As the Yankee brain trust gathers in Tampa, there’s a lot more to worry about than just the future of Joe Torre:
Say this much for the 2008 Yankees: They know who their shortstop will be and a few of their starting pitchers. Derek Jeter, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Chien-Ming Wang are comfortably in the fold.
Identifying the other 21 roster spots, and reinforcements, and a manager to guide them all? It makes for a lengthy agenda when the Yankees’ executives convene in Tampa, Fla., probably starting tomorrow morning but possibly beginning tonight.
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Because of their high payroll, the Yankees could retain almost all of their players from this season, when they won 94 games and scored 968 runs, the franchise high since 1937. But free agency means free choice, as General Manager Brian Cashman likes to say, and there is only so much the Yankees can control.
They have made it clear that they want to retain third baseman Alex Rodriguez, catcher Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera, all potential free agents. They were pleased with right fielder Bobby Abreu, and though some debate how valuable he is, Cashman loves him, and his $16 million option seems reasonable.
Starter Andy Pettitte has a $16 million player option. Other free agents include starter Roger Clemens, first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, relievers Ron Villone and Luis Vizcaíno and the backup catcher José Molina.
And the Yankees are sure not to be the only ones interested in a free agency roster as talented as that. More importantly, though, more than one of the names on this list has expressed the opinion that they might not be interested in staying with the Yankees if Torre isn’t there. The Steinbrenner brain trust would do well to remember that this week.
