I’m Miles Miller!

Now that the dreadful season has been over for a month, I can look forward to a new year with a new positive outlook for my Yankees.

True, they missed the playoffs and the Rays and Red Sox are still good, I like our chances in 2009.

The Yankees have the best rotation in baseball heading into the year.  CC is an ace, no question.  AJ Burnett, the newest Yankee is slotted into the #2 spot in the rotation.  Chien-Ming Wang has been nothing short of brilliant in America and was running towards a big win total before his season ended early last year.  He could still be an ace, but as #3 starter he should be even better (more favorable pitching matchups = more wins).  Joba Chamberlain is dominant, and could win 17 games as a #4 starter.  That leaves one spot in the rotation for Andy Pettitte, if he chooses to return, or Alfredo Aceves (who was very good coming in last year), or Phil Hughes (who can only get better).  And there’s a chance they could reel in Ben Sheets or Derek Lowe.

The Bombers did lose Giambi (finally), Bobby Abreu, and Mike Mussina, and that frees up $86M space in the payroll, so even with the additions of Sabathia and Burnett ($39.5M), they are actually not worse than before.  And that means they may still pick up another big name player.  I’m not sure why they want to trade for elderly Mike Cameron, other than to part ways with light-hitting Melky Cabrera, but Cameron should help some, too.  They are in the running for Mark Tiexiera, who will give them that spark at 1st base that they’ve been missing for the last 5 years with Giambi.  And they still have Jeter, Posada, ARod, and Cano around the infield, and Damon and Xavier Nady in the outfield.  It seems like they have enough bodies floating in the bullpen to get it to Mariano Rivera.

Missing the playoffs was probably the best thing that could happen to this team because it acted as a wake-up call for everyone.  I’m betting it doesn’t happen next year.

So today the big news is C.C. Sabathia, the robust lefty who shut down the National League last summer, has signed a hefty deal with the New York Yankees.  It is nice to see that the Bombers’ administration is finally going after a pitcher who has enjoyed recent success, rather than dinosaurs near extinction with an impressive career resume, or another bat they don’t need.

My one concern is, in this time of economic uncertainty, is it wise to invest this much into this large man?  CC is the obvious choice but is he the right choice?

The contract is for 7 years, $161 million dollars.  That comes out to $23M per year, by far the largest salary for a pitcher in history.  Last year, the Yankees signed ARod for $275M over 10 years.  That makes $50M for two players for the next 7 years!!

Sabathia is 290 pounds, and much of it fits around his waistline (or over it).  Including the playoffs, he has thrown 513 innings the last two years.  For a guy who isn’t in very good shape (other than round), that workload concerns me.  He is 28 years old, which is passing the peak years.  Granted, he has been fine so far, but is he due for a fall-out/injury?  He had a dreadful April last year.  His career postseason ERA is near 8, so he hasn’t earned his paycheck when it counts.  Of course, neither has Alex Rodriguez…

I’m a Yankees fan, but many of their decisions over the last 8 years have been very questionable.  I hope this one turns out, but I have my doubts.