Yankees’ Offseason Grades and Review

New York Yankees
2009 Record: 103-59
1st place in the AL East
World Series Champions

The Yankees are set to defend their 2009 World Series title and their goal is to win another World Series to match the number on Joe Girardi’s back. 

Key Acquisitions:
DH Nick Johnson (free agent from Marlins)
CF/LF Curtis Granderson (trade with Tigers)
OF Randy Winn (free agent from Giants)
OF Marcus Thames (minor league free agent from Tigers)
RHP Javier Vazquez (trade with Braves)

Key Departures:
OF Melky Cabrera (traded to Braves)
RHP Ian Kennedy (traded to Diamondbacks)
LHP Phil Coke (traded to Tigers)
OF Austin Jackson (traded to Tigers)
RHP Brian Bruney (traded to Nationals)
DH Hideki Matsui (signed with Angels)
UTL Eric Hinske (signed with Braves)
UTL Jerry Hairston Jr. (signed with Padres)
RF Xavier Nady (signed with Cubs)
OF Freddy Guzman (signed minor league deal with Phillies)
LF Johnny Damon (free agent)
C Jose Molina (free agent)
RHP Chien-Ming Wang (signed with Nationals, pending physical)

Rich’s Yankees Offseason Review:
After a free agency spending spree last offseason, which led to a World Series title, the Yankees didn’t make any major free agent signings this offseason. Their two biggest acquisitions came through trades. They brought in outfielder Curtis Granderson from Detroit and pitcher Javier Vazquez from Atlanta. Granderson gives the Yankees a younger look and his recent power surge (30 HRs in 2009) should translate over and could be even better in the new Yankee Stadium. Vazquez, who didn’t pitch great in his first stint with the Yankees in 2004 due to injury, will be asked to be their fourth starter after a sensational 2009 season (15-10 with a 2.87 ERA in NL). You can add a full run to his ERA in 2010 and I’d still call it a successful season for the Yankees number four starter. He is an innings eater that can help give the Yankees’ top three starters, especially Andy Pettitte, some rest after a long 2009 season. If designated hitter Nick Johnson can stay healthy, he’ll score a ton of runs in the number two hole no matter how slow he is. He works walks and has a career OBP of .402. I can’t give the Yankees an A+ because I feel they not only lost power in the lineup by not retaining Matsui, but also because they lost a guy who protected A-Rod well. I can’t blame the Yankees for not re-signing Matsui since his knees are shot, but I still think he could have had another productive season, especially if he only had to play four days a week while position players DHed the other days.
Grade: A

Rob’s Yankees Offseason Review
The Yankees ended their 2009 in style with a 27th World Championship. After spending $423 million dollars the previous off-season, GM Brian Cashman was not able to reel in the top free agents as in years past. With the arch-rival Red Sox adding John Lackey to their already stellar rotation, GM Brian Cashman needed to answer back and replace the production of outfielders Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui who filed for free agency. Without the funds to spend on the free agent market, Cashman improved his squad via the trade route by trading for all-stars Curtis Granderson and Javier Vasquez. In Granderson, 28, the Yankees get a young, athletic center fielder with considerable power for at least the next three years; the period remaining on his contract. Cashman stabilized the rotation with Vasquez who who has one year and $11.5 million remaining on his contract. Vazquez enjoyed his best season in 2009 when he went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts. Now, the Yankees can go with a four man rotation in the playoffs and let Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes battle it out for the 5th rotation spot with the loser remaining as the much needed bridge to Mariano Rivera.
Grade: A-

Key acquisitions and departures via Yahoo! Sports.