Whether Giambi is DFA’d or not, the Yankees are liable for the balance of this year’s contract plus a $5M buyout pending the announcement that the team will not excercise it’s 2009 option with him.
If he’s DFA’d and clears waivers, some AL team could pick him up for the MLB minimum and at least give some relief to the Yankees toward his 2008 contract.
Juan Miranda is on the 40-man roster so he could share 1st base with Shelley for the remainder of the season or until Cashman finds otherwise.
As for Damon, if a suitor can be found after the season, the Yankees should take what they can get if not by the 7/31 trading deadline then certainly before the 2009 season.

I have major concerns about the fact that the big lefty is so BIG, but with Andy P and Moose probably moving on after this year and the questionable performance of the rookies I think that the Yanks are going to want to throw down megabucks for an ace. (and no, this is not a shot at Wanger – he is an ace too if not in the classical sense)

So bring on CC Sabathia and pray that he starts wearing his lid properly while he pitches lights out for the Yanks for 6 years at gazillions of dollars.

1. it’s insane to declare Andt Pettitte can’t pitch like a #2. he pitched well yesterday, but in bad luck. he had a few bad games recently, i don’t think that merits standing out on the ledge worrying about Pettitte!

yesterday he pitched well; had a ton of bad luck in the weird 4th inning. in baseball, that just happens sometimes.

2. it’s, uh, a tad early to say Hughes and Kennedy are not going to be “serviceable as # 4 and # 5 starters.”

and judging Cashman on retaining them – that one cannot be evaluated until future seasons; keeping Hughes/kennedy/Melky over Santana is a long-term strategic decision, you can’t base it on what happens in 2008

1 – Based on Pettitte’s recent performance, was there any reason to think he’d not step up and be a good starter?

2 – He doesn’t have a choice on Jason. He basically brought in three candidates to take time away from Jason at 1B (Betemit, Duncan and Ensberg) and none have. He tried to get creative and none of it worked out. Jason’s got his flaws, but he’s contributing more than, say, Delgado right now.

3 – Again based on their performance, there was no reason not to think they’d be inconsistent but overall average or better. Is it Cash’s fault Hughes got hurt and Ian’s been mindblowingly bad AND the #1 backup plan got hurt AND the #3 backup plan got hurt? Also, EVERYONE expected this team to score more, which would have made covering for the young pitchers a lot easier. The offense is shockingly awful.

4 – I guess he figured in a 7th inning role he’d be fine. He has been, sometimes. Also…I think Girardi has been really gung-ho on Kyle. Sometimes you have to give your manager a guy he wants.

They’ve given lots of guys lots of chances to step up, and none have. Matsui’s been hitting well, but I watched him ruin a number of opportunities yesterday and look just terrible doing it. Basically…no one is doing their job offensively, though Jeter may be turning it around. But he hasn’t been getting on base nearly enough as the 2-hole hitter. Johnny and Bobby haven’t been either. So…not enough guys on base for the bigger bats, and then when they get on base, the lineup is soft at the bottom and they don’t get driven in.

If you hopped a vw bus for haight asbury, you must be old enough to be Cashman’s Dad.