tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Yankee News….Or Lack Thereof!!!!

Well as we enter into the third day of the Baseball Winter Meetings, the New York Yankees have yet to make any additions to a team that won the American League East but didn't make it out of the Divisional Series. Some will say they don't need to do anything. They won 97 games last year, best in the American League. But in the end it meant nothing because they couldn't get by Detroit.

Brian Cashman says that it doesn't seem like the Yankees will be doing anything at this point. The asking price for free agent pitchers is too high. As far as a trade goes, the Yankee GM believes that teams are asking for too many of the Yankees prize prospects. So what does that all mean??

Well, let's start with the positional players. It would appear that the starting 8 will be the same. No major changes however there is always a concern about injuries when you are dealing with late thirty-somethings like ARod and Derek Jeter. More than likely both will have to DH throughout the season which will mean that Eduardo Nunez will have to fill in. I like Nunez offensively, but defensively not so much. The kid will have to improve if he is to be the shortstop of the future.

By putting Jeter and ARod at DH, this would appear to take at-bats away from Jesus Montero. The Yankees truly need to find out if this kid can be a major league catcher. If he can't, then they need to find another place for him in the field. They can't afford to have a 22 year old DH when they have a long term commitment to a 37 year old Alex Rodriguez. ARod has 6 more years on his contract. I don't see him playing third base at the age of 40. I'm not saying Montero can play third but if he can't be a major league catcher how about the outfield.

The Yankees have a problem with their starting eight. They are aging, particularly on the left side of the infield. In addition, is it realistic to expect that Curtis Granderson is going to have the monster year that he had in 2011??? Who will pick up that slack??? It should be ARod and Mark Teixiera. That's what they are getting the big bucks for: to carry this team on their backs. There has been a lot of criticism of Nick Swisher and his playoff performances. But Swisher was not acquired to carry this team in the playoffs. He was acquired in a trade for Wilson Betemit. He was not a high impact, highly paid free agent. He was brought in to do exactly what he has done. Contribute 20-25 HR's and 80-100 RBI's. The same can be said for Curtis Granderson. He was acquired in a trade to provide speed, defense and occasional power. I don't think Brian Cashman was expecting 40 HRs and 110 RBI's. The guys who are suppose to do that is ARod and Teixiera.

I have gone over and over the pitching situation. They need to get another starting pitcher. If they don't, it will be another early exit in October.