Looking ahead
At this point, the focus for the Yankees should be on the future. Making the playoffs in 2008 is completely unrealistic at this stage. So the important things to do are to determine who's part of your future from the current group and who/what needs to be added.
For instance, are Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina part of the future in the rotation?
Alfredo Aceves will get a look in the rotation, so they can find out at least something about him.
Is Bobby Abreu in the future? Or Jason Giambi (less likely)?
What about your catching situation? Will Jorge Posada be back there, or do shoulder concerns mean you need more insurance there?
Who steps in at first base? Mark Teixeira? A middling signee? Someone from the system or Posada/Johnny Damon?
What do you do in centerfield? Melky Cabrera/Brett Gardner or an outside signee?
Can you swing CC Sabathia to the Bronx? Or perhaps A.J. Burnett or another top free agent starter?
These are the important things the Yankees' front office needs to be thinking about the rest of this month, not making up an impossible gap in the standings.
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Comments (4)
I would be ok with Melky in CF as long as the Yanks offense were healthier next year, especially with the addition of Teixeira and the successful comeback of Posada- which is key. You add two switch hitters to the current lineup and remove Molina/I-Rods bats and it's a plus, this way the Yanks aren't counting on Melky to contribute offensively. Cano needs to bounce back as well as the loss of Abreu and probably decline of Nady's production will need to be accounted for. Hopefully Jeter can be more productive next year.
They have to add a starting pitcher of a high caliber, but even if they don't and they get CM Wang back for the whole year, they need Hughes to step up big time.
Let's hope someone steps up on Spring Training like Brackman or Sanchez, even Betances. The Yanks need pitching to succeed and that means pitching from every area and they need to stop coddling the young pitchers, it's embarrassing at this point.
The Yanks are very much in danger of finishing this season in 4th place....wow!
That first post was not me
I do NOT bring Andy or Moose back
I DO use the significant financial strength of the team to try to get CC and Burnett in here. I'm still not sold on CC signing here. I think he's going to wind up with the Dodgers, but for the sake of argument, lets say they do sign him.
Jim - I do agree that the Yankees need to take the diapers off of Brackman, Sanchez, Joba and Hughes. Among others.
Giambi and Abreu are not parts of this team's future. Giambi shouldn't stay and Abreu won't sign here for less than 4 years. And if Cashman doesn't at least kick the tires on Manny then he's not doing his job. This team has scored 3 runs or less 60 times this season, so as much as the rotation needs a shake up so too does the lineup.
I will agree with the troll where he says the Yankees can't throw Hughes out. But I think Kennedy can be considered trade bait. And I would even move Hughes in the right deal because I think the Yankees are destroying this kid and turning him into at most a 5 inning pitcher. Could the Yankees send him to Cincy for Jay Bruce? San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez? I think either are possible.
Here are some deals to consider:
FA - CC, Burnett, Fuentes, Orlando Hudson, Eric Hinske
Trades - Hughes to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez
Cano, Bruney and Ian Kennedy to St. Louis for Adam Wainwright and Skip Shumaker
Lineup:
Damon - LF
Hudson - 2b
Jeter - SS
A-Rod - 3b
Gonzalez - 1b
Nady - RF
Posada - C
Matsui - DH
Shumaker - CF
Rotation:
Sabathia
Wang
Burnett
Wainwright
Joba - I know, they want to start him in the pen, I think it's nuts and I'm hoping they come to their senses.
Pen
LH: Marte & Fuentes
RH: Melancon, Rivera, Veras, Ramirez
Dribble is what you do with a basketball. Did you maybe mean DRIVEL - you nit wit.
Bullchips and moose nuggets