I've been enjoying the onslaught of comments made to me by Sox fans and general Yankee haters alike regarding the Yankees not making the playoffs this year. It's been a blast! It was a rough season filled with injuries and under performance, there is no other way to spin it. Unlike many Yankee fans, I am not all that upset about it to be honest. The reason being this is the first time in a long time there is substantial promise for the near future. Sure, our friendly columnists in the NY Daily News, Post, Boston Globe, and Boston Herald will point to Hughes and Kennedy's roguh first campaigns. That's fine and totally within their right, but I must point out that Hughes and Kennedy are still barely VERY young, which gives them plenty of time to continue development. But back to my point for this article, what should the Yankees do in the off season of 2008?? You may think at first some of these moves are a bit unrealistic, but I challenge you to research them a bit more before coming to a quick conclusion. Here goes nothing...

Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, and a mid level prospect or two for Jake Peavy.
You can even throw Kennedy in on that deal if necessary to make it happen. 

Cano is streaky and to lacksadasical for my preference to be honest. He seems too Manny like in a lot of ways. Yes, there are times when he's been great, but there asre just as many times that he has made bad mental mistakes that cost the Yankees the game. Melky has proven he can be a decent Major League hitter and a plus defensive CF. SD is in need of both so this would make a lot of sense for them as well. If you had to throw in Kennedy, that's fine as well in my opinion. He may be a solid pitcher in the future, but given his recent struggles, I think he's destined for the NL. 

Players to let Walk:

Bobby Abreau - He's a solid player but he's too expensive for a sub par defender. Everytime he gets close to the wall he pulls up, making it really difficult to count on him to make the big defensive play to save the game. 

Jason Giambi - I like Giambi personally, but his production is way off from what was expected. He will land on his feet somewhere else, and that is fine with me!

Andy Pettite - What?!?!?! Am I actually saying this? Yes I am. Andy has been great throughout the years but he was downright awful this year. I'd prefer to spend that 16 million somewhere else and take the draft picks.

There is a common theme here comign from me: Letting all or most of the aging veterens go!!!!!

  Signings:

Mark Texiera - After watching him in the ALDS againstthe Red Sox, I think I have man love for this guy. He is a gold glove, switch hitting, power bat with incredible patience. He is just what the Yankees need in a 1B in so many ways. I would try to sign him to a 6 year deal with a couple options if possible though. Boras is a chump and his 10 year deals are terrible for the teams. 

CC Sabathia - Yes sir. A Cy Young winning left handing Ace who will eat up innings and has a great personality as well? Who shouldn't be going nuts over this guy? Yes his arm has had a lot of work and might cause problems later on but it is well worth the risk. Remember back in the day when pitchers would throw close to 300 innings a year??They didn't seem to get hurtas much as guys these day, do they?! Therefore I say don't worry about the arm and sign a clubhouse guy who is a clear gamer.

AJ Burnett - I would only make this signing if you couldn't get a Peavy or CC deal done. Burnett is a beast, it's as simple as that!

Orlando Hudson -  If they trade Cano, they need to sign a quality 2B. Hudson is a gold glover and a decent bat. This decision would be simple.

 More to come!