What's Cookin? - The Yankees

The Yankees theme this offseason should be: It’s the pitching stupid. The Yankees are pretty much set on offense. In fact, unless they trade Alex Rodriguez (highly unlikely), they might only have space for a first basemen if they want to DH Jason Giambi full-time.

So let’s talk pitching. They are unlikely to pick up Mike Mussina’s option, meaning he will be a free agent. That doesn’t mean he won’t be back. If they don’t aggressively try to re-sign him, fans should be infuriated. He is likely to cost them about $25 million over two years. He has been their best, most consistent starter since he joined the team in 2001. With him and Chien-Ming Wang at the top of the rotation, along with Randy Johnson, they are three-fifths of the way to a decent rotation. The back end needs some work though. Jaret Wright hasn’t pitched well in a big game this millennium. Carl Pavano might’ve been the biggest waste of money in the history of the Yankees (yeah ,it’s been that bad).

Chances are they are going to make a bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka. Chances are they are going to bid the most, which means they’ll have 30 days to negotiate a deal with Matsuzaka. Believe me, if they have the winning bid, they’ll make sure they sign him. So he gets added and probably will be the number four starter in the rotation. Not a bad fourth starter if he can put up close to the numbers he had in Japan.

As for a fifth starter, that is a toss up. They might hope for Pavano to get healthy or Wright to step up. I think they are better off finding a mid-level free agent like Jeff Suppan, though Suppan’s price tag went way up last month.

Now let’s discuss some potential trade situations. Already, I said A-Rod is unlikely to go anywhere and I believe that. The one trade that will happen is Gary Sheffield. The Yankees are picking up his option with the plan to trade him. If I was a team interested. I would hold out for a long while. I mean the Yankees have no desire to bring him back and if they’ve already picked up the option they are on the hook for $13 million.

Of course, someone is not going to be able to hold out. Philadelphia or the Cubs or the Rangers or the Astros will lose out on Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee and look at Sheffield as a one-year option for an outfielder. The Yankees, I would expect, will look for pitching help in this deal – which could mean a viable starter instead of signing a guy like Suppan or re-signing Mussina.

If they are to going to trade A-Rod – they should make a strong push to get Carlos Zambrano from the Cubs and go out and sign Aramis Ramirez. That would actually make them a better team overall because Ramirez isn’t quite as good offensively as A-Rod, but it would be a huge upgrade to the rotation.

Likely 2007 Starters
C – Jorge Posada
1B – Jason Giambi
2B – Robinson Cano
SS – Derek Jeter
3B – Alex Rodriguez
LF – Hideki Matsui
CF – Johnny Damon
RF – Bobby Abreu
DH – Melky Cabrera (rotating into the outfield as well)

SP – Mike Mussina
SP – Chien-Ming Wang
SP – Randy Johnson
SP – Diasuke Matsuzaka
SP – Pavano/Wright/Starter picked up in Sheffield trade
CL – Mariano Rivera

Photo Source: Sports Illustrated