Not a bad winter so far, but the Yankees still have a lot of work to do. No matter how promising their young arms may be, if they are counting on significant contributions from Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy, they will be in a precarious position.

If the season were to start right now, their rotation, as near as I can tell, would consist of one proven pitcher (Wang), one who seems to be running on fumes (Mussina), and then a mix of very young pitchers (Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Clippard, Karstens, et al) plus a couple of wild cards (Pavano, Igawa). Plus, even with the re-signing of Rivera, the bullpen is extremely thin and youth-dependent.

Sometimes, as with the 2006 Tigers and the A's of the early 2000s, this works out fine. More often, you suffer through growing pains and subject your young pitchers to a significant risk of injury. (It'll also be a tougher task in the Yankee spotlight than it is in the small-market, low-expectations arenas of a Detroit, Oakland, or Minnesota).

The Yankees have to find more pitching somewhere, or 2008 could look a lot like 2007: lots of regular season wins by slo-pitch softball scores, and a quick flameout in the playoffs.

One problem that jvwalt doesn't mention explicitly: the three young pitchers will be on short leashes as far as total innings go. The Yankees will have to have another starter in the mix even if those three kids pitch well.
Still, the situation for Bomber fans is sure looking a lot better than it looked two weeks ago. Now Cashman can either hold onto the prospects and still have a decent shot at the playoffs in 2007, or else he can deal some for a stud. Before the A-Rod signing it looked like a write-off season, or else the sacrifice of some good young players for Miguel Cabrera, still leaving them pretty clearly worse than the Red Sox.

"plus a couple of wild cards (Pavano, Igawa)."

I thought Pavano was out for next season as well, coming off of TJ surgery?

I'm a bit disappointed that over the past 5+ years it seems like the Yankees haven't been able to acquire any pitchers who have been good for them (thinking Johnson, Pavano, Weaver, Brown, Vazquez, and others). At least they can still grow them at home, I guess.

Any idea why the pitching acquisitions have seemed so poor for the Yankees?

It's remarkable that the Yankees pitching is expected to improve when last year they signed two free agents to be the highest salaried pitchers in the league, and perhaps both are leaving.

The Yankees off-season plan has been about one guy and one guy only: Johan Santana. Frankly, I think they've essentially engaged in tampering by being so public in their pursuit of him while the Twins are trying to extend him.

Dang, I guess I haven't been keeping up to date on the Carl Pavano Watch. Well, if he is, in fact, out for the 2008 season, it hurts the Yankees' chances by approximately 0.004193 percent, as Mr. Spock might say.

Maybe they can sign Matt Clement instead.

On a serious note, Santana would be a great pickup for the Yankees... unless, of course, he costs them too many pitching prospects. The Yanks need top-level quality AND depth; a Santana trade would give them the former, but rob them of the latter. I think the Yankee organization has taken care of the easy stuff. Now, the hard work begins. (And no, I don't think the Twins will settle for a grade-B package along the lines of Melky, Rasner and DeSalvo. They're gonna want at least one of the top three pitching prospects,and maybe two.)

Yathrib above says that Johnson did not pitch good for Yanks. In both seasons in NY, Randy won 17 games, that is poor? In one of those seasons he beat Yanks No 1 rival, Boston, five times.

some of the minor acqusitions paid off to some extend, ala Chacon / Lidle.

but seriously, the reason is pretty simple that teams simply aren't retarded and no one's gonna trade you their best player in their prime to you anymore. it just doesn't happen very often. even for other teams . (see Mulder / Hudson trade... Mulder got hurt and Hudson have been mixed . )

I don't think the Yanks will go for Santana this off season, i mean seriously it's going to cost them Cano + Hughes . which is just too much.. espically when there's basically endless great pitchers in the next off season that can be had for nothing but money (and the Yanks have like 40+ Mil comming off the books!)

// Johnson, Pavano, Weaver, Brown, Vazquez, and others //

Don't forget Loaiza and Wright...

// Santana would be a great pickup for the Yankees //

Santana would be a great pickup for *anyone*, especially if he can be signed for a longer-term deal. Both the Sox and Yankees have to chase him, if only to drive the price up for the other. And both honestly should be prepared to give up major prospects for him -- he's entirely worth it. The proven best pitcher in baseball, with plenty of years left in his arm is worth almost any prospect package.

Although I might change my tune if the Sox offered Ellbury, who is shaping up as the next Yaz.

Bob S.:

Given the run support he received in 2006, and the fact that his ERA was 5.00 and that his ERA+ was 90 (100 is average) yes, Randy Johnson did pitch poorly that year despite his 17 wins.