Offseason Plans Of the New York Yankees: How To Get Back To The World Series

I'm a Yankees fan. I don't want to hear about the Rangers and the Giants because I live in Jersey, so the World Series means basically nothing to me this year. So I decided to look ahead to the hot stove season and take some educated guesses at the offseason plans of who to sign, who to let go, and things like that. I'm gonna go around position by position to get a full feel for next year's team. So enjoy!

Catcher

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Mariano Rivera #42 and Jorge Posada #20 of the New York Yankees celebrate after the Yankees won 7-2 against the Texas Rangers in Game Five of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 20, 2010 in the Bronx

Posada is under contract for one more year, so he'll probably keep getting weened off catching as much as he has been. I don't know the exact numbers but I'd wager he's been catching less and less each year. Francisco Cervelli's contract is up this year, and I figure we'll resign him to something cheap for probably one more year. After this coming season I assume Jesus Montero will be big league ready, although he does have a chance to contend for a spot on the 25 man roster in spring training according to Cashman.

First Base

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Mark Teixeira #25 (C) of the New York Yankees looks on during Game Six of the ALCS against the Texas Rangers during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron

Mark Teixeira will remain firmly entrenched at first base, and Nick Johnson (remember him?) will be long gone. We have Tex till 2016, so he's not going to change anytime soon. The Yankees have a team option on Lance Berkman for either 15 million dollars or a 2 million dollar buyout. I feel like the Yankees won't want to pay the full 15 million, but they won't want to let him go either. So I'm not sure what will happen there, anybody with an opinion feel free to tell me in the comments. We'll probably get some other backup too... I suppose Ty Wigginton (a free agent) wouldn't be that much of a stretch.

Second Base

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Robinson Cano #24 of the New York Yankees bats against the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won 6-1. (Pho

Robinson Cano is under contract through 2014, so he'll be entrenched right next to Teixeira for some time. Also at second base you'll have Ramiro Pena. I believe Pena's contract is up, but he'll probably be resigned for about 400K like the past two years. 

Shortstop

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice against the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.

Derek Jeter's contract is up this year. It is going to be a major topic of discussion in the offseason. I think he'll end up getting 4 years for 100 million. I'd like to hear other people's opinions in the comments.

Third Base

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees bats against the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won 6-1. (Pho

Alex Rodriguez, signed for a long time.

Ramiro Pena can play third.

Now I'll get to the outfield which I'm sure you want to see.

Left Field

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Brett Gardner #11 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out in the third inning of Game Six of the ALCS against the Texas Rangers during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arl

It is clear to everyone that Gardner was not blessed with a rocket arm. For a center fielder, it is about average. For a left fielder it is fantastic, because everyone underestimates it. But Gardner is going to get a new contract this year, and he may finally get a contract near 1 million dollars.

Center Field

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Curtis Granderson #14 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to playing the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arl

Curtis Granderson will remain in CF for the Yankees. Not gonna lie, initially I did not like the trade for Granderson because Austin Jackson was my favorite prospect and all that. Throughout most of the season I didn't like Granderson either. Then when he finally picked it up at the end of the season and when he performed in the playoffs, I decided not to dislike him anymore. He's under contract through 2012, so he'll be there for another 2 years at least, and I expect them to resign him after it, but that's not important yet.

Right Field

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ST PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 07: Carl Crawford #13 the Tampa Bay Rays waits on deck during Game 2 of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field on October 7, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Yes, naturally I think the Yankees will sign Carl Crawford. He has always hit them well, and going by the Yankees motto "if you can't beat them, buy them" then Crawford will be in pinstripes next year. He could also play left or center field just as easily; I'm not sure exactly what they'd do with him, but Girardi would figure something out. I think Swisher will go back to 4th outfielder.

CC Sabathia

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to playing the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington

He's under contract. He's the number one starter.

Next!

Cliff Lee

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 26: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee speaks to reporters at AT&T Park on October 26, 2010 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Giants will face the Texas Rangers in the first game of the World Series on Wednesd

As with Crawford, if you can't beat em, buy em. We'll sign Cliff Lee for CC money at 7 years and 161 million dollars..ish. Cashman is still pissed about how the Mariners handled the trade at the deadline, and he wants Lee even more now that he trashed the Yankees in his game against them. The signing of Lee and Crawford will instantly make us the World Series favorites.

Phil Hughes

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Starting pitcher Phil Hughes #65 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning of Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010

Hughes is also due for a new contract. To be completely honest I'm not sure how it will work, if he can go to arbitration or not, or if he'll get another sub 1 million contract even with his 18 wins. Perhaps someone can explain it to me in the comments?

Andy Pettite

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Pitcher Andy Pettite #46 of the New York Yankees pitches during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on September 11, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

I think Andy will be back once more. He showed brilliance in the first half of the season before he got injured. He was an early Cy Young candidate, and without the injury he may have been very much in the discussion. But I think he'll come back on an incentive laden contract so that the Yankees can try for one more World Series with Andy. 1 year for 12 million sounds about right.

AJ Burnett

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: A.J. Burnett #34 of the New York Yankees adjusts his hat while playing against the Texas Rangers in Game Four of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 19, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (P

He's terrible. He's a wacko. He's a nutjob. And we're stuck with him.

Kevin Brown. Carl Pavano. Kyle Farnsworth. AJ Burnett.

And the list goes on and on and on........

Mariano Rivera

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch against the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won

Back in 2008 he got a 3 year, 45 million dollar deal... I figure he'll probably get 2 years for about 30 million this time.

The Rest Of The Bullpen

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Kerry Wood #39 of the New York Yankees gets set to throw a pitch against the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Rang

Kerry Wood has a player option, he'll probably exercise it.

Sergio Mitre will be resigned for 1 year, 1 million.

Chad Gaudin will be resigned for 1 year, .8 million.

Boone Logan will be resigned for 1 year, .7 million.

David Robertson will be resigned for 1 year, .5 million.

Ivan Nova will be resigned.

Dustin Mosely will be resigned.

Joba Chamberlain will be resigned.

Final 25 Man Roster

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: (2nd from L-R) Kerry Wood #39, Mariano Rivera #42, Derek Jeter #2, and Andy Pettitte #46 of the New York Yankees look on from the dugout during Game Six of the ALCS against the Texas Rangers during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Ran

Catcher: Jorge Posada (under contract), Francisco Cervelli (resign)

First Base: Mark Teixeira (under contract), Lance Berkman (he'll be back somehow as a DH/ 1B)

Second Base: Robinson Cano (under contract), Ramiro Pena (resign)

Shortstop: Derek Jeter (resign), Ramiro Pena

Third Base: Alex Rodriguez (under contract), Ramiro Pena

Left Field: Brett Gardner (resign)

Center Field: Curtis Granderson (under contract)

Right Field: Carl Crawford (free agency), Nick Swisher (under contract)

Starting Pitchers: CC Sabathia (under contract), Cliff Lee (free agency), Phil Hughes (resign), Andy Pettite (resign), AJ Burnett (under contract)

Bullpen: Mariano Rivera (resign), Kerry Wood (player option), Joba Chamberlain (resign), Ivan Nova (resign), David Robertson (resign), Boone Logan (resign), Chad Gaudin (resign), Sergio Mitre (resign)

Not Coming Back

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TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 29: Javier Vasquez #31 of the New York Yankees throws during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre September 29, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)

Javier Vasquez. No way he comes back. I bet he gave up a home run on that pitch.

Also Nick Johnson will not be back. Anybody who I have left out feel free to ask in the comments and I'll be sure to get back to you as quick as possible. Thanks for reading.