Phil Hughes

The Yankees may still be celebrating their World Series title, but for Brian Cashman , the time to rejoice is over. Cashman went back to work Monday, arriving at the general manager meetings to begin assembling a roster that will try to repeat as champions in 2010. After he broke the bank last winter to sign CC Sabathia , A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira , will the Yankees' World Series title ease the pressure on Cashman to make another big splash in the coming weeks?

I don't think it changes anything   -Brian Cashman

 

It took a World Series title, but Yankee fans are finally warming up to Alex Rodriguez . Yet, there are still doubters out there. Of the close to 500,0000 votes cast in the Daily News' Keep 'Em or Dump 'Em online poll, 93% said the Bomber third baseman should stick around.  

Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain finished the season as relievers, but Brian Cashman believes the two youngsters will enter spring training as starting pitchers. "I look at them as starters that can relieve," Cashman said. "We haven't had our meetings, but I would anticipate going to spring training with as much starting depth as possible."

I look at them as starters that can relieve   -Brian Cashman

 

They won't repeat last year's outlay of $423.5 million for three years. But they're always a threat to buy someone good. Looking for pitching.

but not at $16 million a year for three years   -Jon Heyman

 

Okay, so maybe the Yanks won't net a big fish this winter. Unless, of course, they make some kind of crazy trade. Right, Goldie ?  

Andy Pettitte was among the last two of the 171 eligible players to declare for free agency yesterday. It was a foregone conclusion the veteran lefty would file and a strong indication the 37-year-old hurler isn't ready to retire. The belief in the Yankees organization is that Pettitte wants to continue pitching for the world champions, and the club would like him back.  

It seems an odd bit of news, but FoxSports reported today that they've heard two different stories about the Yankees bullpen plans. Some say the Yankees are interested in Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano. Some say the Yankees are content to stay in house.  

Heyman thinks that the starting point of any Yankees-Jays talks would be either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes (last year the Jays wanted both, but probably weren't serious about trading with the Yankees). Catching prospect Jesus Montero is mentioned, but young stud catchers are harder to find than ace pitchers, and given how old the Yankees' current catcher is, he's probably off limits. One direction Heyman doesn't mention is the possibility of the Yankees going in with little in the way of young tale  

General manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees got the memo last off-season and it resulted in the club's 27th World Championship. You can be sure the Yankees still are thinking big this offseason, and that they are figuring out ways to sign Matt Holliday and/or trade for Roy Halladay, a pitching deal I've been pushing since July. The Mets need to take the same approach. The player at the top of their shopping list must be right-hander John Lackey.