Yankees Should Make Like Preston Waters and Spend Their Blank Check

At first, Mark Teixeira is 29, one of the best defensive first baseman in baseball, and a proven hitter. Sign him up and the infield is set for the next five years at least (although Jeter’s slipping play may make me revisit that statement).

In the outfield, the Yankees are already loaded with talent, but it doesn’t all fit together defensively. Ignore that, sign Manny Ramirez in left and re-sign Abreu. The troika of Ramirez, Damon, and Abreu will continue to hit well even as they age as they all have great eyes at the plate and power ranging from pretty good to ungodly. Taking a flyer on Rocco Baldelli would be good business, too.

Now the real problem, the rotation…

Right now, Joba Chamberlain and Chien-Mien Wang are the only sure things for 2009 (health permitting).

Behind those two, Kennedy, Hughes, Mike Mussina (if re-signed), Andy Pettite (if re-signed), and Darrell Rasner (if desperate) are all candidates, none ideal for a team searching for perfection at any cost.

Once again, Cashman should consult Mr. Waters.

With two of the top young pitchers in baseball available in CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, the Yankees should move quickly to sweep them up.

Then, the Yanks should package one of Kennedy or Hughes, plus Austin Jackson and other top prospects for another superstar young pitcher. Chad Billingsley, Felix Hernandez, Tim Lincecum, and Brandon Webb should be targeted here.

Finally, I’d suggest signing Mussina to a one-year deal.

That’d leave the Yankees with a starting five of:
Sabathia
Sheets
Wang
Mussina
Superstar young stud
Joba and Hughes/Kennedy

Oh, wait, that's more than five...

That's because acquiring so many elite starting pitchers would allow the Yankees the flexibility to move Joba back into a set-up role where he can once again be the dominant bridge to Mariano Rivera.

And the Yankees would still have Hughes or Kennedy to plug into the rotation should someone get injured.

That Yankees team would be among the greatest of all-time, Preston Waters would be proud, and Cashman and Steinbrenner might have the following classic exchange.

GS: OK, just tell me where the money is.

BC: I, I spent it.

GS: All of it!?

BC: All of it.

GS: How'd you spend $500 million dollars in one offseason!?!?!?!?

Juice: You must not have been shopping lately!

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