These Yankees, What To Do, What-To-Do?

The plan of rotating the Yankee lineup like a little league team isn't going to get it done.

The Yanks are going to come around, they're still only 7 games out of first, trailing Baltimore.

Baltimore has no pitching, so they won't last on top of the AL East.

They are trailing 2nd place Boston by 5.5 games, so a wildcard is very doable.

Plus, the Yanks are 5-5 in the last 10, but on a 4 game win streak, so anything is possible.

The problem is, this won't get it done next year.

It's time to revamp the team.

Where do you start?

First, a big issue is that The Yanks have taken on the huge contracts of old players.

Take Randy Johnson, it was a good gamble, but it's not working out as well as we all thought it would. RJ is still very good, at 3-2, a 3.68 ERA, 50 K's and an impressive 1.01 WHIP. I can't fault Brian Cashman on this deal, and I'd still keep RJ next year.

But what about 40 year old Kevin Brown?

Brown, Jason Giambi and Bernie Williams shouldn't even be on the team this year. Check out those stats.

That alone would cut $41.4 million (or almost 20%) out of the already inflated payroll.

Giambi is looking at the possibility of a minor league assignment.

That's rough.

Williams at 36 years old is a $12.3 million bench-warmer/DH/pinch hitter.

Not good.

Other players that should be on the trading block, for the right deal of course.

Jorge Posada, at 34 years old, $11 million this year, either start playing him at 1st base, or trade him. Playing Catcher is the most demanding, career shortening position in baseball.

Mike Mussina, at 36 years old, and $19 million, shows flashes of brilliance, but still gets lit up on occasion.

Mariano Rivera, at 35 years old, $10.5 million this year, and like I have said many times, is my favorite Yankee. Mo is still basically effective, so get what you can at the end of this season or maybe next.

What can you buy with all this extra cash?

Look at Arizona, they have 2 solid Catchers, Koyie Hill (26 years old) and Chris Snyder (24 years old), and a great set-up man turned closer Brandon Lyon . (25 years old). When AZ. Closer Greg Aquino went down in spring training, Reliever Lyon stepped into the Closer role, and has excelled, 1.65 ERA and 12 saves so far!

I'm not suggesting dealing Mariano to get Lyon, that would be a little scary, but put Lyon in the set-up role next year, deal Posada and maybe Flaherty to get Snyder and/or Hill.

Baltimore needs pitching, Yanks need a 2nd baseman. Brian Roberts (27 years old) is a great 2nd baseman, and and BJ Ryan (30 years old) is a great Reliever/Closer.

To fill Center field, if memory serves me right Johnny Damon (31 y/o) is a free agent at the end of the year. Or maybe a Mark Kotsay (29 y/o) from Oakland, or the Dodgers Milton Bradley (27 y/o).

Another reason to look at the Dodgers is their Bullpen.

Giovanni Carrara (37 y/o) is solid, but check out Yhency Brazoban!

Brazoban turns 25 in a month, and took over for the injured Erik Gagne with ease.

Just some things I have been looking at.

Gotta get ready to take my rightful spot as GM of The Yankees ya know!