Yankees brass heading back to drawing board

10/19/2005
They didn't know until yesterday that manager Joe Torre would stay. They are still waiting for GM Brian Cashman to tell them whether he is packing his bags or not. And they will be watching the World Series for the second straight year.
This is the dire state of the Yankees.
The Braves can make 14 postseason appearances, win only one Series and call their run a dynasty. The Yankees can make the playoffs 11 years in a row, capture six pennants, win four World Series in five years and be called Bronx Bums.
So what's owner George Steinbrenner to do? Increase his payroll to $2.03 billion? Buy every free agent on the market? The Yankees already have $144.5 million committed to 11 players for next season, but they won't raise their $203 million payroll. They will also make a serious attempt to get younger, knowing that their average age of 33.7 made them the oldest team in baseball.
While Steinbrenner and his mouthpiece Howard Rubenstein, Cashman and Torre declined to discuss plans for themselves or the Yankees, top team officials, who did not want to be indentified because they don't want to be fired, laid out their plans. Their top 10 objectives:
1. Get a center fielder: The Yankees would love to get the Twins' Gold Glove center fielder, Torii Hunter. The Twins, who will listen to offers for Hunter this winter, can have Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and anyone in the bullpen outside of Mariano Rivera.
The Yankees will do virtually anything it takes to land Hunter, knowing that he not only will catch everything from Monument Park to Battery Park, but he will also become a much better hitter with protection in the lineup. Yankees scouts have told Steinbrenner that free agent Johnny Damon simply is no longer a good defensive center fielder. Let the Red Sox spend $50 million to keep him. Milton Bradley of the Dodgers has also been mentioned in the Yankees' inner circles. If they don't nab Bradley, they might take Angels center fielder Steve Finley and the $7 million on his contract. The Yankees have also talked about trading for Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre.
Bernie Williams won't return, not even in a part-time role. The Yankees simply don't want him around, knowing that Torre would start playing him every day.
2. Sign Hideki Matsui: Corner outfielders are easier to find than center fielders, but Matsui has been a rock in this lineup. He is batting .297 and averaging 23 homers and 110 RBI over three seasons. He becomes a free agent Nov. 15, but the Yankees won't let him escape. They have already offered him a three-year, $31.5 million deal. They're not going to be outbid.
3. Shore up the bullpen: Rivera needs help. The Yankees plan to bring back Tom Gordon, ignoring talk that he wants to close. But Felix Rodriguez and the rest of the middle corps are gone. The Yankees want to bring in Orioles free agent B.J. Ryan and at least two others.
4. Get a defensive first baseman: Jason Giambi, who looked a whole lot like the Giambi of old from an offensive standpoint, will stay on as DH. But the Yankees need someone who can play defense at first. Once upon a time, they had a guy named J.T. Snow. If Snow wants to trek East, the Yankees will gladly have him back. If not, they'll try to acquire Lyle Overbay from the Brewers or take John Olerud from the Red Sox.
5. Find a backup catcher: Jorge Posada can't be productive when he catches more than 110 to 120 games. The Yankees need a bona fide backup, and they're not talking about John Flaherty. Would it surprise anyone for them to grab a free agent such as A.J. Pierzynski, who can DH on the days he doesn't catch?
6. Hire a pitching coach: The Yankees need a strong-minded pitching coach who can handle New York. Don't you think Steinbrenner would love to have Dave Righetti from the Giants? If not Righetti, they've talked about another former Yankees lefty, Ron Guidry. And if not an ex-Yankee, Braves guru Leo Mazzone and Joe Kerrigan top the list.
7. Hire a bench coach: Joe Girardi likely is gone, unless he's promised the Yankees job when Torre eventually gets bounced. The Yankees need an energetic man who has managerial experience whom Torre can trust. (No, it won't be Lee Mazzilli.) Former Red Sox managers Grady Little and Jimy Williams would be ideal candidates.
8. Acquire one more starter: The Yankees have seven starters: Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Shawn Chacon, Chien-Ming Wang and Aaron Small. But each had injuries in the past year.
The Yankees believe that Indians starter Kevin Millwood, who averaged 18 pitches an inning but was saved by his bullpen, can't handle New York. And A.J. Burnett reminds them too much of Pavano, a guy who can win in the NL but is shaky at best in the AL. They'll look around, but the Yanks won't get a marquee name.
9. Find a younger Gary Sheffield: The veteran outfielder is 38 and in the last year of his contract. The Yankees worry about his aching shoulder. Yet, how can they replace his production of 34 homers and 123 RBI last season?
10. Find a prized infield backup: The Yankees' biggest fear is that shortstop Derek Jeter will get hurt. Alex Rodriguez could slide over from third, but there's no one to replace him. Neifi Perez of the Cubs would be a perfect fit. And, although the Yankees worry about Nomar Garciaparra's defense, don't you think Steinbrenner would love to have a rejuvenated Garciaparra?
The Yankees will be back. And, once again, they'll be the team to beat in the AL East. But this is Steinbrenner. Every winter following a failure to win the Series is a crisis.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/