The Yankees decided not to tender contracts to 26-year old righty pitcher Chris Britton and 28-year old righty swinging outfielder Justin Christian. Britton pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 0-0 with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. He has now pitched in 78 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 0-3 with 1 save, a 3.83 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Britton was quickly snapped up by the San Diego Padres. Christian played in 24 games for the Yankees this season and he was 10 for 40 (.250 avg, .627 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 6 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. The Yankees won’t miss either of these guys because they can buy better ones.

The Yankees have signed 31-year old righty swinging catcher Kevin Cash to a minor league contract. Cash played in 61 games for the Red Sox last season and he was 32 for 142 (.225 avg, .647 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 15 RBIs. He has now played in 187 games in his major league career in which he is 92 for 501 (.184 avg, .533 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 10 homers and 50 RBIs. Cash has also whiffed a stunning 161 times in his major league career to date. Cash is a good defensive catcher but he is just likely insurance in case Jorge Posada can’t return to catch.

The New York Yankees have signed 31-year old righty starting pitcher A.J. Burnett to a 5-year, $82.5 milllion dollar contract. Burnett is coming off a career season in 2008 and the Yankees hope that’s just a beginning for him. No one doubts the stuff as Burnett has a nasty array of dominating pitches. He pitched in 35 games (34 starts) for the Blue Jays last season and he was 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He also whiffed 231 batters in 221.1 innings last season for the Blue Jays. Burnett has now pitched in 215 games (211 starts) in his major league career and he is 87-76 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. This is a boom or bust signing for the Yankees as Burnett can be a bit flaky at times and he has been cut on a few times by surgeons.

The Yankees just wouldn’t take “no” for a answer from 28-year old lefty starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia as they have signed him to a 7-year, $161 million dollar contract. Sabathia started 35 games for the Brewers & Indians last season and he finished with a 17-10 record with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He has now pitched in 254 games (all starts) in his major league career and he is 117-73 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Sabathia was quite simply the best starting pitcher available in free agency and he will make the Yankees into a team that can win with pitching too.