Brian Sabean has the experience, knowledge and savvy to help the Yankees. What he doesn't seem to have is a specific job.

Note to commenters: From now on, please address future bile - be it flaming or frozen - to "The Brians." 

Yesterday, longtime SF Giants GM Brian Sabean rejoined his old franchise as a utility executive, a Bert Campaneris of the office, capable of cooking contracts, handling w9 tax forms and maybe even scouting a pitcher.  

What the Death Barge yesterday didn't do was identify a specific role for Sabean, 66, who spent nearly 30 years filling the Giants with ex-Yankee coaching talent, such as Dirt Tidrow, Dave Righetti and Hensley Meullens. What will he'll do in Tampa - beyond the mandatory yessing of Prince Hal and the delivery of Mr. Judge's laundry - nobody knows. But that's okay. Some of the best periods in Yankee history came via imported brain trusts, such as George Weiss, Gabe Paul and Bob Watson. And if you're carping about Special Assistants to the GM, the franchise currently boasts five: Reggie Jackson, Tino Martinez, Stump Merrill, Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui. WTF do they do? Good luck answering that. 

Sabean's contract with the Giants ended Oct. 1, and the team let him go. (He was out the loop before the Aaron Judge bidding war began.) Here are five reasons - albeit desperate ones - to be hopeful about his arrival:

1. Maybe he'll be the guy who says no to a bad Brian Cashman trade. Right now, that role is filled by - um - Dopey Dildox. Sure, Prince Hal is the final arbiter of all moves, but lately, he seems to simply set a budget and let Cashman do the rest. Over the last two years, the Yankees have clanked on several mega-trades. Could Sabean have talked us out of chasing Joey Gallo? We'll never know. But another layer of due diligence can't hurt.

2. He brings a vast knowledge of the Giants' system. Yeah, they sucked last year. But that's not nothin.' Every MLB franchise houses a secret trove of info on players - their strengths, weaknesses, mentalities and bimbos. Surely, Sabean knows SF's farm from top to bottom, plus with all the scouting reports he can memorize on the rest of the league.  

3. Okay, this may be a stretch, but I like the idea of poaching executives, even if it's more like a retirement perk. In the back of every GM's mind lurks the notion that, hey, someday you might work for this team. Some young GMs seem to boil with the intensity of screwing the Yankees in a blockbuster trade. This reminds everyone that, hey, there's no need for acrimony, we're all friends here, and maybe someday, if you treat us nicely, you'll be on our side...

4. Sabean brings an outsider's eye to the entire Yank organization. In recent years, the Yanks have steadily touted "the gas station," their system for developing young pitchers. Following a splurge of trades, it seems to be drying up. Maybe Sabean has some ideas. Also, when it comes to evaluating players, Sabean will have no dog in the competitions. He didn't draft or trade for them. He's not inherently tied to their success. This can't hurt. 

Or maybe he'll just turn out to be an old fart who sits around remembering Orlando Cepeda's salsa music and how great it used to be when Pete Wilson ran California.  Oh, well. Aint my money.