Yankees Champions Again?

According to one news report, the Yankees have won 21 of their first 30 games 16 times (including this season, 21 - 8) in the history of the franchise (they will play game number 30 Sunday night at Fenway). Of the previous 15 seasons they have started off winning 21 out of 30, the Yankees reached the World Series each time. Of those 15 World Series berths the boys in pinstripes won it all 12 times. For those people wondering that would be an 80% success rate. Therefore, based on these statistics, and the fact that we won a lot of games without much help from Teixeira and Rodriguez thus far, the Empire has an 80% chance of defending their title this year. Frankly, I think that number might be too low.

Let the race begin!

Opening day is right around the corner and the smells of freshly cut grass and raked infields fill the air throughout the U.S. as all 30 major league teams prepare for the start of the season. The Yankees will come into this season as reigning champions; the first time they can say that since the start of the 2001 season. All the major story lines have played out and the team is set to defend their title and win number 28. Here's a breakdown of what to expect this season.
Alex Rodriguez will move into 6th all-time on the home run list. He is currently in 8th place with 583 home runs but, barring any injuries, he should pass Mark McGwire and and Frank Robinson within the first couple months of the season. He'll likely pass the 600 mark around June and could close in on Griffey's current spot if he has a monster year and no set backs from his ailing hip (Griffey currently has 630 home runs but is suiting up for one more year with the Mariners). Also, Rodriguez will join the 300 career stolen bases club likely by May and he will pass Honus Wagner on the all-time list for RBIs and runs scored. Any time you pass Wagner in any stat in baseball you are most assuredly destined for the hall of fame.
Derek Jeter passed the "Iron Horse" Lou Gehrig last season for most all-time hits by a Yankee. Jeter could retire today and his name would be in Cooperstown but he plans on sticking around for a while. Based on an average of his last three seasons, Jeter should finish the 2010 season with over 2900 hits in his career. It is likely that he will pass both Barry Bonds and Frank Robinson on that hits list to break into the top 30 all time. The sets the stage for him to join the illustrious 3000 hits club early in the 2011 season (there is no way the Yankees will allow him to get to that mark with some other team as he is a free agent at the end of 2010). Now bear with me here: if Jeter, who turns 36 in June, can average 200 hits the next three seasons he will be in 9th place on the all-time list right behind the aforementioned Honus Wagner. Depending on how long he would like to play, he would be 38 at the start of the 2013 season and could possibly be in 9th place on the career hits list at the time. If Jeter wanted to challenge Rose's all-time hits record of 4256 he would likely have to play until he was 43 and average 180 hits per year in the five year span starting in the 2013 season. It might sound like a long shot but his hitting has yet to decline and he will likely play until they force him to stop so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Jeter still slugging away in his early 40's.
The immortal Mariano Rivera will be turning 40 this season and his dominance has never been doubted. He continues to succeed at the highest level with his devastating cut fastball. With another solid season he should set himself up to approach the 600 save mark by the end of the 2011 season (and yes I'm assuming that he comes back for next season). No one has yet to reach 600 career saves although the ridiculous Trevor Hoffman seems to want that record for himself. He will reach 600 this season needing only nine more saves to get there. I'm not one to wish for bad things to happen to people but I wish his career would end some time this next season. I know, I know, that isn't very sportsmanlike and not in the spirit of the game but no one ever mistook me for a saint. Rivera should hold the title of most saves of all-time because he has been the most dominant closer in the most difficult division in baseball. Hoffman did most of his damage with the Padres in the lighter hitting National League. While I'm not doubting that Hoffman has great stuff and is a great closer I am saying that he would not have put up those numbers in the American League. If Hoffman retires after this season, and Rivera does indeed continue to pitch until he's 44 or 45, he should become the all-time saves leader and would rightfully assume the title of greatest closer in the history of baseball. We'll have to wait and see.
Finally, getting back to current news, there have been some tweaks to the Yankee lineup that are worth noting. Apparently Robinson Cano will be hitting behind Rodriguez followed by Posada, Granderson, Swisher, and Gardner. Baseball experts have predicted that Cano will become a number three or four hitter at some point in his career so maybe this year will be the beginning of that progression. Also, with Cano hitting behind Rodriguez the lineup is set up so that there are no left handed or right handed batters back to back (Texeira, Posada, and Swisher are switch hitters). By doing this, the Yankee lineup becomes a match up nightmare in late inning situations forcing opposing teams to bring in more than one specialist to get outs. No matter what, this lineup is set to do some serious damage at the plate.
1. Jeter (RH) SS
2. Johnson (LH) DH
3. Texeira (SH) 1B
4. Rodriguez (RH) 3B
5. Cano (LH) 2B
6. Posada (SH) C
7. Granderson (LH) CF
8. Swisher (SH) RF
9. Gardner (LH) LF
The rotation is finally set as well after Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland agreed that Phil Hughes would be the 5th starter for the Yanks. This moves Joba Chamberlain into a setup role in the bullpen which is where his natural abilities translate as a solid bridge to Rivera. There are some question marks with some of the starters, with the exception of Sabathia, like will Posada and Burnett be able to stay on the same page this season and still effectively get hitters out? Will Burnett improve his control or continue to walk batters and throw wild pitches? Will Pettitte continue to pitch at a high level or will his shoulder and lower back force him to call it quits? Will Vazquez be able to translate his dominant work from his last season in the National League into the more difficult American League East? How will Phil Hughes perform as a starter? All these things are concerns or worries that I see as potential issues this year, but if most of these problems work themselves out the Yanks should be in line for another run at title number 28.
1. Sabathia LH
2. Burnett RH
3. Pettitte LH
4. Vazquez RH
5. Hughes RH
Thanks for reading and I hope you are as excited as I am for the upcoming season. Tune in on April 4th to watch the Yanks take on the Red Sox for the Opening Day game of the 2010 season. GO YANKEES!

Let's put this to rest...

Hughes and Chamberlain should both be in the bullpen. They have both shown that their numbers are much better in the bullpen than as starters. Rivera cannot pitch forever (even if I wish he could) but until he retires the Yankees still need quality arms to bridge the gap between the starting pitchers and The Sandman. Hughes was dominant in the pen last year and Chamberlain was lights out in the bullpen in 2007. One of those two could eventually take over as the closer of the future, or they could eventually transition back into starting pitchers, but the best fit for them this next season is in the bullpen. We can put Mitre or Gaudin in the fifth starter spot and have Aceves, Hughes, and Chamberlain come in as relief pitchers. Aceves has proven that he can come into the game in a variety of roles whether that might be a long relief role, a short relief role, or he can even make a spot start here and there. Mitre and Gaudin are serviceable and could even surprise me with their performance this upcoming season but in the end it does not really matter. One of those two guys can likely win between ten and fourteen games for the Yanks strictly due to the Bronx Bomber's offensive lineup. I am giddy thinking about the strength of our bullpen with Hughes, Chamberlain, and Rivera as the seventh, eighth, and ninth inning guys! That would be amazing and I can only hope the Yankee brass can see what I see in the potential of these pitchers. Only time will tell I guess...

Spring training update

Spring training is in full swing and we're getting a good look at which prospects are ready and which ones need some more polishing. The biggest story line thus far has been the performances of the five pitchers vying for the fifth and final spot in the rotation. The two biggest names, and the two front runners, are Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. Hughes has shown flashes of brilliance throwing nearly nine innings with an ERA just above 2.00. He had a great year in the bullpen last year but he has four solid pitches and has more control than Chamberlain, all of which point to him becoming a better starter in the long run.
Chamberlain on the other hand has struggled mightily. His ERA is somewhere around 27.00 and his fastball location isn't coming along as quickly as many had hoped. The fear is that Joba will not be able to fully translate his abilities into the starting rotation. The team has spent so much time and effort in converting him into a starter that their front office and coaching staff would look like fools if he couldn't rekindle his lightning in a bottle 2007 bullpen performance as a starting pitcher. Chamberlain's stuff was so much more electric when he came out of the bullpen that, in my opinion, he should never have been converted into a starter in the first place. He has between four and five mph difference in his fastball when he pitches as a starter than as a reliever. In the big leagues, 96-97 mph is much more formidable than 91-92 mph.
The other three pitchers in the mix for the fifth starting job are Aceves, Gaudin, and Mitre. Of the three, Aceves has been the most surprising this spring. He has pitched wonderfully in his spots and his 0.90 ERA proves that. However, I think his abilities translate better to a long relief/spot starter position because he can come into the game in various situations and can do what needs to be done. Mitre has been good but not great and Gaudin has shown some leftover rust from the offseason. Each pitcher will get at least one more chance to prove their case before the season begins. While nothing is set in stone as of yet, the likelihood is that Joba will return to the rotation, Hughes and Aceves will be in the bullpen, and either Gaudin or Mitre will join the bullpen while the other will be sent to the minors, traded, or released. In a couple weeks some of these questions will be answered while others might not be answered until sometime during the season. Keep checking in for further updates.

It has begun...

Hooray! Ring the bells, sound the alarms, and wake up the children because Spring Training is upon us! Pitchers and catchers reported to camp Thursday and a few others reported early to get a jump start on their title defense in the upcoming 2010 season. The biggest stories that will likely begin to take shape when Grapefruit League games start next month will be the fifth starter pitching, whether Granderson will play center or left field, and whether or not Kevin Long can help some hitters hit off of left handed pitchers or improve their swings. Other than those details the Yankee team is pretty much set barring a disaster or explosion of skills by a prospect. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yanks made another minor trade during or just after Spring Training because they will have three to four viable starting pitchers remaining and you can't just throw those guys in the bullpen. I see either Chad Gaudin or Sergio Mitre being traded. I like Gaudin better and think he pitched better for New York last season than did Mitre. The problem is that Brian Cashman, the GM, has a man crush on Mitre for some reason so he might be more reluctant to trade him. However, at this point it doesn't really matter because I am too excited and stoked to care about the trivial details. It's baseball time people and I can't wait for this next season!

Final pieces likely in place

The Yankees are most likely done dealing this offseason as they have made one minor trade and signed one free agent. The Yankees traded a minor league infielder to the Texas Rangers for minor league outfielder Greg Golson. Golson will compete for a roster spot during spring training. The 24 year old is a speedster and solid defensively. He could be a good right handed hitting compliment to the host of left handed hitting outfielders we currently have.
The other move the Yanks made was to sign veteran outfielder Randy Winn to a one year deal in which he will most likely be playing left field. Winn played the last few years with the Giants and had previously played with Seattle and Tampa Bay. The 35 year old is a switch hitter but he might as well just be a left handed hitter which is why this move confuses me. Winn hit .292 against right handed pitchers and only .158 against lefties. So, rather than signing a right handed hitter to platoon in left field with Brett Gardner, the Yankees sign a guy that can really only do damage from the left side.
While the Yankees do have right handed hitters in Jamie Hoffmann and Golson in the outfield mix, it is unlikely that the Yanks will look to carry five outfielders on their active roster. This means that, barring some move or monstrous spring training, Golson will be sent down and Hoffmann will have to be sent back to the Nationals. We received Hoffmann from the Nationals as compensation for the Brian Bruney trade but, since he was signed and traded to the Yankees, he would have to be sent back to the Nationals if he doesn't remain on the Yankees active roster.
Essentially the Yankees have two switch hitter in the outfield in Winn and Swisher and two left handers in Gardner and Granderson. The hope is that the Yankee hitting coach, Kevin Long, can improve the swings of all four outfielders that remain on the roster so that this concern does not become an actual problem. It would be great if the guys didn't need right handed hitting compliments but only time will really tell what will happen with that.
Updated lineup:
1. Jeter SS
2. Johnson DH
3. Texeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Posada C
6. Cano 2B
7. Swisher RF
8. Granderson CF
9. Winn/Gardner LF

Arbitration News

The Yankees locked up the few players they had that were available for salary arbitration on Monday by giving one year deals to Chad Gaudin, Boone Logan, and Sergio Mitre. Gaudin and Mitre will likely compete for the fifth starter role in spring training along with Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Alfredo Aceves. Whomever does not get selected as the fifth starter will fight for a spot in the bullpen (Likely Gaudin, Hughes, and Aceves in the bullpen, Chamberlain starting, and Mitre traded or sent to Triple-A). Logan will likely serve as a left handed specialist out of the bullpen after the departure of Phil Coke via trade.
One player who would have been available for salary arbitration this year would have been Chien-Ming Wang but the Yankees instead non-tendered him (essentially didn't offer him a contract) and he is now a free agent. The Yanks do have a couple million of dollars to work with in their budget but they are seemingly unwilling to take a low cost risk on Wang who had won 19 games in consecutive years before injuring his foot while running the bases in an inter-league game in 2008. He has not been able to come back from that injury and has suffered other injuries in the process but I hate to see him go after he gave so much to the team for the years he played. This game is a business so decisions cannot be made based upon emotions but I think he still has upside and would be worth a couple million to try and get him back to his 19 game winning shape.

Our biggest competition

Let's see...
The biggest obstacle the Yankees will face this coming season will come from within their division and from a bitter rival: the Red Sox. The Red Sox have upgraded their entire team from their defense, their offense, and their rotation. They were already a good team last season but they have made themselves a scary good team for the upcoming season. The following is an explanation of their offseason moves and their upcoming new look.
The Red Sox started the offseason with a trade for Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins, then they signed free agents Marco Scutaro, Mike Cameron, Adrian Beltre, and John Lackey. Hermida is a solid outfielder and will give the Sox some flexibility and durability off the bench. Marco Scutaro will be a vast upgrade at shortstop compared to the revolving door they had at that position last season. Scutaro is good defensively and can hit as well. Mike Cameron will be patrolling centerfield for the Sox as they have decided to move Jacoby Ellsbury to leftfield due to Cameron's experience and Ellsbury's relative inexperience. Cameron is going to old in baseball terms next season, he'll turn 38 next season, but he has shown little decline in his defensive and offensive skills. Beltre had a disappointing offensive season with Seattle last year but he remains one of the best defensive third baseman in the game. Overall, their defense will be one of the best in the game. I find it hard to believe teams will find any easy runs against them this next season.
Finally, the John Lackey signing gives the Nation the best overall rotation in the AL. They have Josh Beckett, John Lester, John Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, and Clay Buchholz to choose from which gives them six solid starters. Beckett and Lackey are power pitchers with plus fastballs and fighter mentalities. They hate losing and hate leaving games even more. Lester is turning into a left handed ace with a solid fastball and great offspeed stuff. Matsuzaka and Buchholz showcase multiple pitches and both are coming off mediocre seasons after having some above average success. Wakefield continues his success by throwing his knuckleball all day long. He had some back issues and he is 42 years old but the Sox can afford to take a chance with him. With a plethora of starting pitchers, the Sox could even move one of them to further upgrade their team (likely Buchholz). They match up with the Yankees rotation arm for arm but I think they have the benefit of a little more depth and a better back end. While the Nation's bullpen lost a couple arms to free agency (Wagner and Saito), they have plenty of power arms to supplement any loss. With Delcarmen, Bard, Okajihma, and Papelbon, the Red Sox have a slew of strikeout artists to throw at other teams.
The Red Sox are looking like they might be a juggernaut next season and I would call them the team to beat if my Yanks didn't have the championship trophy sitting in the clubhouse. Either way the Sox are going to destroy teams, win close games, and pull out some come from behind wins and they'll give the Evil Empire (my Yankees) a run for the AL East title. The following is will likely be there lineup and rotation setup:
1. Ellsbury LF
2. Pedroia 2B
3. Martinez C
4. Youkilis 1B
5. Ortiz DH
6. Cameron CF
7. JD Drew RF
8. Beltre 3B
9. Scutaro SS

1. Beckett RHP
2. Lester LHP
3. Lackey RHP
4. Matsuzaka RHP
5. Wakefield RHP/Buchholz RHP

Yankee lineup

1. Jeter SS
2. Johnson DH
3. Texeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Posada C
6. Cano 2B
7. Swisher RF/Granderson CF
8. Granderson CF/Swisher RF
9. Gardner/Hoffmann LF

Sabathia LHP
Burnett RHP
Pettitte LHP
Vazquez RHP
Chamberlain RHP

It looks like the Yankees are going to try a platoon in left field with Brett Gardner and Jamie Hoffmann, or at least they are going to head into spring training with that plan. I don't really mind it at all because I like the idea of giving these guys a chance to earn their spots. I think it will give them all a sense of edge and a need to play better. I'm not sure how the Yankees will want to set up their lineup because it depends on if they want to put two lefties in a row or not. Most teams try not to do that because opposing teams can run a lefty out to the mound and essentially counteract most left handed hitters. I personally like the idea of having Granderson bat at the bottom of the order because he sets up some speed for the top of the order. However, it sounds like the Yanks will have Gardner or Hoffmann bat in the nine hole which leaves Granderson either batting behind Cano in seventh or behind Swisher in eighth. I guess it won't really matter. Also, from everything I have read Javier Vazquez will be the number four pitcher rather than the number three like I had thought. I think this might change once spring training starts but the rotation does set up nicely rotating the first four pitchers lefty and righty. I just think that Pettitte won't be able to keep up his success forever even though he is one of my all time favorites. I'm very much looking forward to baseball season!

Are the Yankees done?

It seems the Yankees might be done adding players, according to some baseball writers. However, it is unlikely that they would trust a full season of Jamie Hoffmann and Brett Gardner in left field, especially if Curtis Granderson continues to struggle against lefties. The Yankee lineup doesn't really need another bat but they also are not likely to simply throw someone out there. I have a feeling that neither Brett Gardner or Jamie Hoffmann will be starting the season in left field. Call it a 'Steinbrenner' hunch.
However, on the flip side, I wouldn't mind seeing the Yanks go with their current roster. Gardner showed that he can be a threat on the bases and could have a better season given more chances. Plus, there is no telling how well Hoffmann will play in Spring Training so he could surprise us all and earn that starting spot. Maybe I should consult the magic 8-ball...

Lower Payroll?

So, the word from the front office was that the Steinbrenners and Brian Cashman had agreed to lower the payroll from last year ($201 million) but, according to my calculations, the payroll for 2010 will actually be higher ($208 million). I heard that the Yankee big wigs wanted to have the payroll around $185 million for next season but it looks like that has no chance of happening. Also, the Yankees currently do not have a starting left fielder unless they plan on using Brett Gardner or Jamie Hoffman full time which I think is unlikely. Not sure what their plans are but it seems that the whole lowering of the payroll idea has gone out the window. The good news is that much of the added salaries for the next season came via the trade rather than signing free agents (ex. Granderson and Vazquez). I think the Yankees are looking to shed some salaries for next season because of the big free agents that might become available. I guess we can only wait and see.

New left fielder?

With the Yankees trading Melky Cabrera to the Braves for Javier Vazquez, they will likely look for a new left fielder to take his spot. The two most notable options would be to bring back Damon, which the Yankees only want to do for the right price, or sign Mark DeRosa to a one year deal for half the price that Damon would likely require. DeRosa is a durable player that could play in the outfield and the infield. He's 34 and a career .275 hitter with some power but he also is said to be a great guy who would fit in well with the Yankees. Damon, if resigned for less than he wanted, could be bitter and might not play as well based on the offseason contract negotiations. Rumors are that the Yankees might make a push for either Jason Bay or Matt Holliday but I don't think that will happen. The Yankees are truly looking to decrease their payroll and those two options would probably increase it compared to last season. They might fake interest in the players to jack up the price for other teams but I would be shocked if they made a real play for either of those two big names. Here are three different options for the Yankee lineup based on the possibility of signing either Damon or DeRosa:
Option 1-
1. Jeter SS
2. Johnson DH
3. Texeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Damon LF
6. Posada C
7. Cano 2B
8. Swisher RF
9. Granderson CF
Option 2-
1. Jeter SS
2. Damon LF
3. Texeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Posada C
6. Cano 2B
7. Swisher RF
8. Johnson DH
9. Granderson CF
Option 3-
1. Jeter SS
2. Johnson DH
3. Texeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Posada C
6. Cano 2B
7. Swisher RF
8. DeRosa LF
9. Granderson CF
I like the idea of batting Granderson ninth because it's like having another lead-off man at the bottom of the line-up with Jeter and either Johnson or Damon in the two hole in front of Texeira and Rodriguez. What might be more likely is that Granderson would bat in front of Swisher in all the line-ups but I like having his speed in front of Jeter rather than in front of Swisher. Thanks and stay tuned for updates!

Another trade for the Yanks

The Yankees have traded outfielder Melky Cabrera, relief pitcher Michael Dunn, a minor league pitching prospect, and $500,000 to the Braves for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and relief pitcher Boone Logan. Vazquez was with the Yankees for one year in 2004 and went 14-10 with an ERA just under 5.00. He has become a better pitcher since then exemplified by the 33 year old's great season last year with the Braves going 15-10 with an ERA under 3.00. Vazquez is a workhorse. He has pitched at least 198 innings, won at least 10 games, and struck out at least 150 batters the past 10 seasons, which shows he is durable and consistent.
Vazquez will likely pitch third for the Yanks as he has better stuff at this point in comparison to Pettitte. Pettitte, a soon to be 38 year old, is a solid veteran who will greatly help the Yanks as a fourth starter. He knows how to pitch in the AL East and can win games with effort and guts when he doesn't necessarily have his best stuff. This move gives the Yankees the deepest rotation in the AL and possibly the entire MLB. The Red Sox have a great rotation as well but I'd take Pettitte and Joba over Matsuzaka and Wakefield next season. I think Joba will be the fifth starter because the Yanks have put so much time into giving him more innings and the whole 'Joba Rules' fiasco would make them look like idiots if he was placed back into the bullpen. Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, Chad Gaudin, and Sergio Mitre will compete for bullpen jobs, with the odd man out likely being Mitre as he struggled mightily last year.
Boone Logan is a 25 year old lefty who pitched only 20 innings for the Braves last year but he has good stuff and will likely take over Phil Coke's spot in the bullpen giving the Yankees two lefty options with Logan and Damaso Marte. The Braves had two lefties ahead of Logan in their bullpen last season so he didn't get many opportunities to pitch but he was solid against left handed batters and could help in that capacity next season.
Losing Melky Cabrera will likely force the Yankees to sign or trade for a left fielder. Gardner is good as a backup but he does not really have the skills to start every day. This could mean that the Yankees will try and bring Damon back but will only do so in a two year deal for around $20 million. Damon and agent Scott Boras are looking for a three to four year deal for $13-$15 million per year. Other options would be Mark DeRosa, who I like as a player and seems to be a great guy, who is looking for a deal for around $6.5 million. Melky was solid last season but the Yankees, and myself, thought he had really maxed out his potential so they might as well capitalize on his value while they could. Michael Dunn was projected to be a lefty out of the bullpen and, at 24, has a plus heater and slider. The prospect the Yanks gave up pitched well in Single A ball but who knows how he would have pitched as he got closer to the big leagues.

This trade makes the Yankees better for the 2010 season and they had to give up very little in the process. Their rotation, as stated earlier, will be amazing and they didn't have to sign one of the free agents with a questionable medical history (remember Carl Pavano?). I like this move and I look forward to seeing this rotation dominate next season.

1. CC Sabathia LHP

2. AJ Burnett RHP

3. Javier Vazquez RHP

4. Andy Pettitte LHP

5. Joba Chamberlain RHP

Possible new addition to the Yanks

There is a possibility that the Yankees are going to sign Nick Johnson, a former Yankee, to be their new DH. The puzzling thing about this deal is that Johnson has little power and his defense at 1B is below average. So, it seems like we would be signing a guy who will play very little in the field which begs the question: Why didn't we just resign Matsui? The only positive about Johnson is that he gets on base a LOT. His on base percentage last season was .426 and, to show how solid that is, the league average is .336. Another example is Derek Jeter. He had the highest on base percentage for the Yankees this past season and his was .406. Johnson would likely bat second behind Jeter which would move Granderson lower in the order. This move would seem to say that the Yanks want to focus more on manufacturing runs rather than hitting them all out of the park. Here's the projected lineup if this move goes through:
1. Jeter SS
2. Johnson DH
3. Texeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Posada C
6. Cano 2B
7. Granderson CF
8. Swisher RF
9. Cabrera LF

Reasons for concern

There are rumors that the Red Sox will be making another big change to their roster within a week or so. They are looking to trade for the San Diego's 1B Adrien Gonzalez, a huge bat that would more than make up for the possible loss of Mike Lowell in a trade to the Rangers. The BoSox recently announced the signings of John Lackey, the number one free agent pitcher on the market, and Mike Cameron, a soon to be 37 year old with some power, who is likely to play left field. Gonzalez would add some of the power the BoSox lost with the departure of Manny Ramirez but he would also allow the BoSox to have a more potent lineup one through nine. Not only do the BoSox look to have a great rotation next year, but they could have a feared lineup to go along with the strong pitching staff. I'm crossing my fingers that this move doesn't happen.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good - It appears that Roy Halladay is moving to the NL in a three team trade with the Phillies. This takes the best pitcher of the decade and moves him out of the AL East which can only be good news for the Yanks heading into the 2010 season.
The Bad - The Mariners appear to be getting Cliff Lee in that three team trade. This gives them Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee as their one-two in the rotation and that spells trouble for opposing teams. Lee pitched a little better in the NL so my only hope is that he struggles a little more in the more powerful AL.
The Ugly - The Red Sox signed John Lackey, the best free agent pitcher available, to a five year deal which gives them the best one-two-three pitchers in the game of baseball. Lackey, John Lester, and Josh Beckett are power pitchers and high strikeout guys which can only make AL teams cringe at this signing. Also, the BoSox have Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz, and Tim Wakefield to finish off the back end of the rotation. This is not good. Our only hope is that CC can make Halladay, AJ and Beckett are equally wild (which they both tend to do every so often), and Pettitte can pitch like he did five years ago to match Lester, who was the ace of this staff last year. God help us all if they sign Beltre to play third base, Mike Cameron to play left field, and complete the trade that send Mike Lowell to the Rangers. Estimated number of wins for them next year if all that happens: 104.

Rule 5 Draft

The Rule 5 Draft took place this morning and the Yankees acquired 25 year old Jamie Hoffmann from the Nationals as compensation for sending Brian Bruney to them earlier in the week. The rules of the Rule 5 Draft state that Hoffmann must stay on the Yankee active roster for the year or else he would be offered back to the Nationals for half of the price the Yankees paid for him ($50,000). According to reports, the Yankee front office has had interest in Hoffmann for a few years. At this point, Hoffman would compete with Brett Gardner for the fourth outfield spot.
There are a couple wrinkles that could effect the look of the outfield next season. The Yankees are apparently negotiating with Johnny Damon on a contract to bring him back next season. Damon would likely DH and could play the field occasionally to give others a break from the field. Also, teams are contacting the Yankees about possibly trading Gardner or Melky Cabrera, as they currently have five outfielders and would have six if Damon resigns. A likely move would be a trade of Gardner for a minor league prospect because the Yanks do not need another big league player and Gardner became the odd man out after he got hurt last season. The only problem is that he was our fastest player and we would lose that weapon off the bench. I guess we'll see what happens in the following days and weeks.

Three team trade

The Yankees are involved in a three team trade in which they would send Ian Kennedy to Arizona, send Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to Detroit, and they would receive Curtis Granderson in the deal. Other players are involved between Arizona and Detroit but they don't matter. Essentially the Yankees will get a new starting center fielder for a Triple A starter in Kennedy, a so-so bullpen lefty in Coke, and their top outfield prospect in Jackson. The 28 year old Granderson is a solid center fielder with great defense, some speed, and enough pop to match or exceed Damon's homerun total with the short porch in right. However, he strikes out too much and struggles against lefties at times. His struggles might force the Yanks to play Melky in center against lefties, as he is a switch hitter, and Gardner can slide into either left or right. My guess is that Granderson would bat second behind Jeter because Jeter gets on base better than Granderson and Jeter also hits into more double plays. AJax, who's 22, was a top prospect in the Yankee system so my hope is that we didn't give up our future for nothing. Only time will tell if this move was a good one or another flop.

Winter Meeting update

The Yankees have traded relief pitcher Brian Bruney to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later. Bruney had an up and down tenure with the Yankees and had recently been erratic which isn't a great quality for a late inning reliever. The Yankees have a lot of relief pitchers and many can throw high heat just like Bruney so his departure isn't terrible. The only down side is that he was only 27 years old and could have improved his control. It will be interesting to see who the Yanks get in return.

This just in...

Today is day one of four of the winter meetings and there is already some good news for the Yanks. Sources say that Andy Pettitte has decided to return for another season and will simply need to work out some contract details. This is great news for Yankee fans but I'll wait for the contract signing and confirmation before I completely jump for joy.