Based on spring numbers so far (reported in the following table), as well as past performance and what we know about what Girardi and Cashman want in the bullpen, I think we should see the following seven men break camp with the Yanks:

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In seeking to fill the hole which A-Rod may soon leave in the lineup and on the diamond, I would go the following course in order, moving to the next plan if the previous doesn’t work. But I wouldn’t do anything as drastic as trading for a star 3B or someone who would want permanent, everyday playing time there now or into the future. If we acquire someone, it should be a stopgap who has defensive flexibility so we can keep using the replacement at other positions after A-Rod returns.

1.) Play Tex at 3B, Swisher at 1B, and Nady in RF every day. Tex started out as a 3B but switched to 1B when he was blocked by Hank Blalock in Texas. Maybe he could still play that position, given his defensive skills on the other corner. Thankfully, we have time now, with a month left until the season, to experiment with this.

2.) Try Cody Ransom every day. He has impressed as a Yankee. He’s athletic and plays hard, like Brett Gardner.  We could also try Cano at 3B, where he played in the minors, and Ransom at 2B.

3.) Trade for Martin Prado or Chone Figgins. They don’t hit for much power but get on base and hit for average, and Figgins is a base-stealing wizard. Both can play multiple IF and OF positions and would be outstanding bench players should A-Rod return. In either case, don’t give up a prospect too promising, like Hughes, Brackman, McAllister, Melancon, Betances, Montero, Romine, Jackson, et al.

Players I would not acquire:

Mark Grudzielanek--turns 39 in June; hasn't played at 3B since 1995; career average OBP/SLG .332/.395

Brandon Inge--last two seasons were below his dismal .237/.304/.392 career average

Hank Blalock--no longer strong defensively at 3B

Scott Rolen--deteriorating bat, would want permanent playing time

Melvin Mora--age 37

Garrett Atkins--would want permanent playing time

Adrian Beltre--would want permanent playing time, especially in his walk year, and has been playing at or below his career-average .327 OBP since he came to the AL in 2005

Mark Teahen--career-average .332 OBP, only .313 last year

Chad Tracy--non-existent bat, terrible defensively at 3B

Aaron Boone--almost nothing beats his infamous blast to left, but he no longer can hit very well and has been a journeyman since leaving the Yanks

Vote in the poll below on which of my options you would prefer.

I've started a custom roto league on Yahoo! that drafts on Friday afternoon (though that can change).  Right now, it's just my dad, brother, and I, and I'd like to have more competition to dominate.  All three of us are, naturally, Yanks fans, and more are certainly welcome, but if you know of any Red Sox fans or general baseball fans who'd like to join, particularly if you're stuck in the South or somewhere else outside the NY or Boston markets, point them our way.  Max teams is currently set at 7 but can grow if there is interest, which I hope there will be.

Not a bad suggestion from MLB Trade Rumors (in a post on the subject of the Rangers' own overstacked OF).  But what would the Rangers want for Byrd, who has been a valuable utility OF for them?  Likely a MLB-ready SP because their rotation sucks and will especially suck if they don't add Sheets (who won't pitch for anyone until at least halfway through the year anyway).  That would probably mean Ian Kennedy.  Kennedy for one year of Byrd?  No thanks.  But could we put together a lesser package?  The Rangers also have a weak bullpen, and we have plenty of those sorts of arms.  Or what about a megatrade involving either 2B/SS Joaquin Arias, either Taylor Teagarden or Max Ramirez, and Byrd?  Impossible but one can fantasize.

I'm surprised no one has posted his comments to MLB.com's Indians reporter Anthony Castrovince yet.

"When you're down, you expect your organization to pick you up, not kick you when you're down," Pavano said. "I've had to pick myself up quite a few times the last four years."

We treated him so terribly.  Every time he got ready to pitch for us, we injured him with our words and expectations.  We're sorry.  We shouldn't have expected you to actually perform and earn your millions.  Maybe if we had fellated him more in public, he would have become a Yankee star.

What a douche.