If TEX is willing to sign a contract within the 7-year max, Yankees should sign him as well.

If Moose is retiring, Yankees should consider signing Pettite to 1-year deal with $9MM plus incentives.

Sign Marte to 2-years with $5MM/yr.

With these moves, the Yankees will have the following look:

Rotation:
1) CC (30 starts and 200 IP)
2) Wang (30 starts and 200 IP)
3) AJ (30 Starts and 200 IP)
4) Moose or Pettite (30 Starts and 180 IP)
5) Joba + Hughes (Each with 140 IP and 22 Starts)

Bullpen:
Closer: Rivera
Setup-1: Brueny
Setup-2: Veras
Setup-3: Marte
Others: Coke, Ramirez, Aceves

Batting Order:
1) LF-Damon
2) SS-Jeter
3) 3B-A-Rod
4) 1B-TEX
5) 2B-Cano
6) C-Posada
7) RF-Nady
DH-Maztui
9) CF-Gardner or Cabrera

I asked this earlier in the week. Who would be more successful in the a.l.? Sheets or Peavy(assuming Sheets would stay healthy). If its even a question. Why not go after sheets and save the players you were about to trade for some other need? I still think we could sign Penny for an incentive laden deal. Also dont like to get Peavy if he has publicly stated doesnt want to come to ny.

If they were to do that, the last person they would move is Cano. He’s not a guy who can play first base.

Given the fact they are trying to rebuild his swing and get him back to being an effective all around player, why would they move him to a position he has never played in his life?

All that would do is screw him up more.

All indications are they will acquire a first baseman this off-season.

Only question (besides who) is will it be via trade or free agency?

if he is, i don’t want him.
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Lol…Derrick is his rugged looking younger brother

Its all about having options. Fortunately, the Yankees have several good options to go with this off-season.

Clearly, Sabathia is #1 on their list.

However, if the following scenario takes place:

Manny signs with the Dodgers (taking the Dodgers out of the CC mix), and CC signs with the Angels (taking them out of the Tex mix), I could see the Yankees doing a Tex/AJ/Lowe trifecta.

That would accomplish three things:

1. Fill the need at first base and keep Tex away from Boston and Baltimore.
2. Give them a guy (AJ) that half the guys on the team want Cash to sign.
3. Give them a proven innings eater (Lowe) in the #4 spot in the rotation as well as fulfilling Cashman’s goal of acquiring 2 starters for the rotation.

Given the fact that it seems Pettitte is returning, the Yankees know they have one lefty in the rotation. Perhaps, that changes their wish list a bit. Or, at least the timing of everything.

No matter what though, it seems everything the Yankees will do this off-season starts with CC Sabathia’s decision.

Whatever he decides and (perhaps more important) when he decides it, looks like it will start the merry go round on the off-season plans.

Buster Olney had mentioned it in October and it was revisited today by another pundit (I don’t recall whom). Olney focussed on this move as shoring up the interior defense….Wang would be happy.

Given his occasional displays of real power and his performances in 06 and 07, he “should” be in the 25+ home run range, with 100+ ribbies (if in other than the 8 hole) and perhaps .320……certainly enough offense for an first baseman.

Again, that’s if they can’t/don’t get Tex. My personal preference (assuming no Tex) would be a good young genuine 1B such as Votto, or Chris Davis but that appears unlikely.

if he is, i don’t want him.

I will pray that it remains nothing more than that since Derek Lowe couldn’t be Lower on my list of “please God nos”.