Anticipating Another Acquisition

The hot stove league sure inspires inquisitive intellect. Buyer beware is this year’s mantra. The free agent class is one of the best in my recent memory. There are bargains to be had if GMs are willing to negotiate and compromise. For the most part, however, teams are going to pay through the roof to haul in hefty contracts. One of the heftier options (literally) is the reigning 2007 Cy Young winner, C.C. Sabathia. Hank and Hal Steinbrenner already made their money pitch to the Brewers’ ace. If Sabathia chooses to return to the American League, I can’t see him signing anywhere else except the Big Apple. C.C. does not guarantee the Yankees return to the World Series nor does acquiring the shut-down Sabathia even mean playoff baseball in NY. It would signify an upgrade in the starting rotation. The Yankees do not know what they have in their young pitchers, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Jaba Chamberlain is not a shoo-in for a starting job because the Yankees organization has not decided what direction they will go with him. Wang will become the second best pitcher on this team if C.C. is brought in. Still, the Steinbrenners are looking for more depth on the mound and will go hard after other free agents.
A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe are on the Yankee radar. Each player has quality stuff but I wouldn’t sign either one over the Padres’ Jake Peavy. Peavy has said he would like to play for a National League team and the Padres will hear offers from those clubs first. The Yankees can and will outbid all other teams for Peavy if they truly believe he will provide a missing link to the club. But if Peavy really doesn’t want to be a part of the NY environment, it is a waste of time. San Diego alluded to opening the door to American League teams once the Braves closed the door on the Peavy rumored deal last week. I do think Jake will hear what the Yankees want to offer him.
As for the position players on the Yankees, they filled a need in the outfield by trading for Nick Swisher. What does Swisher bring to the table? If he can transform himself into the player he was in Oakland, he brings much. He can play any outfield position well and is patient at the plate. Swisher reminds me of Scott Brosius in a way. Both played for the A’s and are usually in the middle of big plays. Both are stellar teammates and aren’t afraid to get their uniforms dirty. I don’t know whether the Yankees intend on using Swisher at first, but it seems like Mark Teixeria is out of the free agent signing mix now. From all I’ve heard and read, the Yankees do not want to tie up first base for the long-term. With Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada slowly becoming too slow and old for their respective positions, it’s likely one of them will take over first base. If Teixeria is reeled in from the west coast, where would Posada and Jeter keep their heads above water in the field? The most logical place would be first base.
Austin Jackson seems to be the Yankee centerfielder of the future. No one is going to declare him the next Mickey Mantle just yet. He is still a little over one year away from becoming a major leaguer. Time in the minors to smooth over the rough spots would do him well. With Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher and Johnny Damon, the Yankees can get by for one year. I still see the need for some top of the line bench players and quality relief pitchers here in NY. Every team is going to be shopping for bullpen help, so the Yankees will have to get creative if they want to compete. They do not have the prospects to trade for any really good relievers. That being said, now is the time to look for the type of pitcher who has had major league experience and is coming off a contract year. Maybe even signing a former starter and regulating him to the bullpen would be a wise decision.
I really like how the Yankees are making a statement and holding nothing back this hot stove season. I anticipate some more acquisitions in the near future. I only hope they play out. We know from years’ past, some of the more prominent signings have not lived up to the hype.

Parting points: Ohio State beat Juice Williams finally. Penn State rallied for another win. This Big 10 conference is going to get very interesting next week. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I saw the Florida-South Carolina score. Wow. Is there any doubt what team deserves to play for the championship?
Song of the day: “Float on” by Modest Mouse