First, what are the Yankees needs:

1. Outfielder

3. Starting pitcher (s)

4. Middle of the order bat/DH

After a +200 hit season, the time has come to trade Robinson Cano. Cano would have been gone after last season if he had a decent year.  Robinson srtikes me as a player that will have very good years….followed by not so good years. He has the potential to be much better, or last year could have been his career year. I say trade him while his value is high and while he’s young and affordable.

I would also seriously consider trading Chamberlain or Hughes in the RIGHT deal.  Chamberlain is in limbo, is he a starter? A reliever? What happened to the 98 MPH fastball? What happened to the steel nerves? I’m less inclined to deal Hughes, but in the right package he’s fair game.

As far as Damon and Matsui? There’s no way Damon gets 4 years if I’m the Yankee GM.  The MAX is two years with a team option for a third. That’s a lot. If Damon walks, then I am a slightly more aggressive with Matsui. Matsui gets no more than two years. World Series MVP aside, he is still an older player with very bad knees - knees, mind you, that were drained twice in a season where he never saw action in the outfield. I’m extremely cautious in signing these two players. They helped to produce a World Series Championship, so unlike Giambi, their paychecks for all their time as NY Yankees are somewhat justified.

Give the above….what are the various scenarois:

1. Trade for Halladay: The Jays will still want a lot in return. We’re talking Chamberlain, Montero, Jackson. I’m not sure I’d want to trade all those players for a guy who will be a free agent after 2010. If Halladay wants to be a Yankee, he should allow himself to be traded, play out his contract SOMEWHERE, and enter free agency for the 2011 season. So, I say don’t trade for Halladay…unless the deal is very very favorable.

2. Trade for Matt Cain: Cain had a very good 2009 season. He’s young. Fortunately, so did Robinson Cano. I would trade Cano and a pitcher not named Hughes/Joba for Cain. I think the Giants would make that deal. They desperately need offense. I made this trade over the Halladay trade because Cain is very young. You pitchers like Cain are never available on the free agent market.

3.  Trade for Granderson: No thanks.

4. Sign Mark DeRosa: Definitely. DeRosa can play second if Cano is traded, or in the outfield, or spell A-Rod at third base. Plus, it seems he would fit perfectly in the clubhouse.

5. Sign Ben Sheets: Why not? It’s just money, and probably not that much relatively speaking. His arm injury was much less severe than Tommy John surgery and he’s taken a full year off to heal and rehab. This is a smart gamble.

6: Trade for Franklin Guiterrez: Guiterrez is arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game. And hit bat isn’t bad either. Send them Chamberlain.

2010 Yankees

Rotation

  1. Sabathia
  2. Burnett
  3. Cain
  4. Sheets
  5. Pettitte (assuming he re-signs)

Line-up

  1. Jeter SS
  2. DeRosa 2B
  3. Teixeira 1B
  4. A-Rod 3B
  5. Guitteirez CF
  6. Posada DH
  7. Swisher RF
  8. Cabrera LF
  9. Cervilli C
  • This improves the center field defensive and adds some of the offense lost by Damon, Matsui, Cano.
  • Second base defense is probably weakened but offense is nearly a wash.
  • A full year of Posada due to reduced catching workload.
  • Improved catching defense due to Cervilli when he plays.
  • Cabrera moves to left field which improves the defense on that side of the outfield. Guitirrez’ coverage make Swisher defense more palatable.
  • The lineup is very flexible.  DH becomes a waystation when Posada is behind the plate: Posada catches and A-Rod/Jeter/Tex can DH. Play Pena at second base, put DeRosa in right field, sit Swisher. Swisher at 1B, Teixeira DH’s, etc., etc. Lots of options and rest for the regulars.
  • Rotation is significantly improved.
  • With no major capital committed in 2010, Yankees can make a push for Lee/Halladay and have some money left over for JETER.