You’ve got a boat load of money, a new stadium, got shut out of the playoff for the first time in 15 years, and your boss’s last name is Steinbrenner.
What do you do ?
You go shopping:
The Yankees are about to go shopping again — and after missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993, they are desperate. Their pockets will be loaded with cash and they will grab at the shelves with both hands. Some combination of C. C. Sabathia, A. J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, Ben Sheets, Mark Teixeira and perhaps even Manny Ramírez will be enriched.
The Yankees are moving to the new Yankee Stadium, which will produce more revenue, and they are shedding more than $75 million from their 2008 payroll. Starting Friday, when teams can begin negotiating with other teams’ free agents, the Yankees will be aggressive bidders, using the force of their war chest, which has always been their biggest advantage.
They also have only two starters: Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain, whose innings will be limited. Andy Pettitte may return on a one-year deal, but Mike Mussina may retire. After the failure of the young starters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy last season, there are at least two rotation spots available, and room in the budget to fill them
Of all these names, the one that the Yankees really ought to focus on is C.C. Sabathia. He had an amazing summer in Milwaukee and, more importantly, a solid 3-4 year in Cleveland before that. The Yankees are weak on the mound, and Sabathia would be a great addition.
Beyond that, they need hitting and as much as it pains me to admit it, Manny Ramirez would be a great addition to the lineup. Like his former Red Sox teammate, though, he’d have to cut his hair if he came to to New York.
