C.C.'s On Board, Who's Next?

The good news is that the Yankees' major, primary off-season target has been acquired. The front office put pitching at a premium and they went out and got a premium pitcher. And as expected the media is nit-picking, negative, and unenthusiastic towards the signing. Is there a journalist you wouldn't enjoy smacking around more than Mike Lupica? It's the day after and all he can say is "Johan's better". What a fucking douchebag.

Watching ESPN has become a rage-inducing pageant of smarmy talking heads shooting down the significance of that type of quality arm atop our rotation. I nearly threw my remote through the screen when Steve Phillips said Sabathia only replaces Mike Mussina. Huh? We didn't have Wang for a big part of the season, you know the 2 time 19 game winner. I don't know why I even expect an objective factual analysis anymore. I guess that's why I do this.

When was the last time the Yankees had a no shit power lefty with a 200 inning guarantee below the age of 30 anyway? Ron Guidry?

While I see the Sabathia signing as a positive, some moves on the horizon do look a tad disconcerting. First and foremost is the emergence of a trade for Mike Cameron. I definitely called this one and the Yankees home site even has a story. In it the Yankees part with Melky Cabrera. I guess that's better than the Dan Graziano piece that expects the deal to include Cabrera and pitching. Anyone who can tell me why we'd part with a switch hitting 23 year old at the league minimum in Melky and pitching for a 36 year old career .250 hitter owed who made 6.4 mill last year in Cameron without using the words "C.C. Sabathia" and "friends" should do so now. I hate this idea. Cameron lacks any upside at this point in his career and while he has 3 gold gloves on his mantle, Melky, to me, was the ultimate 4th outfielder because of his ability to play the 3 OF spots and his big arm. I don't get it, Cameron hit .243 last year. So did Melky, yet he finished his year in Scranton. Looks like you're getting the same guy for a lot more money.

Despite this Cameron mess, A.J. Burnett has emerged as the next big deal acquisition. Reports have it that several Yankee players are urging Burnett to take the reported 5 year $85 million deal the Yankees have on the table. 5 years of Burnett is a little much considering what we just went through with Carl Pavano. I think Ben Sheets at a 2 or 3 year deal is a much more prudent investment. Joba and Wang are young enough to be a part of the rotation for years. You've also got a bunch of young arms in Hughes, Kennedy, Aceves, Brackman, and Betances emerging this year or in the coming years. Burnett at 5 and Sabathia at 7 pretty much block a number of these guys' ability to be a part of the rotation -- unless of course we're operating under the assumption that Sabathia bolts in 3 years when the weight of the Zito deal isn't burying the Giants as much. We will see.

Until then, keep checking back. It's obvious the Yankees aren't done yet and both Cameron and Burnett could be on board by noon.