I know that I’m foolishly repeating this, however I’d much rather go into 2008 with Andy (if the Yanks can only convince him to come back!), Joba, IPK, Hughes and Mussina (with Karstens/Rasner as emergency insurance) and see how these kids develope. The Yanks can bid on Sanatana when he’s a free agent and not risk giving away a potential 1 or 2 starter, most probably Hughes.

I know it’s all about instant gratification in New York, but does no one else share with me the satisfaction of waiting a year or so in order to see these young guns become a new dominant force in the AL?

The Yankees have what, 10 or 12 great pitching prospects in the current three, plus the minors (some, of course a couple of years away), and we know that the averages say that maybe 3 in 10 will be serviceable to very good/great. So many people will say there’s no problem in trading away one of the current three now (heavens forbid two!), but how can we know for sure if the three we have up here now aren’t the 3 in 10 who will be the ones to succeed? I know, the odds are against it, but stranger things have happened. Therefore, once again, why not wait out a year and see where this goes? There are just so many more options at the end of next season. Why not see what we have in Betemit, try to sign Hunter, (make Melky the 4th OF and play two games a week while resting an Abreu or Damon), DH Matsui and make Giambi play first base till he drops. Duncan/Phillips can caddy for Jason until he does and then take turns there when he crashes for the season.

The Yanks can also take their chances in the pen with Vizcaino, Ohlendorf, Veras, Karstens/Rasner, etc and their many minor league prospects. I don’t believe there’s anyone out there worth paying, nor trading for without giving up too much. Sign Molina and use him frequently to keep PO fresh.

Giradi will keep everyone on their toes and, with a bit of luck, this could not only be a competitive team but also one primed for the future – a future which could very well be as soon 2009.

wow, a little sensitive to differing viewpoints, eh?

Thanks a lot “murphydog”, I did not know this was the equivelent of a playground and we needed to have people behind us yelling “your goin down Hugh Stacks, SJ44 is gonna destroy you!!!!” Im not trying to make him look like a fool, I just disagree with his views on past contracts and the Yankees payroll.

That’s what happens with guys who were juicing as excessively as many were over the years.

We are seeing it all over baseball. Tejada is another guy, rumored to be using, who is showing signs of breaking down at a fairly young age.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Giambi is a shell of what he was at a pretty young age. These days, fit, natural 35 year olds, can get new deals.

Giambi is like a Porsche with 80,000 miles on it. Not worth what it once was.

Pavano – - and to a lesser extent Clemens – - were the poster children for years of neglecting the farm and being desperate for pitching. That compelled the Yanks to overpay for FAs. Consistent with what SJ is talking about, Cashman has developed the farm quite well and quite quickly to avoid such desperation in the future. SJ’s absolutely right about long term contracts and, specifically, Giambi. That contract was nuts. Way too long, the subsequent steroids problems notwithstanding. Teams need to lock up talent without giving away their leverage and flexibility.

Cashman has since shown restraint wherever possible. He has held onto his talented kids (Melky, Wang, Cano), and he didn’t make the blogger driven trade of Gagne for Kennedy. He waited out Boras on Damon and got him off his 7 years and down to 4. (While I would have preferred 3 years total, 4 beats 7 by a mile). Cash even got A-Rod at a discount considering the Texas money. And assuming it ever gets to that point, the Yankees won’t give Santana a contract of such outsized proportions.

SJ’s been here a long time and makes a lot of sense. You can disagree with him, but trying to make him look like a fool isn’t working.