
What the Yankees Should Do
by Ross Friedman
<!-- Article Starts Here --!>
The first assumption I'm going to make when discussing
the three-time defending World Champions is that they
do have some budgetary constraints. What does that
mean? They will not sign Manny Ramirez, Alex
Rodriguez, Mike Hampton, and Mike Mussina. In other
words, they have decisions to make.
Possibly the best thing that has happened to the
Yankees so far this off-season was Alex Rodriguez
announcing that he will not play for the Yankees
(although his agent Scott Boras denies that he ever
said that). George Steinbrenner was considering doing
whatever was necessary to make sure ARod didn't end up
a Met. Now, he can instead put his focus where it
should be, on signing Manny Ramirez.
Ramirez is one of, if not the best hitter in all of
baseball. He would immediately give the Yankees a
revamped lineup. The Yankees can make this move with
the $12 million being freed up from David Cone, along
with $3 million from Jose Vizcaino, $5 million from
Jose Canseco, and $1.5 million of Glenallen Hill.
If the Yankees get Ramirez for rightfield, this does
not mean they should just discard their free agent
rightfielder, Paul O'Neill. They should resign
O'Neill (at the $6.5 million price tag he got last
season) and put him in leftfield, which he stated he'd
be willing to play to remain a Yankee. They can take
a few at bats away from the aging outfielder and give
them to righty Shane Spencer. Also, having O'Neill
and Spencer in left, gives a good chance of keeping
Justice healthy by having him DH most of his games.
Of their other free agents, the Yankees need to keep
Jeff Nelson so they can keep intact the winning
combination of Stanton, Nelson, and Rivera. Then, if
they can keep David Cone for $2 million or less, and
put him in the Ramiro Mendoza role (spot start,
mid-relief), he'd be more than worth it.
The only other move the Yankees need to make for their
25-man roster, would be for a top quality number 4
starter (in other words another team's number 2
starter). They can either resign Denny Neagle, or
make a trade for someone such as Colorado's Pedro
Astacio. The Yankees can then insert their 25-year
old ready Cuban, Adrian Hernandez in the 5 spot, which
would add some needed youth to the rotation.
The Yankees should then look to get some youth into
the lineup and the organization as well. This may
happen on its own mid-season. Super-prospect Nick
Johnson may be ready to take Tino Martinez' job at
first base by the all-star break, moving Tino to the
bench.
Also, the Yankees should trade Chuck Knoblauch. If
they pay part of his salary, they can get decent
prospects in return for one of the game's premier
leadoff hitters. This would make room for highly
regarded prospects D'Angelo Jimenez and Alfanzo
Soriano to get in the lineup. Then they should trade
Ramiro Mendoza. The Yankees are not confident his arm
will hold up, but there are many teams enamored with
the righty. The Yankees could command three prospects
in return for him.
In conclusion, the Yankees should try to sign Manny
Ramrez, get a top quality number 4 starter, and add
youth to the team.
PLAN B: If they can't get Ramirez, go for Mussina
instead of the number 4 guy, still trade Knoblauch,
and try to pull off a deal for Johnny Damon.
2001 Suggested 25-man Roster:
Lineup
SS-Derek Jeter
C- Jorge Posada
CF-Bernie Williams
RF-Manny Ramrez
DH-David Justice
LF-Paul O'Neill
1B-Tino Martinez
3B-Scott Brosius
2B-D'Angelo Jimenez
Bench
C- Chris Turner
In-Luis Sojo
In-Alfanzo Soriano
UT-Clay Bellinger
OF-Shane Spencer
Starters
Roger Clemens
Andy Pettitte
Orlando Hernandez
Pedro Astacio
Adrian Hernandez
Bullpen
Mariano Rivera
Mike Stanton
Jeff Nelson
David Cone
Jason Grimsley
Randy Choate
<!-- Article Ends Here --!>
|