What the Yankees must do to restore their honor

[Anthony]

“We have to win. And we will.” - Yankee General Manager Brain Cashman after signing a 3 year contract extension with the New York Yankees.


Brian Cashman doomed the 2008 New York Yankees before the season ever began. Now, I understand that's bold words to type, but they are true. Cashman doomed the entire season, flipped off the entire New York Yankee fan base, when he opted to stick to a plan that ultimately lead to the Yankees downfall.

That plan was developing players from within the farm system and not trading them away for a veteran player. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were 'untouchables' as were other pitching prospects like Allan Horne and Joba Chamberlain. Position players like Austin Jackson and Jose Tabatta were going nowhere under Cashman's watch.

So, we all know the story. Cashman passed up on getting Johan Santana. We all know that Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy would combine for a 1-9 record for the entire season (that one win was from Hughes when the Yankees were pretty much eliminated from the playoffs). And we all know the Yankees would, for the first time in 12 years, miss October baseball. The Stadium, in her final year, would die without seeing a playoff game.

The Yankees have many, many holes to fill for 2009. And, let's face it... they're going to have to spend money if they want to win. The Yankees NEED... they MUST... do these move to make sure that a year like 2008... never happens again:


Say GOODBYE to...

1. Jason Giambi - Giambi isn't a first baseman. He's not even a DH anymore. He's just a shell of his former self. He strikes out way too much, isn't good protection batting behind A-Rod, and his batting average/On Base Percentage isn't what they used to be.

2. Andy Pettitte - I love Pettitte... I really, really do. But it's time for Andy to hang up the cleats. Andy is known as being a second half pitcher, one who is dominate in August, September, and October. But he wasn't even that this season. I'm sorry, old pal, but you need to go.

3. Mike Mussina - Mussina is an interesting case. He won 20 wins for the first time in his borderline Hall-Of-Fame career. Mussina, however, has been hinting of retiring. If he does in fact retire he will be doing the Yankees a tremendous favor. I simply can't trust that Mussina could do what he did in 2008 for two more years. I just can't believe it. The Yankees need to be smart and just thank him for being a terrific Yankee.

4. Carl Pavano - Do I even need to explain why?

5. Ivan Rodriguez - We have Posada and Molina. In the words of Posada, "Pudge is going to have to play somewhere else."

6. Sidney Ponson - See Pavano

7. Bobby Abreu - Abreu wants to stay in New York... he also wants a three year contract and that, my friends, has no shot of happening. Abreu is declining, his defense is suspect (the man is afraid to bang into the wall in right field!), and his offense is slipping as well (though he had a good 2008 offense wise)



Who the Yankees need to bring in:

1. CC Sabathia - I'm kind of torn about this signing. If the Yankees sign CC, he's your ace that they have been missing since 2003. However, the guy has thrown 500 innings from 2007-2008. The Brewers really abused the guys arm, having him pitch complete games and sometimes on three days rest. However, the Yankees need to take the gamble. We have seen what he did for the Brewers... I have a good feeling he can do the same with the Yankees.

2. Mark Teixiera - Teixieria is the first baseman the Yankees have wanted since Tino Martinez originally left the team. He can play defense at first and is a tremendous bat. Teixiera could bat in front of or behind A-Rod, finally giving A-Rod some reliable protection. However, Teixeria has been known to not be so clutch. Still, the Yankees need a young, superstar player like him.

3. Derek Lowe - Forget going after AJ Burnett. Forget getting Ben Sheets... both are Jaret Wright's and Carl Pavano's ready to happen. Lowe, however, is someone who can take the ball every fifth day. He's also pitched in the American League for the Boston Red Sox. It's been rumored that he despises the Red Sox for letting him go after 2004 and he would love to seek revenge. Yankees need to get this guy.

4. Trade for a centerfielder (Nate McClouth) - If you've been reading around, the Yankees have some interest in acquiring a guy like McClouth. The Pirates have been criticized for 'giving' players away to the Yankees (like Marte and Nady). Hopefully, they continue this sentiment

5. Casey Blake (for the bench): Could really help the Yankees on the bench. Very useful player.

You have to understand something... the Yankees are FULLY expected to make ALL of these moves. I'm not a hopeful Yankee fan predicting them to sign all these high power free agents. I've listend to some great baseball writers who all say the same thing: the only way to fix this team is spend money. But spend the money SMARTLY.

Teixeria, Sabathia, and Lowe are all tremendously smart signings for the Yankees. The Burnett's and the Lowe's of the world aren't. The Yankees need these players; they isn't anyone in their system that they can simply run out there. Teixiera, Sabathia, and Lowe is all the Yankees need. Their team would look something like this:

Lineup
Johnny Damon, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Nate McClouth, CF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Mark Teixiera, 1B
Jorge Posada, C
Hidek Matsui, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Xavier Nady, RF

Starting Rotation:
CC Sabathia
Chien-Ming Wang
Derek Lowe
Joba Chamberlain
Phil Hughes

Bull Pen:
Mariano Rivera, CP
Phil Coke, SU
Jose Veras
Damaso Marte
Brian Burney
Humberto Sanchez
Darrel Rasner (long man)

Bench:
Brett Garden (let's face it he is not a starting OF) OF
Wilson Betemit, 1B/3B
Casey Blake, U
Jose Molina, C

[stennick]

I think the Yankee's have been dealing with a two headed monster. On one hand they seem to be on this youth pitching movement. Joba, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy much was made of these guys and for one reason or another they didn't deliver in 08, which means they haven't delivered at all in the MlB. I'm a Cards fan and I know we tend to put a lot of our eggs in the farm system basket. The problem with rookies is their rookies you have no idea what they'll do or when they'll do it. The other problem is guys like Giambi, Andy, Mussina, these guys are all pushing 40 if not over it. Roger Clemens was a freak of nature who apparently used roids to achieve his post 40 success, same with Barry Bands. You don't push 40 and still lead the league in things. Their offense is old, their pitching is young. CC can only win you one out of every five games....

[Anthony]

Here's the thing. Brian Cashman has over-rated his farm system greatly. I've only seen one and a half year of Ian Kennedy pitching and already know he doesn't have what it takes to pitch in New York. If he has ANY trade value, the Yankees should package him in a deal and get themselves a starting center fielder.

John Heyman of SI.com was the first to report that the Yankees would be aggressively signing two out of the three top starting pitchers in the market: Sabathia, Lowe, and Burnett. I agree with what Heyman says, Burnett would be a HUGE mistake for the Yankees. In 2008, Burnett was DOMINATE agaisnt one team... the Yankees. Agaisnt almost everyone else, he wasn't that dominate.

Lowe is someone who I would LOVE to pitch in New York. Lowe is a sinkerballer, much like Wang is. He would be a more than solid #3 pitcher in the rotation. Sabathia and Wang is the best 1-2 punch in baseball if both stay healthy.

Pettitte/Mussina/Giambi/Abreu/Pudge are all gone... I really do believe that. Pettitte has said it's either Yankees or retirement... well I think he's all but retired. Like I said before, Pettitte has always been known as a big time second half pitcher and he wasn't that last season. Not even close.

Mussina, in my opinion, really fooled a lot of people. He pitched great; he did win 20 games. But Mussina is another year older. How do the Yankees know that he will pithc like he did in 08 for 2 or 3 more years?

With our offense, we do need to get younger. If you listend to Cashman's press conference, he said that he basically wants a first baseman to play firstbase. He wants Damon to play leftfield, Matsui to DH, Posada to catch... basically he's saying he wants those players to do what he brought them here to do.

I firmly believe Sabathia and Lowe will be with the Yankees. I do believe Teixeria will be saught after to play firstbase. That rotation of Sabathia, Wang, Lowe, Hughes, Chamberlain is one of the best in baseball. It wouldn't just be Sabathia getting us a win every five days... what about the back-to-back winner Wang? Or Lowe, who can win up to 16 games? Or Chamberlain, who has STERLLAR stuff. The only question mark in that rotation would really be Hughes.

[stennick]

Don't forget Peavy is being shopped around too. The problem is the Yankees need to stop buying "stars". Remember when they bought Giambi he was an MVP, what has he done since? Abreu was bad ass when he was signed what about since? New York is so unmotivated at times its scary the division used to be then and the Sox but everyone is getting better.

[Anthony]

I'm glad you brought up the Giambi signing.

People point to the Giambi signing as the first of the many big contracts the Yankees would have on their payroll. They also point that this is the end of the Yankees developing their players through the farm system, like the late 90 Yankees.

While the Yankees developed Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte, they ALSO had A LOT, A LOT, A LOT of 'star's on their team.

Tino Martinez was actually overpaid by Geroge because they badly needed a firstbaseman. As a matter of fact, Tino got $19 million MORE than what he was LOOKING FOR! Paul O'Neill, perhaps my personal favorite Yankee ever, was traded to the team in 1993. He didn't have a stellar career for the Reds but when he came to the Yankees, he was a .300 hitter.

The first trade Cashman did as GM was getting Chuck Knoblauch from the Twins. Chuckie was one of the best defensive secondbaseman at the time and was a GREAT leadoff hitter. As for pitching, the things that made the Yankees win so many championships from 96-00, were not filled with homegrown talent. The only pitcher that was in the rotation that was homegrown was Andy Pettitte. Roger Clemens was traded to New York from the Blue Jays in 99. David Wells was traded multiple times to the Yankees. David Cone came here from Kansas City. The Yankees bought and brough El Duque to the United States... same with Hideki Arbu from Japan.

As far as Peavy goes, Phil Hughes would automatically be in a package deal. Then it would probably require giving away Austin Jackson, someone the Yankees would be insane to trade. If the Yankees get Sabathia and Lowe, their rotation is stacked.

[stennick]

Most of the "stars" on that team weren't break outs until they got on the Yankees. Guys like Knobloch, O'Neil, Martinez etc.

[Anthony]

True... well except Knoblauch. He was a pretty good star before coming.

But the Roger Clemens/David Wells/David Cone's were pretty much stars before helping us win World Series

[stennick]

Clemens yes, Wells and Cone were good but not great. Wells is best known for being an undying yankee fan playing for the yankees. He did his best work with them.