Yanks have many options as journey to repeat begins with free agency
As we all know by now, the Yankees expect to win it all every season and will do what they need to do in order to at least have a chance. The 2010 season will be no different. After winning their 27th World Series Championship earlier this month, they will begin to build the 2010 roster today as free agency begins.
Nobody seems to really know which way the Yankees will turn. Do they re-sign Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui? Will Andy Pettitte return? Do they keep Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes in the bullpen or return them to the starting rotation? Who comes off the bench? When will Wang be ready to return?
Many of those questions will be answered in the next few months. I think Pettitte will return for another season. He had a healthy and successful 2009 season and seemed happy once again. So, if he does return, the Yankees will have CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Pettitte in the starting rotation just like they did this past postseason. That leaves two openings. Chamberlain and Hughes could be the two to fill those spots. I think the Yankees will put one of them in the starting rotation with the other staying in the bullpen. If they do this, they will shop for one more starter. John Lackey is the best free agent starting pitcher. I personally am not a fan of Lackey becoming a Yankee. Trading for Blue Jay's ace Roy Halladay remains a possibility, however that would certainly require the Yankees to give up Hughes or Chamberlain. They have been reluctant to do that in the past. The Atlanta Braves have made it known they will try to trade Derek Lowe. Lowe had an up and down season for the Braves last year. He struggled in the final few months.
The Yankees will probably look to also add to the bullpen. Some of the bigger names rumored to be getting interest from the Yankees are Braves pitchers Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano. Gonzalez is a lefty while Soriano is right handed. I could see the Yankees going either way.
Many people think the Yankees can not bring back both Damon and Matsui. I am unsure on my opinion on this right now. I like Damon but his agent Scott Boras has already said he expects his client to receive a Derek Jeter type contract. I think thats a little high. Matsui handcuffs the Yankees a bit. He can only be a DH as his knees prevent him from playing the outfield at all. He can however still knock the ball all over the field. Matsui is the type of money player the Yankees love and need. I am not overly impressed with the pool of free agent outfielders. Jason Bay and Matt Holliday do not excite me. I don't want the Yankees to sign either of those players. I would like to see them sign someone that can compete with Nick Swisher for time in right field. Maybe Jermaine Dye?
As for the bench. This will likely be the last thing the Yankees decide on. It will depend on which players return and if they can get someone to start in right field over Swisher. Free agent utility player Mark DeRosa has been rumored as a good fit for the team. I agree. DeRosa is a player that can play all infield positions as well as the corner outfield spots. Chone Figgins has been rumored as a free agent signing. Figgins would likely replace Damon if they Yankees do sign him. Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson has also been mentioned in trade rumors. If the Yankees traded for him, they would likely try to trade Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner.
The Yankees will not be as aggressive as they were last winter but don't expect them to sit completely quiet. They will do what they need to do to fill the holes and once again make sure they have one of the top teams in the league.