Players who know how to win.

"Three moves.

That's what the Yankees New York Yankees have to make this winter and they will be back in the postseason and probably the World Series again next season"

Oh, boy.


"* Do whatever it takes to sign free agent CC Sabathia. It will be expensive, but it will be worth it to grab the most powerful of the available power pitchers."

Can't argue with that.


"* Ditto A.J. Burnett. Four initials will make the difference. Add CC and A.J. and the tides change in the AL East."

Burnett is not very good in the first place and has a history of injuries. Sounds like the second coming of Carl Pavano.

But, whatever.

He's better than Ponson, right?


Now, I don't see the necessity of distilling this down the three moves. There's simply no reason to stop with three moves, and that would be the case whether the Yankees won 120 games or 90 games.

But C, CF, and 1B still have not been addressed.

So, Kevin Kernan, what else have you got?:

"* Package a couple good young players - and the Yankees have them, especially on their South Atlantic League team, and trade for the Braves' Casey Kotchman."

Ummm ... what?


"He's a solid hitter and more importantly, he is a tremendous first baseman, something the Yankees have lacked since the Glory Days with Tino Martinez. Current defensive statistics are misleading - the Yankees (only 81 errors) don't get to enough balls. A defensive-minded first baseman, who can handle the bat, is invaluable."

With the statuesque Giambi and arthritic Abreu combined with the sleepy Cano, the right side of the Yankee defense probably adds 200 pts. to an opponent's batting average.

But the key to the Yankee Glory Days was not Tino's defense at first base.

The Yankees need to improve defensively overall. They will need a new first baseman.

But why Casey Kotchman?

Why not Mark Teixeira?

Or a dozen other first baseman who can field and also "handle the bat"?