How Do the New York Yankees Approach the 2011 Offseason/Free Agency Period?
We can finally close the doors on the 2010 Major League Baseball season.
The San Francisco Giants won the World Series over the Texas Rangers 4-1, and are now the current champions.
Now will begin the period where players will become free agents. On Sunday, five days after the World Series has concluded, teams can negotiate with players on the open market.
For the now former world champion Yankees, it is now time for them to re-shape and re-tool their roster for the 2011 season.
They already made their first commitment by re-signing manager Joe Girardi to a three-year deal worth about $9 million.
Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman have a lot of work to do if they are looking to continue their winning trend.
What could be on the list for the Yankees for 2011? Lets find out:
1. Re-Sign Derek Jeter
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If you really think Derek Jeter will not be back with the Yankees in 2011 and beyond, you have another thing coming.
Granted, he's going to be 36 going on 37 next season, which is the general decline of a baseball player. Especially at shortstop.
Granted, many feel that Jeter's best days at shortstop could be coming to a halt, and maybe even a new position could be in order for Jeter.
But this is still Derek Jeter we're talking here. The Yankees will not let this guy walk away.
He'll be re-signed, and he'll be re-signed quietly.
You will never hear any disputes in the media with Jeter and the Yankees, because that's not how Jeter works.
One way or another, no matter what the terms are, Jeter will be back with the Yankees, especially since he will get to 3,000 hits next season.
2. Re-Sign Mariano Rivera
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He might be 40 years old, but Mariano Rivera is still one of the best relievers out there, and can still compete at a very high level.
As far as we know, he still wants to pitch for the Yankees.
As far as we know, the Yankees still want Rivera to close games for them.
My guess is the Yankees and Rivera will go year to year with contracts and play it along, as long as Rivera wants to continue.
My guess is Rivera will want to pitch in 2011, and he'll be re-signed.
3. Re-Sign Andy Pettitte if He Doesn't Retire
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Since 2007, Andy Pettitte has been on a year-to-year basis with the Yankees.
He came back to win a championship with the Yankees, which he did in 2009.
In 2010, he started out very well, but then fell onto the D.L. for two months with a groin injury. He ended 2010 with an 11-3 record.
He bounced back to pitch well in the playoffs, so Pettitte can still perform at a high level. But the only question is, does Pettitte want to keep going?
He's put off retirement for the last couple seasons, but we know he wants to spend time with his wife and four kids.
Right now, I'd say he's 50-50 on pitching in 2011.
If Andy wants to be a Yankee, he'll be re-signed because he still provides stability to the rotation.
If he retires, that leaves a major void in the rotation, which will need to be filled.
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4. Sign Cliff Lee
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This is a must for the Yankees. The Yankees need to get Cliff Lee.
They tried to get him last winter from the Phillies, and failed. They nearly had him from the Mariners, but that backfired.
Now, nothing can stop the Yankees from offering Lee a big-time contract to get him in the Bronx.
The issue with his wife and Game 3 in Yankee Stadium can be smoothed over really easily by two things; CC Sabathia and his wife, and anywhere from $22-$28 million per season.
Despite losing two games in the World Series to the Giants, this is still a guy the Yankees need to go get. He's been one of the best pitchers in the playoffs, and will give the Yankees more depth and a more fearsome rotation.
The Yankees don't know if Pettitte is coming back. AJ Burnett has been inconsistent, and with Javier Vazquez done, the Yankees need to figure out their rotation.
Back in 2008, the Yankees made their initial offer to Sabathia on the first possible day. I expect the same thing with the Yankees for Lee.
I do expect the Rangers to try and keep Lee, but then I will expect the Yankees to drive that price up as much as they need to to get Lee. This is the guy they will do whatever it takes to get.
5. Trade Joba Chamberlain
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Joba Chamberlain's time in New York may be finally done.
Last week, WFAN's Sweeny Murti reported that he thinks the Yankees may be more inclined now to trade Joba in this offseason because they might be ready to move on from him.
I can't blame the Yankees if they are ready to move on from Joba.
He was mediocre as a starter.
He started out great, then became a terrible reliever.
He's a head case, and may need a change of scenery.
Joba was once considered untouchable, but not anymore. I think if he can be had for another bat, or even another arm in the bullpen, a trade may happen.
If I were a betting man, I wouldn't expect to see No. 62 in pinstripes next season.
6. Re-Sign Kerry Wood
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In 1998, when Kerry Wood was a rookie throwing 20 strikeouts for the Cubs, I never thought he would be pitching relief for the Yankees.
Fast forward 12 years and multiple injuries later, Wood was the setup man in the bullpen and did a phenomenal job building the bridge to Mariano Rivera.
Now, if he wants to be a closer, he might get some offers from other teams.
But if he wants to pitch for a contender, and if the Yankees want to give him a cheaper contract to continue being the setup man, the Yankees might like to have Wood back.
It all depends on what Wood wants to do.
If he doesn't mind being the setup man to the best closer ever, then the Yankees should re-sign Wood.
7. Look into Bringing Back Johnny Damon for a Year
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So.....how did Nick Johnson work out as the DH?
Not so well.
How did Lance Berkman work out as the DH?
Not so great, either.
The Yankees wanted to try to bring Johnny Damon back in August through the waiver wire, but the Red Sox blocked Damon from going to the Yankees and Rays.
Damon is a free agent again. He's unlikely to be back with the Tigers, as they are part of a youth movement right now.
Damon misses Yankee Stadium for his power numbers. The Yankees missed Damon's bat and clutch play in 2010.
He'll be 37 next season, and is still at the end of his career. But if he is willing to play part-time in left field and part-time as a DH, the Yankees should look to bring back Damon.
Hopefully this time, if this is a route the Yankees choose to explore, it's not a mess like last season's negotiations.
8. Take a Flier on Brandon Webb
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I am putting this as a backup option, mostly in case the Lee thing falls through.
Brandon Webb has had a ton of arm and elbow problems over the last couple of seasons. He's been like a ghost in an Arizona uniform.
The Diamondbacks did exercise the 2009 option on him, but I don't think they will be bringing him back for 2010.
He's still trying to re-build his arm strength and regain his pitching mechanics and motions on the mound. But for a good period of time, Webb was one of the best in baseball.
I am not saying the Yankees should go and get both Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb.
But if the Yankees don't get Lee somehow, Webb should be a backup option.
9. Find the Next Yankee Catcher after Jorge Posada
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I hate to say this, but Jorge Posada's time in New York is coming close to the end as well.
He's got one year left on his contract, and you would have to think this might be his last year in the majors anyway.
He's 40, still trying to play a grueling position and not playing it at the highest level possible.
Younger and more athletic runners on the base path are taking advantage of Posada behind the plate.
Do the Yankees forsee Jesus Montero behind the plate, or will they trade him this offseason?
They have dangled him twice, once for Roy Halladay and once for Cliff Lee. If Montero is not the long-term solution, I wonder if he gets traded in this offseason.
Is Austin Romine the future catcher? If so, the Yankees have to figure that out soon because Posada is pretty much close to the end and the Yankees need to figure out the catcher position after Posada is gone.
Is it Montero? Romine? Someone else?
We'll soon have to find out.
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