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Like most off seasons, the Yankees seem to garner most of the headlines. As well they should, they do have the largest resources and, most likely, the largest contingent of fans that both love and hate them in all of sports.

This year they have made big splashes with trades rather than free agent signings. Trading for Curtis Granderson and Javier Vazquez have been the two biggest trades of the Hot Stove League. On the surface, these trades look like they will benefit the Yankees to no end. But do they?

The Yankees are losing Johnny Damon (so far) and Hidecki Matsui. Last year, Nick Swisher was their fourth or fifth outfielder, as of now, he is a starter. Last year, Brett Gardner was the Yankees 25th player, as of now, he is a starter. Sure, things can change quickly, and the Yankees can go out and buy or trade for another cog in their outfield, but here, is where we are.

Granderson is a better fantasy player than real player. He can electrify at times with the talent to run and hit for power. Damon and Matsui were big time players who have shown themselves in the spotlight. If you were to ask a Yankee fan, who they would want up in a 2-2 game with two on and two out vs. Okajima in the eighth, Granderson would come in a poor third between the three.

Granderson has not learned to hit lefties. Most likely, he will face more lefties this year, then at any time in his past. A true test for him.

Vazquez has been a Yankee before and failed. He has gotten some years on him since, so maybe the experience won't be as unpleasant the second time around. There are pitchers that could have been better fits for the Yankees. Although Vazquez numbers cannot be questioned, he has never been noted as a big game pitcher.

Vazquez would have been a great fit for a myriad of teams, not the Yankees. A stud on most teams, Vazquez turns into a very good innings eater in the A.L. East.

As of now, the Yankees go into next year offensively with no qualms at 1b, 2b, 3b, or cf. They have a shortstop who offensively shows no signs of slowing down, but defensively has lost a lot of range. An outfield that would rank low, even when compared to mere mortal teams, and a catcher that is defying old age.

Phil Hughes is a key to the Yankees future. He has the stuff to pitch out of the bullpen and start. We'll see if the Yankees "Brandon Morrow" him into being a shell or give him a defined role.

Putting on the GM's hat for a minute, signing Duchscherer or even Pedro and keeping both Hughes and Joba in the pen may be their best bet.

In the end, the Yankees will be a force, of course.

With the gains of Granderson, Vazquez, and Nick Johnson, on paper, they have offset the losses of Damon, Matsui, Cabrera, Wang, and Bruney. On the field, they still have work to do.

Say what you will about the Yankees, but they do make the off season more tolerable.

Enjoyable read and interesting analysis. The Yankees have been analyzed to death. In my mind, the durable and potentially dominant fron 4 of CC, AJ, Pettite and Vaz make up for many weaknesses. I disagree on Grandy being a better fantasy player. He had a bad year last year but if youve seen him play when he is going well, the ball jumps off of his bat and he is a game breaker with his aggressiveness/speed combo.



How about some roto-specific topics such as who starts in A's OF? Does REimold have a starting spot or does he have to fight off Scott and Pie? Who is Bost #5 sp? Who are Tor's starting 5 and what do they do with Morrow?

nice try dough- and i hope you are right but other than the pressure issue- the yanks got younger and better. i still think they grab another outfielder and my sense is they know a lot about matsuis' knee that we don't. the pressure can be adjusted to- and at some point you need to find out if someone can handle it. if they get to the post season- they can pitch vazquez out of the bullpen. they have now got the formula that works- 6 innings from the starters and 3 studs coming out of the pen. since sabathia and vazquez are studs when it comes to innings pitched they won't need to overwork the bullpen. the fact that aj, cc and javy miss a lot of bats helps the d out some. yes the d needs to improve- but i would be riding jeter for as long as i can- the guy is a winner. damon will be a loss- but the list of teams willing to pay him those $ is getting pretty short. cubs? giants? red sox? angels? phillies? dodgers? mets? have i left anyone out? might not happen

Originally posted by Schwks:

Enjoyable read and interesting analysis. The Yankees have been analyzed to death. In my mind, the durable and potentially dominant fron 4 of CC, AJ, Pettite and Vaz make up for many weaknesses. I disagree on Grandy being a better fantasy player. He had a bad year last year but if youve seen him play when he is going well, the ball jumps off of his bat and he is a game breaker with his aggressiveness/speed combo.



How about some roto-specific topics such as who starts in A's OF? Does REimold have a starting spot or does he have to fight off Scott and Pie? Who is Bost #5 sp? Who are Tor's starting 5 and what do they do with Morrow? Reimold fighting off Pie?



Really?



I'm still not sure that Pie is a AAAA player. Reimold showed more promise in his first month than Pie has in three different tries in the Bigs. No contest.

orioles outfield= scott is the best hitter, pie is the best fielder. riemold is second in both (maybe). man- if you stuck tb or even the orioles or blue jays in the nl- they are contenders. in the east- kind of a waste.

Originally posted by headhunters:

orioles outfield= scott is the best hitter, pie is the best fielder. riemold is second in both (maybe). man- if you stuck tb or even the orioles or blue jays in the nl- they are contenders. in the east- kind of a waste. If I'm Nick Markakis I'm taking some major issue with the above statement. perhaps you were just discussing the leftovers...even still, you are missing one more pretty good hitter and fielder.



The O's O could be pretty filthy.