Both Andy and Derek showed last night what Yankee baseball is all about.

There’s no question that Pettite gets the nod over Mussina. He’s better, he’s 3 1/2 years younger, he’s a longer-term Yankee and he’s left handed.

Abreu is not as consistent or productive as Giambi (it’s close), but he can play the OF (sorta) and is 3+ years younger. I’d lean towards whichever will come back at a discount, and that’s more likely to be Giambi but frankly I’m not incluned to bring either back.

Signing Teixiera makes re-signing Giambi insane since both Damon and Matsui will need significant games at DH. If the Yanks can’t (or wont) sign Teixiera then Giambi’s return becomes much more likely. Abreu should be replaced by a RH bat one way or the other.

As far as bringing Pettite back or not, $16 million is a premium annual rate but a very good pitcher deserves a premium when he is willing to go year to year. I’d rather pay Pettite $16 million for one year than guarantee a lesser pitcher $35 million over 3 years. You can make a case that they need to bring him back. You can look at Mussina and say based on what he’s done they need to bring him back. You can look at Giambi and say based on what he’s done they should look to bring him back at a reduced cost. You can argue that Abreu on a 1 to 2 year contract would be a good re-sign based on what he does for ARod hitting ahead of him, his decent arm and defense (other than his shyness around the wall), and greater power this year. But the problem with that is that you’d also be very right in saying that the team needs to get younger so it doesn’t all add up.

I’m assuming Cashman will be back and will make these decisions. I trust that he will do the right thing and balance the over-arching goal of getting younger with keeping talent on short term contracts if there isn’t a ready, reasonable cost, younger talent to replace them.

What I said

Yeah, theres a chance him or Damon(hope not) get traded at the deadline. Doubtful, but still a chance

What Aaron said

david robertson supporter who said they were trading matusi or damon? u got a lil inside we don’t know about in ure GM training ?? they arent leaving..

Hmmm I guess he didnt pass reading as a kid.

The Yankees drafted Phil Hughes with the draft compensation for Pettitte signing with Houston, so it wasn’t a complete loss.

“Too much dependence on young pitching will kill you, as this season has shown.”

Nope, the injury bug is what has kileld the Yankees. Look at oakland. Their entire rotation is young pitchers and that is the strength of the team. Look at Boston with lester and Masterson and now Buchholz is coming back. Sure kennedy and Hughes were pretty awful, but that in no way means relying on some young pitchers is a bad idea. It’s actually a necessity since veteran pitchers are way overpaid.

As for Moose possibly in the HOF, wouldn’t the HOF put him in as an Oriole? That is where he did his best work. or do you think they would let him choose between Baltimore and New York?

All of these Junior GMs declarations about not bringing X player back for this amount of money is rather funny to me. The Yankees are going to do whatever it takes next season to improve this team’s chances and so far re-signing Pettitte next season appears to be the right move. Too much dependence on young pitching will kill you, as this season has shown.