Why the Yankees Need More Than C.C. Sabathia

Posted by James Lincoln Ray Dec 10, 2008

The Yankees may have landed the best free agent pitcher on the market, but they will need to sign at least one, and probably two others before they can be considered a serious contender in the American League East. I'm serious. Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte won 34 games between them last year, and right now, neither one is a Yankee. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy won zero games between them last year, and right now, they both are Yankees. And Joba is not a starter. I'm sorry; I may not know much, but I know that Joba Chamberlain is an overpowering presence when he's firing it 102 MPH in the seventh and eighth innings, and he's a torn rotator cuff waiting to happen when he's a starter.

So that leaves, well, not much. And the Yankees know it.

That's why they're pursuing Burnett, Sheets and Lowe. If they land one of those guys and also come to terms with Andy Pettitte, they could be a force in 2009. If not, if they don't get anybody else, then it will be a long season; and C.C. might be wishing by next July that he had he could exercise his opt-out after one year.