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A Treasure Map for the Yankees 28th Title
Now that the Cardinals’ miraculous comeback season has come to a close, its time to move onto the Yankees and their plan of attack in pursuit of title number 28.
I’ve got the map and I’m ready to go searching….
jwinter437.wordpress.com
- Resign Brian Cashman
Brian Cashman
Brian has been instrumental to the formation of the modern day Yankees. He’s drafted stars such as Robinson Cano, Ian Kennedy, and Austin Jackson and then used his chips (Kennedy, A-Jax) to spring a deal for one of the greatest outfielders in the game, Curtis Granderson. Since being named GM in 1998, Cashman’s Yanks have won 4 World Championships and have 6 AL Pennant Titles. He spent his money, for the most part (A.J. BURNett I’m talking to you) wisely, and without him the organization wouldn’t be where it is today.
2. Sign CC Sabathia to a 5 year $130 million deal
CC Sabathia
Without CC Sabathia, the Yankees rotation this year would have been anchored by A.J. Burnett. Scary, isn’t it? That’s why it is instrumental for the Yankees to resign CC for next year and beyond. Coming off consecutive 19 win seasons the price will be steep, but being as CC is entering his age 33 season, it is imperative that the Yankees lock him up for 5 years, no more, no less, so that they aren’t straddled with a pitcher on the decline in his age 38 season.
3. Pick up Swisher’s Option
Nick Swisher
The Yankees need Swisher, and Swisher needs the Yankees. His egregious personality brightens the Yankees clubhouse and in comparison to a guy like Carlos Beltran, $10.25 million is worth spending in order to keep Swisher for another year. Also a stat line of .260 · 23 · 85 is pretty good if I may say so myself.
4. Sign Mark Buehrle to a 2 year, $21 million deal
Mark Buehrle
Buehrle is exactly the type of pitcher that the Yankees desperately needed this past season; a semi-quality innings eater that can give you 180-200 innings a year with an ERA under 4. His stuff isn’t deadly, but his craftiness and precision is what defines his game. A 2 year deal ensures that there is not a lengthly commitment and the $21 million shouldn’t kill the Yankees, even if he posts a 4.25 ERA and 175 innings next year.
5. Allow Dellin Betances, A.J. Burnett and Manny Banuelos to Battle for the 5th Rotation Spot in Spring Training
Dellin Betances
A.J. Burnett
Manny Banuelos
The Three Big “B’s”
Allowing Burnett, Betances, and Banuelos to battle for the 5th spot in Spring Training will bring out the best in the three, and show A.J. that just because he is expensive, it doesn’t mean that he is guaranteed a rotation spot. If one of the two young guns gets the spot, he will be regulated to long relief and the other prospect will return to the AAA rotation. If A.J. wins it however, Betances and Banuelos will return to the Triple A rotation until the inevitable injury occurs or Burnett is slumping.
And with that, X marks the spot. Next year: Yankees: 2012 World Series Champions!
It’s offseason time.
The Manoman
Melky!!!
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No!!! It happened!!!
Merry Teix-mas!
Wow. That was out of the blue. The Yankees just signed former Angels All-Star 1st baseman Mark Teixeira to a reported 8 year 180 million dollar deal December 23, 2008. This has been an amazing off-season for the Yankees, from Sabathia, to Burnett, and now Teixeira. It looks like the $27 million luxury tax placed on the Yankees didn’t really affect their plans this off-season as they have, arguably, the top 3 free agents available. The Mark Teixeira acquistion though has both its pros and cons.
Pros:
- They have Teixeira for 8 years and he is a consistent, power hitter
- Teixeira is a gold-glove 1st baseman, which is a serious up grade over Jason Giambi.
- Teixeira is relatively young, 29, and has alot of skills left on his plate
- Mark is adjusted to both the American and National leagues
- Most Yankee fans will be happy about this acquistion and come to see more games
Cons:
- They signed Teixeira for eight whole years, and if he doesn’t put up his part is anyone thinking of the next Kevin Brown?
- He will be 37 at the end of his contract which is pretty old for a baseball player
- He will be blocking the up-rising of Yankee first basemen for eight years which could prevent a top prospect from coming out onto the bigs.
- He will cause a log jam with the outfield since Swisher is going to be an outfielder and the Yankees now have six outfielders, Nick Swisher, Xavier Nady, Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, and Brett Gardner.
- This will envoke more Yankee haters into saying “Money can’t buy a World Series!”
This is my response to that last con. The Yankees waited patiently and gave all the other teams their chance to get Teix. The Yankees bid about as much as the Nationals did and it was Mark Teixeira’s preference to sign with the Yankees. You can’t say that money completely bought Teixeira over to the Yankees in this situation if you think about it.
I probably won’t be able to post from 12/24 to12/31 because it is the holidays and I am going on vacation.
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
The Manoman
