Yankees Team Report

INSIDE PITCH

The Yankees wanted to take a less aggressive approach to this offseason than last year’s, but the Red Sox might force them to rethink that approach if they get involved in the Roy Halladay(notes) derby.

A recent report in the New York Daily News had Boston ready to try to clinch a deal to acquire the Toronto ace before the winter meetings begin on Dec. 7.

In that scenario, the Yankees would have to get involved to at least drive up the price for their rivals in a trade. But there’s a legitimate question as to whether the Yankees should try to make a deal.

They made a similar move after winning a championship in 1998, sending David Wells(notes) to the Blue Jays for Roger Clemens(notes), messing with chemistry for the sake of talent.

This time, a deal would be more about how the Yankees approach their future than their present in terms of sacrifice.

At a minimum, the Yankees would need to part with Joba Chamberlain(notes) or Phil Hughes(notes). As long as the club can negotiate a contract extension with the 32-year-old Halladay, that shouldn’t be such a painful move.

Despite the potential of both young pitchers, neither comes with a guarantee, and both have questions to answer.

But the Yankees would most likely have to include a prospect who is a position player, such as outfielder Austin Jackson(notes) or catcher Jesus Montero.

The club’s goal has been to get younger and curb spending after throwing nearly a half-billion at top free agents last year.

Still, it’s a difficult choice, as Halladay could swing the balance of power in the AL East for at least the next year or two.

While the Yankees are right to worry about locking up too many players to long-term contracts and bog down the roster with aging players, they will have to consider the immediate gains as well.

NOTES, QUOTES

—OF/INF Shelley Duncan(notes) cleared waivers and declared himself a free agent rather than accept an assignment to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Duncan, 30, seemed as if he would fit into the Yankees’ plans a few years ago when he hit seven home runs in 74 at-bats and helped in a playoff push in 2007. But he struggled in 2008 and saw only spurts of big-league action in 2009, despite earning the International League MVP award this season with 30 home runs and 99 RBIs.

• LF Johnny Damon(notes) has a pattern of enjoying himself when with a strong team, but also showing the ability to disconnect, and the veteran indicated he could do that again if necessary this offseason. Damon told reporters recently he would like to return to the Yankees, but he would be prepared to move on. “I would love to come back here to New York, but I also know other teams are calling to have me go and help them win a championship,” Damon said. “I’ve loved my time here. Hopefully it’s not over, but we just have to wait and see what New York comes to offer.” The Yankees aren’t expected to offer more than a two-year deal, and Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, has let it been known he’s seeking four years.

• LHP Andy Pettitte(notes), DH Hideki Matsui(notes) and LF Johnny Damon will have first priority as the Yankees go about their offseason business, general manager Brian Cashman recently told reporters. “I’ll talk to our guys first,” Cashman told reporters at a screening of the 2009 World Series DVD. “After I have my conversations with our guys, I’ll be full-blown into the marketplace.”

• OF Austin Jackson potentially could be in the mix in 2010, as general manager Brian Cashman named him as an option if LF Johnny Damon leaves via free agency. Cashman pointed to the Yankees’ ability to bring in young talent such as 2B Robinson Cano(notes) and CF Melky Cabrera(notes) the last few seasons, but also said getting younger without improving would not work. “You always want to get younger, but only with the idea of getting better,” he said. Jackson, the club’s top position player prospect, hit .300 and stole 24 bases but also struck out 123 times while hitting only four home runs last season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Most likely, the Yankees would prefer to bolster their outfield with Damon or another veteran while giving Jackson another year to develop.

• RHP Roy Halladay is reportedly a prime target of the Red Sox this offseason, which obviously should at least make the Yankees take a little more notice. The Yankees have mostly been playing it slower than last year regarding major moves, but if Boston presses Toronto to make a deal for the ace, the Yankees could get aggressive with a counterproposal to at least drive the price up for the Red Sox, if nothing else. The Yankees are thought to be reluctant to part with position-playing prospects such as CF Austin Jackson or C Jesus Montero, who could each play big roles in the not-so-distant future. They do have plenty of pitching chips to dangle, and a deal for the Toronto ace would most likely necessitate trading either RHP Phil Hughes or RHP Joba Chamberlain.

• 1B Mark Teixeira(notes) finished second and SS Derek Jeter(notes) third in the AL MVP race won by Joe Mauer(notes). The Minnesota catcher was nearly a unanimous selection, with only one first-place vote surprisingly going to Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera(notes). Teixeira earned 225 points and Jeter 193.

By The Numbers:   3—Yankees who finished in the top 10 of the AL MVP voting. 1B Mark Teixeira finished second, SS Derek Jeter third and 3B Alex Rodriguez(notes) was tied for 10th.

Quote To Note:   “We spent a lot of money (last) year. We’re not going to spend as much this year.”—GM Brian Cashman, to the New York Post, on cutting spending after a $423.5 million splurge on LHP CC Sabathia(notes), 1B Mark Teixeira and RHP A.J. Burnett(notes) last winter.

ROSTER REPORT

The Yankees completed the mission clearly marked by the jersey number on their manager’s back and secured their 27th World Series title. Legacies were either altered or added to as manager Joe Girardi, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia won their first championship in their respective roles, and the quartet of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera(notes), Jorge Posada(notes) and Andy Pettitte won their fifth. Now they begin the job of going for No. 28 and will face several tough choices as they plan for the defense of their title.

Biggest Needs:   While the Yankees were able to escape with a three-man rotation in the postseason, they need more depth next season. As long as LHP Andy Pettitte wants to return rather than retire, the club could plug him in again. The Yankees also will hope to see more consistency from RHP Joba Chamberlain in his first full season without innings limits, and they will try to move RHP Phil Hughes back to the rotation. They must decide whether to take a gamble on RHP Chien-Ming Wang(notes) or if they should try to deal for a top starter. The absence of Hughes in the bullpen could create a need for another setup man. The team also will have to decide what to do about free agents LF Johnny Damon and DH Hideki Matsui as it tries to maintain its offensive firepower.

Free Agents:   LHP Andy Pettitte, LF Johnny Damon, DH Hideki Matsui, RF Xavier Nady(notes), C Jose Molina(notes), INF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr.(notes), INF/OF Eric Hinske(notes), OF Freddy Guzman(notes), RHP Josh Towers(notes).

Pettitte most likely will be invited back as long as he doesn’t retire and the sides can agree on a one-year deal. It gets a little more dicey with Matsui and Damon, whose offensive strengths are countered by their age and increasing lack of versatility, but one could come back if the Yankees don’t decide to splurge on a Matt Holliday(notes) or Jason Bay(notes). Nady could be a low-cost option to strengthen the offense, especially if the club does not ask Matsui back. Molina’s value as a defensive catcher could fetch him another deal, but the emergence of rookie Francisco Cervelli(notes) could lead the Yankees to say goodbye to the veteran. Guzman and Towers elected to become free agents after they were removed from the 40-man roster.

Arbitration-eligible:   RHP Brian Bruney(notes), OF Melky Cabrera, RHP Chad Gaudin(notes), RHP Sergio Mitre(notes), RHP Chien-Ming Wang.

This time last year, Cabrera had lost his job and was considered likely trade bait, but now he should be a no-brainer to return after providing several clutch hits in 2009. Bruney has had an up-and-down time with the Yankees, but with RHP Phil Hughes expected to return to the rotation, he could be another option for the bullpen in 2010. After a poor 2009 and facing injury rehab that should last into the 2010 season, Wang has told reporters he wants to be back, but he likely will be non-tendered, and the Yankees will try to sign him cheaply, if at all. Gaudin proved his value in 2009 as a solid starter or middle reliever and should be invited back.

In Limbo:   RHP Sergio Mitre, RHP Ian Kennedy(notes).

Mitre was a serviceable pitcher during a rough patch for the rotation, but the Yankees would like to upgrade if possible. Kennedy could provide that upgrade after an injury-plagued 2009. The young starter had been part of the 2008 rotation, but he struggled and was demoted. He ended up making a late comeback in ’09 from an aneurysm and got some big outs in a key game against the Angels in the regular season.

Medical Watch:  

RHP Mariano Rivera (sore rib cage) revealed after the World Series he had pitched throughout the Series with pain suffered in the AL Championship Series. Rivera said the discomfort was “manageable.”

RHP Chien-Ming Wang (right shoulder surgery in July 2009) doesn’t expect to pitch minor league rehab games until April or May.

OF Xavier Nady (Tommy John right elbow surgery in July 2009) is expected to be ready for spring training.