MLB Hot Stove: Bombing In The Bronx? Grading Yankees' Offseason Moves

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Is it just me, or are there any other people scratching their heads over the Yankees' personnel decisions this offseason?

This is the time of the year that the Pinstripes are supposed to re-tool for another run at another World Series crown, isn't it?

So far the Yanks have failed to sign a top-tier free agent outside of Rafael Soriano who will be paid $10 million to pitch the eighth inning in front of Mariano Rivera.

Perhaps the most telling fact about the Bronx Bombers' offseason mediocrity is the rejection of Cliff Lee when he turned down the Yankees and signed with Phillies for less money. You have to go back to 1992 to find the last time that a free agent turned down a better offer from the Yankees to sign with another team when Greg Maddux opted to sign with Atlanta rather than wear pinstripes. That's almost 20 years!

Do the Yankees make the grade with their offseason moves thus far?

Let's take a look at some of their notable offseason transactions. Then, you decide.

Re-Signing Mariano Rivera

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The Yankees had to resign Rivera, and they did with relative ease and civility. Rivera, who turned 41 on November 29, agreed to a two-year deal worth $15 million a year. That happens to be the same salary he earned the previous three seasons.

Rivera will most likely join Trevor Hoffman as the only closers to eclipse 600 career saves either late next season or early the next.

If the Yankees make a run at another World Series, keeping Rivera in New York will be the main reason why. This one move could potentially save the Yankees' season.

The only concerns I have are his age and the mileage on his pitching arm.

Grade: A-

Re-Signing Derek Jeter

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Equally important to re-signing Rivera was keeping the Captain in the Bronx.

Jeter's contract negotiations were far more messy and drawn out than they ever should have been.

Unlike Rivera, Jeter took a pay cut to remain a Yankee—he'll make $15 million in 2011 compared to $22 million in 2010. He has three years guaranteed with a player option in 2014.

Even with the cut in salary, the Yankees probably paid well over Jeter's market value to keep him. If Jeter would have tested the market, I doubt he would have signed for anything more than $10 million a year, and he would have been lucky to get more than two years with an option for 2013.

Given his age, declining production, and the fact the Yankees paid him more than he's worth at this point in his career, I'm not as high on this move as I am with Rivera.

That being said, he's earned every penny of his new contract based on past performance.

Grade: B+ 

Signing Mark Prior

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The Yankees agreed to a one-year minor league contract with Mark Prior—yes, that Mark Prior.

This would have been a great signing for the Yanks, and it would have made Yankee fans feel better about losing out on Cliff Lee—if the Yankees had a time machine and could turn back time to 2003. But they don't, and Prior hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2006.

I'm really not sure why the Yankees would even consider this move after Prior's unsuccessful stints in the minors and independent circuit.

It is just a minor league deal, but why even bother? They would have been better off re-signing Prior's former teammate Kerry Wood to another one-year deal.

Grade: F

Signing Russell Martin

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After a fast start in Los Angeles, Martin is coming off two sub-par seasons with the Dodgers who granted him free agency.

With Jorge Posada filling the DH vacancy in the Yankees lineup, Martin is projected to be the Yankees starting catcher.

While the change of scenery might just revitalize the young catcher's career, I would be very surprised if his production surpassed 65 runs, 10 home runs, and 60 RBI with a .265 batting average. The good thing is, the Yankees have plenty of pop in their lineup with the likes of A-Rod, Cano, Teixeira, Jeter, Granderson, and Swisher.

I know he's 36, but Bengie Molina is still out there. That being said, this signing is average at best considering he'll be expected to handle the majority of the catching duties. It's just not very Yankee-like.

Grade: C-

Signing Rafael Soriano

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After four seasons in Atlanta, Soriano spent one season in Tampa Bay with the Rays and recorded a career high 45 saves with a very strong 1.73 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. Those numbers were good enough to earn him a $35 million, three-year contract at the insistence of Hal Steinbrenner who overruled GM Brian Cashman.

Soriano will serve as the set-up man for the Yankees who intend to re-sign Joba Chamberlain to work the seventh inning.

The Yankees needed to strengthen their bullpen to make up for a weak starting rotation. That rotation, after CC Sabathia, gets dicey with AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes and worse with Nova and Mitre.

If Soriano can handle the pressure of New York, the Yankees will have the luxury of two premiere closers to work the eighth and ninth innings.

At $10 million in 2011, Soriano will be the game's richest set-up man. Something tells me that he'll earn it.

Grade: A

Signing Andruw Jones

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Like Mark Prior, signing Andruw would have been a blockbuster move five years ago. In some respects, it seems like it's been even longer than that since Andruw was manning center field and belting out home runs for the Braves.

He has always been prone to strike out far too often, but he has rediscovered some of his former power in the last couple years. Still, when batting .220 is seen as an improvement, nothing more needs to be said.

If Jones was still a Gold Glove caliber center fielder, I could maybe understand why the Yankees might take a look at bringing him in as a back-up outfielder, but he's not. His years of playing center field to that level have long since passed.

My concerns include his lack of plate discipline and his defensive liability in the outfield. And that is coming from a life-long Braves fan who grew up idolizing Andruw and Chipper.

I'm rooting for him to do well, but there were far better options for the Yankees to bring in if they were looking for right-handed power.

And, even though he's a lefty, Johnny Damon would have been a better fit to bring back.

Grade: D-

Conclusion

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If this was 2003 and Jeter, Rivera, Prior, and Jones were in their primes, the Yankees would be making an absolute killing this off season.

But it's 2011, and Mariano is 41,  Jeter is productive but on the decline.

Andruw Jones and Mark Prior haven't been productive players in a long, long time.

Russell Martin is a good defensive catcher, but his production has dropped each of the last two seasons. He's nowhere close to his All-Star form from 2007-2008,

Their best free agent acquisition is a $10 million set-up man when they really needed a starting pitcher or two.

Grade: C-

On a positive note for the Yankees, Tampa has seen Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Brad Hawpe, Chad Qualls, and Soriano leave via trade or free agency. The Rays did, however, make a move by reuniting former Red Sox teammates Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez to add balance and power to their lineup.

Besides, the Baltimore Orioles are still in the AL East.