With Alex Rodriquez possibly missing 4 months of the season, they Yankees need all the Offense they can get. Jorge Posada isnt a lock to regain his 07 form. The Yankees cant afford to losse both Arod and Posada. 

The Clevland Indians have 2 starter worthy catchers, Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach. Their top prospect is catcher Carlos Santana. I would think they are looking to get rid of either V-Mart or Kelly. What would the Yankees have to give up in order to get one of these guys?

Regarding contracts, lets assume the Yankees trade for Kelly Shoppach. I believe he just signed a 2 yr deal. So after the 09 season, we would allow Jose Molina to leave and keep Poasada and Kelly. Soon after that we would hope our catcher prospects would be ready to take over the job.

We could trade Nady+ a prospect for Kelly.

Just an idea i wanted to share.

Now that the Phillies aquired Raul Ibanez, Pat Burrell will not return to the Phillies.

Is there any chance the Yankees turn around, and instead of signing Manny for tons of money, they sign Burrell to play some OF/DH.

Here was his stat line from last season(.250-33-86-74) also avged 108 walks in the last 2 seasons. Then agian, the struck out 136 times last season...

They guy isn't a great defender either.

Welcome A.J. Burnett. Daily News is reporting the Yankees signed him for 5 yrs, 82.5 million dollars.   Let me explain how frustrating this guy will be.   April ERA- 6.07 May ERA- 3.43 June ERA- 5.06 July ERA- 3.86 August ERA- 4.43 September ERA- 1.82   Now lets be fair here. He pitched the entire season with a missing finger nail, that nutrilized his curveball alot. Also, once he learned how to deal with it better he put up an 2.86 ERA in the second half of the year, compared to a 4.96 ERA in the first half.   Also, he is a better pitcher outdoors than indoors. 5.26-outdoors, 3.72 indoors.   Hes a much better pitcher at away games than home games. home-4.49,away 3.65.   Also, hes better off the turf than on it, 3.72 off than 4.37 on it.   The move to Ny would seem to help him, no turf,not indoors,and does that field have a dome? i think so.   Here was his stat line from last season, 18-10,4.07 ERA,231 ks, 86bb,1.34WHIP   ERA was possibly inflated due to poor 1st half due to finger, its gonna be all healed up by this yr.   Lead the AL in stirkeouts, but had lots of walks. Those walks lead to a 1.34 WHIP.( AVG# of batter on base per inning.) A guy like, oh i dont know, Ben Sheets had a 1.15.   He has always kicked A$$ agianst the Sox and Yankees,(2.88 ERA in Yankee Stadium)   while his second half was very incouraging,(8-2,105ks in 94in, only 29 walks and a ERA of 2.86) im not sold on his consistancy and his durability. His walk total is scarry, tho his second half # of bbs arnt bad,and his WHIP has to come down.   Dont forget, hes isnt our Ace, nor our 2ed pitcher, maybe not even our 3rd pitcher,(CC,Wang,Joba) he is our 4th starter. For being a 4th starter,hes pritty damn good.   If the Yankees also sign Andy, this could possibly allow Joba to stay in the pen,and then come back into the rotation in the second half of the year due to injuries.AJ provides the dominant righthander(compared to the dominant lefthander in CC) in replace/addition of Joba.   Finally, this move was  made so allow the Yankees to have dominant pitching in the post season. Wang is a good pitcher,but he can;t dominant batters without sticking them out. Aj will gets tons of ks, so will CC. A 1,2,3 punch of CC,AJ, and Joba in the playoffs can and will criple an offense. This move wasn;t totally made for the Ynakees to made the playoffs,it was made for them to win the playoffs.    

I think the best free agent option the Yankee have is Derek Lowe. Here are the reasons why we should sign him.......

1) He wouldn't be a huge commitment year wise. I understand the Yankee are trying to get a younger team, but a 3 yr deal to a 35 year old isn't too bad.

2) He is basically a younger Mike Mussina. They both had very simular stats this season. Around 150 ks, low walk total and a low WHIP. His ERA would probally be in the upper 3s. I would deffinitly take that as my 3rd or 4th starter. He has also shown good durability, and he will eat up some innings.

Derek Lowe's Stats

3) He can also handle the AL east rivalries and he can pitch in the playoffs.

4) If you are wondering why we would sign Derek instead if a C.C., A.J. or Sheets, that answer is very simple, They are too injury prone. C.C. has shown durability but with Milwalkee using him as they are, hes gonna have some arm problems. Also, Jon Garland isn't a bad option too.

5) A rotation of Wang, Chamberlain, Mussina, Lowe and any combination of Hughes,Aceaves,Kennedy,Rasner, or Andy in the fith spot, is a great staff to put out there.

Also a side note, a 2009 prediction. Robinson Cano will re-assert himself as a top teir second basemen. He will bat over .300 and hit around 20 homers.

Poll

What free agent pitcher should the Yankees sign?

64%

C.C. Sabathia

25 votes

5%

Ben Sheets

2 votes

2%

A.J. Burnett

1 votes

15%

Derek Lowe

6 votes

5%

Oliver Perez

2 votes

7%

Jon Garland

3 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed