While neither player is a star, they could both fill in when someone needs rest or gets injured, and the Sox would hardly miss a beat.
Even more important for the Red Sox, however, has been their ability to build one of the deepest rotations in baseball.
Last season, without Curt Schilling and with a struggling Tim Wakefield and Clay Bucholz, Boston seemed to only have three quality starting pitchers down the stretch. Instead of spending big money to bring in one starter, the Sox went out and signed Junichi Tazawa, Brad Penny, and John Smoltz to relatively cheap deals, giving the Red Sox eight potential starting pitchers heading into the season.
Although Penny and Smoltz are injury risks, they are quality pitchers when healthy and are not needed by Boston to be aces. Instead, they will be back of the rotation guys who may not even end up starting in the playoffs if the Sox are able to get back, but will certainly help them throughout the long and grueling season.
According to a number of sources, negotiations between the Yankees and Andy Pettitte went south when Pettitte rejected a one-year, $10 million deal that Brian Cashman and New York offered.
What I don't understand is why, assuming that Pettitte doesn't return, the Yankees wouldn't want to take a page out of the Boston playbook and use that money to sign another starter or two, or a starter and a fourth outfielder.
Despite the number of players who have already changed locations this offseason, there are still a number of free agents who are available and could be signed at a relatively cheap price considering the current market.
As far as starting pitchers go, the Yankees might be wise to use some of that $10 million on someone like Jon Garland, Randy Wolf, or Braden Looper. Any one of them could help out as the No. 5 starter until Hughes proves he is healthy and ready to win or could stay in that role for the whole season.
The Yankees did make one move to bolster their bench, signing former American League Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa, but there are a number of players that they could acquire at a low price who may prove to be very valuable down the stretch. These hitters include Eric Hinske, Gabe Kapler, Rich Aurilia, and Craig Counsell.
It is unlikely that the Yankees will do too much to alter their lineup before Opening Day, as they have already exhausted the majority of their financial resources for this offseason.
New York could acquire a starting pitcher by trading either Nady or Swisher, and still could make a trade for a center fielder, with the main name that has been discussed being Mike Cameron. In addition to these moves there is the potential that Cuban defects Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez, a pitcher and center fielder who are currently working out in New York, could end up signing with the Bronx Bombers.
If the Yankees do anything, though, it should be to follow Boston's lead and take advantage of the current market, signing a number of players at lower cost to build a more complete 25-man roster. Until they do, it is hard to project that a team as susceptible to injury as New York will be able to catch the Red Sox or Rays, even with their significant upgrades.
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