The first thing the Yankees are going to do this season is Sign C.C. Sabathia. They need a true ace which Chein-Ming Wang is not. If Sabathia actually does want to stay in the National League and signs with a team like the dodgers then the Yankees are still going to have to go and get a top of the rotation starter like A.J. Burnett or Ben Sheets (if they cant sign Burnett). They will also need to add another starter besides Sabathia maybe if they are lucky they could get both Sabthia and Burnett. But most likely scenario would be that they sign Sabathia and either resign Mussina or sign Ryan Dempster.
The next thing the Yankees need to address is thier outfield. Johnny and Hideki Matsui are aging and probably will not be around after the 2009 season due to thier expiring contracts. The Yankees should get what they can on the trade market for atleast Hideki Matsui and maybe Johnny Damon. The Yankees Should not let thier contracts expire becuase chances are they will not be type a free agents and they wouldnt get two picks in exchange. The second thing the yankees need to do to thier outfield is let bobby abreu get picked up by some other team and move Xavier Nady to his original Position in right field. In center field the Yankees should try to get experience to thier young center fielders(Melky Cabrera, Austin Jackson, and Bret Gardner). To fill in the empty spot in left field the Yankees need to sign a left fielder with a clutch bat someone that could get them farther into the post-season. There is no one better for that than Manny Ramirez.
Most Yankee fans don't want to see Manny in Pinstripes yet it makes more sense then people think. With him and Arod both chasing 600 HRS 2000RBIS and 3000 HITS( Hank aaron only player to do this) Hank Steinbrenner could make a fortune. And the best reason to put Manny in Pinstripes is to get back at the Red Sox and maybe even Curse them for another 86 Years. Manny could play left field and Dh when posada is catching and one of the young outfielders could play left field.
The last topic of concern that will be first base. The Yankees will most likely sign Mark Texiera he is a great power hitter and he grew up admiring Don Mattingly so why wouldnt he want to play for the Yankees.
Yankees 2009 Roster:
1. Austin Jackson or Bret Gardner CF
2. Derek Jeter SS
3. Alex Rodriguez 3B
4. Manny Ramirez LF
5. Mark Texiera 1B
6. Xavier Nady RF
7. Jorge Posada DH
8. Robinson Cano 2B
9. Jose Molina C
Pitching Rotation:
1. Sabathia
2. Wang
3. JOba
4. Dempster
5. Hughes or Mussina
Bullpen:
Hughes(if mussina in rotation)
Jose Vera
PHil coke
Edwar Ramirez
Damaso MArte
Set Up man:
Brian Fuentes(later closer after Rivera retires)
Closer:
Mariano Rivera
Well there you have it there is my 2009 Yankees Roster
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3 months ago
Ive heard they plan on keeping Jackson down at AAA so he can continue to hone his skills. He is expected at the majors in 2010 from my research. They dont want to rush him and hes not quite ready yet. I have a couple off the wall suggestions that arent the mainstream Texiera, Sabathia moves. How bout one of these scenarios.
Kennedy, Cano, prospects for Ichiro........read a story yesterday basically saying the clubhouse cant stand Ichiro. He would do great in pinstripes, a viable leadoff guy to boot. He deserves to be on a team that is succesful not the joke of a organization he is stuck on now. Stottlemyer could straighten Kennedy out and they need pitching. Ichiro knows quite a few Yanks from the constant All Star appearances. And from what Ive read has a great repor with many Yanks, Posada in particular. First at bat against the Yanks he tapped Jorgies schin gaurds and told him "Que Pasa", hilarious.
Hughes, Damon, Betemit, prospects for Kinsler.......to replace Cano, I wonder if Cano has the true makeup to be a Yankee after this year. Letting Hughes go could be justified by keeping Aceves in the rotation. The guy has shown some spine and ability the last month or so. Better than anything weve seen from Hughes or Kennedy this year. Kinsler is a hustler with similar if not better plate skills assuming Canos potential not this years numbers. Ill put Ransom in Betemits position any day of the week, as a bench player.
Matsui, and some combo to offer for Lincecum......Matsui expressed in interest in being traded to the giants last off season due to the larger asian population. This would involve some deep prospects or name players, Im sure Cash could get creative. Weve got some guys we havent been counting on that may prove interesting, Brackman, Sanchez. Its wishful thinking of course. I dont imagine SF would let him go though. Pitching is a hot commodity and hes one of the better ones, shouldnt the Yanks at least try? The kid is young.
Obviously these are all stretches of the imagination, but fun to think about. Maybe I should just play some fantasty baseball or something and get it out of my system. Anyway, great story sir. It should be an interesting off season. Take care.
3 months ago
Thank you I am happy someone appreciated the article. But your not totally out of your mind. I also feel the Yankees should try to get Cano out of New York he will never be able to make it as a Yankee. Your right about Austin Jackson but I still think he will have made his debut before the end of the 2009 season. When I was writing the article i didnt know about the Ichiro situation and now i do i think that it would be a good idea to make a pass at him and Linecum. Anything we can do to get a fresh start in the outfield and get rid of Matsui and Damon would be great.
from 3 months ago
Funny thing, I commented on your article earlier and not realizing it you and I have been chatting for awhile on one of mine. Came back here and realized your teh same cat. Anyway bro, great story and Im sure we could talk for hours about our Yanks. Lord knows we wont be watching any October ball with any enthusiasm. Left a note on your profile, if Im not mistaken we both live in T Town Az. have a good one man.
3 months ago
I like your article and I like your thinking. I am surprised you got Manny in there at Left and not Damon.. I don't see this happening at all, I thought about it, but that is one player I can't see wearing the interlocking N and Y. I think Moose will retire and depending on if the Yankees will grab two SP's in the off season and resign Pettitte determines Joba's role. I like Hughes in the pen, thats where I have him as well. As far as Austin Jackson goes, the guy is a talent, I see him having an Evan Longoria type of year, coming up just before May and making his debut this season. Great article.
from 3 months ago
Well personally i am not a fan of johnny damon so personally i am writing more on my hopes. But the Yankees would never pass up a chance on signing Manny Ramirez if he wants to play in New York which he does. It's a little bigger of a stretch then i want it to be because i think he would really make the Yankees good. But i guess we will have to have the worst and most expensive left fielders in the league for one more year
3 months ago
I think your definately right about the Yankees pitching. They absolutely need a true ace like Sabathia, however i dont know that he even wants to go to New York. Alot of people automatically assume anyone will come to the Yankees ( i sure would ) but not everyone is impressed by the new york scene and all the money ... not everyone can be bought. However with wang, joba, and possibly mussina or pettite adding a tandem like sabathia and burnett would be absolutely insane. As long as they stop messing with jobas arm ! Let the kid pitch!
As far as in the position players.. i think what the yankees need to do is stop acquiring older slow players like Manny ramirez and look for younger players that can run. In my humble opinion speed on the field is CRUCIAL. Tamba bay, boston, the angels, all great teams this year.. and all of them use their speed to put pressure on the defense. In reality the only true starters that can steal bases are damon, jeter, abreau, and a rod. Damon and arod have pretty impressive speed but their all getting older. Honestly i say get rid of matsui (bad knees) and to be completely honest , even though it wont happen, i wouldnt mind seeing posada go. To be honest Molina is a much better defensive catcher and threw out 50% of base runners which lead the league. Being able to stop the offensive run is more important that a nother big slow bat to me. I think if the yankees were smart theyd look to make some trades for guys like grady sizemore, nate mclouth, and mark teirxeira. brett gardner did good and has incredible speed but its hard to tell whether or not he can step up and play that big of a role ! Pitching definitely is first and foremost because if we had wang all season, and joba didnt get hurt, anddddd the fact that hughes and kennedy were a flop i think wed be in the playoffs this year
3 months ago
i love the manny signing... hes gonna hit 700 against the red sox.. manny wants nothing more than to beat the sox. how fitting is that than winning a championship with joe torre against his former team in boston than signing with the hated yankees? he'll have extra incentive to play hard to show up boston. this is story book! i hate the red sox. go yankees!
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