The bullpen is finally in order, the new superstar right fielder is expected to undergo a physical today, millions upon millions of dollars have been showered on players, and now all the Yankees have to do is take care of what really matters.
The franchise that has been built on starting pitching during Joe Torre’s reign of success is getting ready to pounce.
The Yankees, according to industry sources, are moving closer to finalizing the trade for the Expos Javier Vazquez, and as expected it will be Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera sent to Montreal to complete the deal. Those are the two players Expos GM Omar Minaya wants in return for the right-hander who throws lightning bolts. Minaya has not returned phone calls this week.
Just as importantly, the Yankees have to soon make progress in negotiations with left-hander Andy Pettitte. Both sides remained mum on the subject yesterday. The Yankees are simply not talking about anything and the Hendricks brothers were equally as silent on the state of talks.
For the Yankees to get this deal done, it appears they must go to four years or else it is possible Pettitte will go elsewhere. His hometown Astros are salivating over the prospect of the Yankees messing up the deal that should have been a slam-dunk from the beginning.
When it comes to Pettitte, it always seems that George Steinbrenner makes it more difficult than it should be to keep the lefty in pinstripes. As for Steinbrenner, he continues his Oscar-award winning imitation of Greta Garbo, avoiding any contact with the media. Promised one Steinbrenner confidant, “He’ll be on the Back Page again soon.”
As for four-year pitching free agent deals, which have become a rare breed these days, word was circulating yesterday that the Angels are preparing to offer a four-year deal to free agent Bartolo Colon, although that could not be confirmed. Colon’s agent Mitch Frankel did not return calls. Perhaps the Yankees are waiting for the last minute to jump into the Colon negotiations, but it has been baffling why they have not pursued the free agent more aggressively. Colon was tied for the AL lead in complete games and his average fastball of 93.4 mph was just a shade slower than C.C. Sabathia’s 93.9-mph heater last year, so it is clear he has not lost anything even though the Yankees have moaned about Colon’s conditioning.
There is no moaning over Gary Sheffield, whom Steinbrenner has long coveted. Sources said Sheffield is expected to undergo a physical today, which would finalize the three-year deal for the slugger. Sheffield will be a huge addition.
The Yankees finally got around to announcing the Felix Heredia two-year deal yesterday. The lefty will make $3.8 million during that span. They have yet to announce the deals for Tom Gordon (two years at $7.25 million) and Paul Quantrill (two years at $6.8 million) even though they are complete.
This offseason is all about outdoing the Red Sox and the Yankees have solidified their bullpen with the additions of Gordon and Quantrill, two bulldogs who will make life a lot easier for Mariano Rivera than last year’s pitiful setup crew that included, among many others, Armando Benitez and Jeff Nelson.
The Yankees have learned a valuable lesson. Rivera needs help and they have finally provided it, the challenge now is to get the starting pitching lined up because as of this moment under contract, it’s Mike Mussina and pray for four days of rain.
The Red Sox currently hold a monster advantage in starting pitching with the Big Three of Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and Derek Lowe, but it’s only Dec. 4. It’s time to start getting the starting pitching in order.
