a slew of thoughts about this, many of which I’ll get to later.

But here’s the first one:
This certainly removes leverage from these free agents. In the eyes of the Yankees they’re each now just another player. Does that make it more likely that we’ll see Pettitte and Abreu in pinstripes in ’09?

We really could have capitalized in the draft this year; the ’09 signing class could have been the new ’96 crop leading us to future World Series domination.

Abreu now is more likely to sign elsewhere, since he won’t cost his new team a pick, and we then won’t get anything for it.

Pettitte probably will end up re-signing with us, but if he doesn’t, again, we lose out. Then not only is our immediate rotation really fucked, but our future talent base is as well.

And Pudge will probably sign a couple-year deal with a team that has one of the first 15 picks, so we’d then get a supplemental pick, but that’s better than nothing.

I would have offered all of them arbitration. Might as well have offered Moose arb too, for the hell of it.

I hope Cash knows what he’s doing here. To me, saving a few million isn’t that big a priority when we’re the Yanks, even in a bad economy. Sure, over time, we want to control our payroll better, but since we already want Pettitte, and since adding Abreu for a one-year deal would keep our defense out there weak but really bolster our offense, why take a huge gamble just for the chance of saving a few mill?

My feeling tonight is that it is being too clever. You cause yourself a lot of trouble being too careful.

I hope Cash makes me eat those words.

As I think about it, this says, I do not want any of you vack unless you’re willing to take a cut. I think it’s now clear the Yanks will make a big change.

Are they going younger. I’ve been taking the faster and more athletic talk with a grain of salt. This makes it carry a little weight.

believe it or not, the economic downturn has even hit the yankees. He predicts major drops in perceived player values over this winter.
Most of u have questioned Cashman’s ability to stick to the plan of developing youngsters because we’re risking losing draft picks and I agree, but at what cost?
Abreu definitely would have accepted arb immediately according to many sources, he doesnt want to leave NY.
I say we sign him and pettite for 10 million each for one year deals and move forward.
I really like how cashman and crew are being smarter with their spending on FA’s now. The economic landscape is changing drastically in the baseball world and the real world. I think we see cc and tex get their asking price and everyone else takes a cut from what they think they will get.