16 million last season and performed well enough to merit a raise from an arbitration panel. Is $17 million in hand better than not knowing for certain you can get more? So the Yankees have to be judicious in deciding who they offer arbitration to because they might just accept it. Are the draft picks and salary relief worth more than having Abreu back for a year? That’s the question Brian Cashman has to answer.

If Bobby Abreu, he of the 120 OPS+ last season, isn't fielding any offers right now, who do the Yankees think they're going to get to replace his offense?  Abreu is short on upside due to age and murophobia (the fear of walls), but he still stands to be somewhat productive and, in this market, can probably be had for a short contract. I wouldn't be thrilled to see Abreu in pinstripes again next year, especially since the outfield is starting to look like Old Timer's Day everyday.  At the same time, centerfield isn't settled and could fall to a battle between Melky and Brett Gardner or worst case default to Johnny Damon.  Matsui shouldn't be shagging flies anytime soon. So, the question becomes, which is the worse outfield: Damon, Melky/Garner, Nady? or Nady, Damon, Abreu? Clearly the first is better defensively but weaker offensively.  The second vice versa.  It's a crapshoot.  I don't think the Yankees can letup on their offense anymore than they have to, but that Damon/Abreu combo could raise the team ERA a quarter of a point. Hopefully, Abreu will make this all a lot easier and just decline abitration if they offer it to them.