09' Yankees Preview: New Team In A New Home

I am no expert, but I am a huge Yankees fan that knows that things will turn around fast for the team in pinstripes.

It will be an eventful off-season for Hank and Co., as the Yankees try to forget about what might of been in 2008.

Being eliminated from post season contention for the first time since 1993 when the Toronto Blue Jays won the East, the Yankees will indeed make some changes.

Only the strike of 1994 slowed down the success for the Yankees until now, when injuries and tough competition ousted the team that is always around for the playoffs.

Derek Jeter has never missed the playoffs in his baseball career, so when he wakes up the morning of October 1st, he will be thinking about April of 2009.

"It basically boils down to we weren't good enough," Jeter said. "That's the only way you can put it. Our team didn't play well enough the whole season in order to get to where we needed to be. It's a huge disappointment. That's pretty much all you can say."

Jeter, allow me to look into the crystal ball of next years team as I move on from a forgettable season.

Pitching, pitching, pitching.  The Yankees need pitching.

CC Sabathia will be out there for the Yankees to get, and it wouldn't be in their best interest to make the same mistake as they did this season, letting Johan Santana slip away.

Depending on the acquisition of Sabathia or not, I believe determines Joba Chamberlain's role for the Yankees.  In rather he will be in the pen or in the rotation.

AJ Burnett completely destroyed the Yankees this season.  Strikeout after strikeout, they couldn't hit him at all, so he is definitely a candidate as well.

The Yankees have a lot of decisions to make for a few current players on the roster as to if they will return or not for the season in the new stadium.

Jason Giambi will be a potential free agent and has a 22 million dollar option with a five million dollar buy out. 

If they don't decide to keep Giambi, who says he want to play four more seasons, they could go grab slugger Mark Teixeira from the Los Angeles Angels, who will be a free man after this season.

Ivan Rodriguez could possibly be one and done with the Yankees as they have Jorge Posada returning from injury and they have Jose Molina who is a pure defensive gem backing him up.

With the acquisition of Xavier Nady before the trade deadline, the services of Bobby Abreu might not be needed as the Yankees outfield is a little crowded at the moment.  I wouldn't mind if they dealt Matsui for some pitching and kept Abreu. 

Abreu is in his last year of his contract and they will have to make a decision on him.

Mike Mussina may retire after his amazing comeback story of a season, winning 19, and potentially 20 wins this season, a feat he is has yet to accomplish.  He is also a free agent after this year and could resign or go out with a bang.

Another free agent pitcher for the Yankees is ace Andy Pettitte, I have a hard time thinking he will want to go out like this, so I see him rejoining the team for another run at it.

So a lot of decisions to be made and a lot of choices and directions for the New York Yankees to go.  Brian Cashman may or may not be the one helping out with these decisions as they haven't decided to bring him back yet.

Joe Girardi did what he could with the team he had this year and his job is safe for now.  Seeing Joe Torre celebrate the NL West with the Dodgers this season was a bit hard to watch, but Girardi is our guy now and I back him up 100 percent.

With all of this being said, here is what I think the lineup may look like and who could be in the rotation and bullpen. 

Keep in mind that some of this is wishful thinking and also keep in mind that I am just winging this, I don't make these decisions for a living.  Thank god, I get to sit and watch someone else make them.

Possible 2009 New York Yankees Batting Lineup:

LF-Johnny Damon
SS-Derek Jeter
RF-Xavier Nady
3B-Alex Rodriguez
1B-Mark Teixeira
C-Jorge Posada
DH-Hideki Matsui
2B-Robinson Cano
CF-Melky Cabrera

Backups:
OF-Brett Gardner
OF-Austin Jackson
C-Jose Molina
IF-Wilson Betemit
IF-Cody Ransom

Starting Rotation:

CC Sabathia, Chein-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, AJ Burnett, Mussina/Chamberlain

Bullpen:

Joba Chamberlain, Jose Veras, Phil Hughes, Phil Coke, Demarso Marte, Edwar Ramirez, Mariano Rivera

So there you have it, regardless, the Yankees will improve their team in some way or another and I can't wait until the decision making begins.

Austin Jackson is tearing it up in the minors and should be invited to Spring Training.  He should begin the season on the AAA club with a lot of potential to join the team in season, maybe pulling an Evan Longoria and coming up before May depending on if the Yanks need his services or not.

Is it April yet?