The Yankees are looking good heading into the 2010 season and if the season started right now here would be the players in the starting line-up:

C-Jorge Posada
1B-Mark Teixeira
2B-Robinson Cano
SS-Derek Jeter
3B-Alex Rodriguez
LF-Brett Gardner
CF-Curtis Granderson
RF-Nick Swisher
DH-Nick Johnson

If I were running the Yankees I would just roll with this line-up. I know they are looking for a second tier type of outfielder to possibly platoon with Gardner and that’s fine, but, wouldn’t it be interesting to see just how many bases he could steal? I think a player like Jonny Gomes or Marcus Thames would fit as a platoon partner for Gardner if they really want one. I think I would also take a flier on a free agent like Chad Tracy or Tony Clark just in case Nick Johnson gets hurt which he is prone to do. Other than that I think it’s all systems go in the field for the Yankees.

The Yankees have acquired 33-year old righty starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and 25-year old lefty reliever Boone Logan from the Braves for 25-year old switch hitting outfielder Melky Cabrera, 24-year old lefty reliever Mike Dunn and 19-year old righty starting pitcher Arodys Vizcaino. Vazquez pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Braves last season and he was 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He only allowed 181 hits last season in 219 1/3 innings while whiffing 238 batters showing just how great he was last season. The Yankees are hoping that Vazquez will be better than he was the first time around with them in 2004. In 2004, Vazquez pitched in 32 games (all starts) in which he was 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Vazquez has now pitched in 387 games (385 starts) in his major league career and he is 142-139 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Logan pitched in 20 games (0 starts) for the Braves last season and he was 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. He has now pitched in 164 games (0 starts) in his 4 years in the majors and he is 5-5 with 1 save, a 5.78 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He has allowed 158 hits in only 127 2/3 innings in his major league career and he has walked 58 batters showing that he has a lot of improving to do before he is a effective reliever in the majors. Melky Cabrera will be missed by the Yankees as he has gotten a lot of key hits for them but he projects to really being a 4th outfielder on a good team. He played in 154 games for the Yankees last season and he was 133 for 485 (.274 avg, .752 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 13 homers, 68 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He played five years for the Yankees appearing in 569 games in which he was 518 for 1,923 (.269 avg, .716 OPS) with 250 runs scored, 36 homers, 228 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. The Yankees will turn to Brett Gardner to replace Cabrera unless the Yankees sign a big ticket LF which could be on the horizon even though they are saying no right now. Mike Dunn was the Yankees’ #16 rated prospect in the organization coming into the 2009 season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 38 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 4-3 with 2 saves, a 3.31 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Arodys Vizcaino was the Yankees’ #18 rated prospect heading into the 2009 season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 10 games (all starts) in A-ball last season and he was 2-4 with a 2.13 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. I like this trade for the Braves down the road because I think that Dunn and Vizcaino have nice upsides. But, for right now this trade really favors the Yankees who get another horse for the starting rotation for the 2010 season.

The Yankees have signed 33-year old righty swinging catcher Mike Rivera to a minor league deal. Rivera played in 41 games for the Brewers last season and he was 26 for 114 (.228 avg, .668 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 2 homers and 14 RBIs. He has now played in 181 games in his 7 years in the majors and he is 129 for 528 (.244 avg, .688 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 13 homers and 69 RBIs. Rivera will battle with Francisco Cervelli for the back-up job to Jorge Posada behind the plate.

The Yankees have signed 31-year old lefty swinging 1B/DH Nick Johnson to a 1-year contract worth $5.5 million bucks with a mutual option for the 2011 season valued at $5.5 million bucks. Johnson played in 133 games for the Nationals and Marlins last season and he was 133 for 457 (.291 avg, .831 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 8 homers and 62 RBIs. He has now played in 770 games in his 8 years in the majors and he is 693 for 2,539 (.273 avg, .849 OPS) with 409 runs scored, 83 homers, 379 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. Johnson will serve as the Yanks’ new DH replacing Hideki Matsui. Johnson will also give Mark Teixeira a day off once in a while as he is still a excellent defender at 1B. Johnson coming to the Yankees might also end Johnny Damon’s time in the Bronx.

The Yankees decided not to tender a 2010 contract to 29-year old righty starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang making him a free agent. Wang pitched in 12 games (9 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP. In five years with the Yankees, Wang pitched in 109 games (104 starts) in which he was 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. This might come back to eventually haunt the Yankees if Wang gets healthy in the near future because he has been a solid pitcher when he is right physically.

37-year old lefty starting pitcher Andy Pettitte has signed a 1-year deal with the Yankees worth $11.75 million bucks. Pettitte pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has now pitched 15 years in the majors working in 468 games (458 starts) in which he is 229-135 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. This was a good signing for both Pettitte and the Yankees who will slot him either #3 of #4 in the rotation based on whether or not they acquire another starting pitcher or two.

The Yankees have acquired 28-year old lefty swinging CF Curtis Granderson from the Tigers as part of a huge three team deal. The Yankees traded 24-year old righty starting pitcher Ian Kennedy to the D-Backs who also received 26-year old righty starting pitcher Edwin Jackson from the Tigers. The Tigers acquired 22-year old righty swinging OF Austin Jackson and 27-year old lefty reliever Phil Coke from the Yankees and 25-year old righty starting pitcher Max Scherzer and 23-year old lefty reliever Daniel Schlereth from the D-Backs.

Getting Granderson was huge for the Yankees as his lefty bat should flourish playing half of his games at Yankee Stadium. Granderson played in 160 games for the Tigers last season and he was 157 for 631 (.249 avg, .780 OPS) with 91 runs scored, 30 homers, 71 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Granderson has now played in 674 games in his six years in the majors and he is 702 for 2,579 (.278 avg, .828 OPS) with 435 runs scored, 102 homers, 299 RBIs and 67 stolen bases. His numbers will get a huge bump playing on the All-Star team which is the New York Yankees.

Austin Jackson was the #1 rated prospect in the Yankees’ minor league system coming into last season according to Baseball America. He played in 132 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 151 for 504 (.300 avg, .759 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 4 homers, 65 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. Phil Coke will need to replaced by the Yanks in a trade or free agency as he pitched well for them last season. Coke pitched in 72 games (0 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 4-3 with 2 saves, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. In two years with the Yanks, Coke pitched in 84 games (0 starts) in which he was 5-3 with 2 saves, a 3.74 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. Ian Kennedy was once one of the brightest prospects in the Yankees’ minor league system but injuries have sidetracked him while Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes passed him up. Kennedy pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. Kennedy pitched in 14 games (12 starts) in his career with the Yankees and he was 1-4 with a 6.03 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP.

Acquiring Granderson now gives the Yankees leverage in negotiations with Johnny Damon as they can now offer him a take it or leave it offer. I also think the Yankees got a good deal for Granderson anyway as they didn’t give up any of their biggest trade chips in the deal.

The Yankees have traded 27-year old righty reliever Brian Bruney to the Nationals for a player to be named later. Bruney pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 5-0 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. In 4 years with the Yankees, Bruney pitched in 153 games (1 start) in which he was 12-3 with 1 save, a 3.25 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Bruney was a decent pitcher for the Yankees but they will likely just sign or trade for someone better than him over the winter.

UPDATE: The Nationals selected 25-year old righty swinging outfielder Jamie Hoffman in the Rule 5 Draft and then they sent him to the Yankees to finish the Bruney trade. Hoffman was the Dodgers’ #22 rated prospect heading into last season according to Baseball America. Hoffman played in 14 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 4 for 22 (.182 avg, .576 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs. Hoffman also played in 97 games in AA+AAA ball last year in which he was 104 for 358 (.291 avg, .856 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 10 homers, 64 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. He has now played in 596 games in his five years in the minors and he is 622 for 2,199 (.283 avg, .756 OPS) with 329 runs scored, 36 homers, 279 RBIs and 91 stolen bases. The Yankees got a decent player in Hoffman and he could very well stick on the roster for the 2010 season so that they don’t have to give him back to the Dodgers.

Every time I hear that the Yankees aren’t going to make a big splash at the Winter Meetings they pounce and bring back 3 of 4 players with them. Looking at the current roster the Yankees have needs in LF, DH and the starting rotation. I fully expect them to huddle with the Blue Jays and possibly making them an offer they can’t refuse for Roy Halladay revolving around Joba Chamberlain and at least two other top prospects. If they miss out on Halladay look for them to turn to the free agent market with some cold, hard cash. They will only he after the top tier as John Lackey really stands out. With lefties also having an advantage at Yankee Stadium look for the Yanks to bring back Andy Pettitte while also looking at guys like Randy Wolf, Erik Bedard and possibly Jarrod Washburn. The Yankees will likely look at making offers to bring back Johnny Damon/Hideki Matsui but if they balk at them the team will quickly move on. If Damon doesn’t come back I fully expect the Yankees to go after Jason Bay just to stick it to the Red Sox once again. I also have a feeling they might look at Vladimir Guerrero at DH. It should be a fun week to be a Yankees fan as the Winter Meetings are here.