TEN years ago, the Yankees lost a first-round playoff series to the AL West champs in five games, triggering sweeping changes that ushered in a new general manager, manager and dynasty.
From the ruins of being eliminated by the Mariners in October 1995, the Yanks renovated the front office, coaching staff and roster, and somehow formed a championship mosaic from disparate pieces. However, back then, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera emerged from the system to join Andy Pettitte as instant stars and bedrocks. They were cool, calm, and collected rings because of it.
The Yanks cannot expect the same bounty now, not after years of incompetence from the Tampa minor-league officials. That is why, in the aftermath of losing a firstround playoff series in five games to the AL West champion Angels, the Yanks face their most critical offseason in a decade. GM Brian Cashman might leave, George Steinbrenner is as disenchanted today with Joe Torre as he was 10 years ago with Buck Showalter, and key roster issues must be confronted.
Job 1 for Steinbrenner is addressing the front office structure and his crippled relationship with Torre. As for on the field, here are five thoughts:
TRADE GARY SHEFFIELD TO ADDRESS CENTER FIELD: Sheffield remains a great hitter. But he embodies an overall Yankee problem of too much age and too many sourpusses, and the money-obsessed Sheffield is facing his walk year. The White Sox were interested in obtaining Ken Griffey during the season for his bat and now might lose their one power source, Paul Konerko, to free agency. Could Chicago start a package with defensive stud Aaron Rowand to get Sheffield?
The Blue Jays crave power and believe Alexis Rios can play center. Is there a megatrade possible involving Sheffield for Vernon Wells? Can Sheffield be used to obtain pieces that could be redirected to Minnesota to liberate Torii Hunter? The Yanks must find out and then aggressively pursue free agent Brian Giles to play right. Giles is said to favor the West Coast, and should draw strong interest, as well, from the Cubs and Red Sox, if they can move Manny Ramirez.
GO GET B.J. RYAN: The Orioles’ closer will be among the most in-demand free agents, and the Yanks cannot even offer the closer job. What they can offer is huge money and vague promises of succeeding the indomitable Rivera. The expiring pacts of useless relievers Steve Karsay, Felix Rodriguez, Paul Quantrill and Mike Stanton total roughly $15 million. The Yanks must use a chunk to get a southpaw who dominates lefties and has proved he can pitch in the AL East.
RE-SIGN HIDEKI MATSUI: But before they do, the Yanks have to figure out what happened to this guy defensively all year and offensively in the Division Series. Three years at $30 million is the ballpark. One intriguing alternative would be to sign Johnny Damon as a left fielder/leadoff man. But his agent, Scott Boras, is going to seek at least a fiveyear deal for Damon. It is important that the Yanks do not go with Damon in center, where he already has lost a step and has a worse arm than Bernie Williams.
THINK DEFENSE: The Yankee pitching was better than generally perceived. It was hurt by bad defense, especially in center. But not exclusively there. The Yanks need to make Jason Giambi a 120-game DH. They should thank Tino Martinez for the memories and find a younger player with a chance to grow. Milwaukee’s Lyle Overbay is going to be in big demand. But the Yanks might be able to pry somebody such as Detroit’s Carlos Pena.
Jorge Posada might just be too expensive to trade. If the Yanks retain him, they need to upgrade with a better allaround backup than the cerebral, but limited, John Flaherty. Arbitration-eligible receivers from small markets such as Cincinnati’s Jason LaRue and Tampa’s Toby Hall should be targets.
AVOID ADDING EVEN MORE AGE/DECLINING ATHLETICISM/PRIMA DONNAS: We can use a bunch of names, but think Ken Griffey Jr. and you will get the idea.