Remember this time last year? When the Yankees didn't want to spend money on free agents? Remember when they didn't want to give up young talent AND pay free agent money to Johan Santana? Here's why folks:
The Yankees were hoping that the Twins wouldn't be able to trade Santana, making him a free agent at the end of the season. If he got to free agency, he was clearly the #1 choice. The Yanks were able to hedge this bet because CC Sabathia was also due for free agency. If they missed out on Santana, CC was next in line. So they were spending $23 million a year on a pitcher regardless, but didn't want to part with young, cost controlled pitching.
Heading to the 2007 offseason, the Yankees had a gaping hole at first base. Don't think for one minute that they actually wanted Giambi to wear anything that said Rawlings on it. The plan was to sign Mark Teixeira, who at the time was coming into free agency with the Atlanta Braves. Instead of testing the market, Teixeira opted to sign a 1-year deal with Atlanta. With Teixeira off the market for another year the Yanks kept first base open and their checkbooks closed (save the new ARod contract).
Here's where things went horribly, horribly wrong. Cashman and company expected to get something out of Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy last season. At least enough to pencil one of them into a spot in the 2009 rotation. Unfortunately, neither was able to deliver. The Yankees were probably hoping for a rotation of Wang, pettitte (to resign), hughes, kennedy, with joba in the bullpen (potentially). Instead, they are looking at Wang, Joba, ?, ?, ?. So instead of signing one big name free agent pitcher, they need a second.
I don't think it was ever the plan to sign AJ Burnett or Derek Lowe, but to quote 'Chip Douglas': "Necessity is the mother of invention."
The 2008 offseason was always about acquiring a bonafide #1 pitcher, and Mark Teixeira -- AJ Burnett or Derek Lowe are the reaction to last season's pitching problems.
Teixeira is the ideal Yankee first baseman. Gold Glove caliber defense, high OBP, switch hitter, hits for power. Teixeira is the best young position player to hit the market since Alex Rodriguez. Please don't let anyone fool you into thinking that the Yankees will let this kid play in Anaheim or Boston for the next 8 years.
I for one won't be surprised if Mark Teixeira is there to open the "House that George Built".
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