The New York Yankees are not acting like the New York Yankees

I keep hearing over and over this winter and into spring training how the Yankees just aren’t acting like the Yankees. They still have a big payroll although nothing like they used to, there is talk about getting under the 189 million luxury tax limit by 2014. The Yankees have a lot of money in aging players who are now breaking down. They lost Alex Rodriguez long before the season or even spring training started. He will be lost until at least July and the Yankees probably are hoping longer. Mark Teixeira is now hurt and will be out until at least May and maybe longer. Curtis Granderson got hurt during spring training and will be lost until May. The Yankees are hurting and suddenly don’t look like a team the Yankees would field. 
The Yankees on Sunday were working on a deal to acquire Vernon Wells and suddenly they are acting like the Yankees once again. I am not saying if I am for or against this trade right now but simply that it looks like the Yankees again. The Yankees are never afraid to spend money, never afraid to make a big move. Vernon Wells is 34 and coming off a couple of really bad years in Anaheim. He hasn’t been the same player he used to be in probably four years. He is having a great spring though hitting over 360 with four homeruns. The Yankees needed a righty hitting outfielder. They did sign Brennan Boesch and Ben Francisco but those were minor moves. This is a big Yankee like move, I know he is a fading star but that sounds like the Yankees to me. They have always gone out and got guys especially veterans.

I don’t think this will be the last thing they do either, I can see them upgrading at first base considering right now Juan Rivera is their first baseman. The Yankees do have a surplus of outfielders now with Boesch, Francisco, Wells soon and Rivera possibly if he isn’t playing first base. I am sure one of them can be a bench player and Rivera could be the first baseman. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out but Wells will have to play since they will be paying him roughly 13 million for the next two years.

The question now is are the Yankees going to abandon their plans and forget about the 189 million limit or are they counting on losing some money with Granderson and Hughes being free agents, a lot of guys on one year contracts, Rivera retiring, Pettitte possibly retiring. I don’t know but as usual right now the Yankees are trying to win and they are going to do everything in their power to make sure that happens. The Yankees may have a goal of 189 million but they are not going to keep losing players and let their team sink to the level where they could miss the playoffs and be at the bottom of the division. The Yankees are suddenly turning into the Yankees again.

Wrap Up of the day down in Tampa

The Yankees world is pretty quiet these days. Last year it was all about A-rod and his admission of steroids, this year they are world champions and there is just nothing crazy going on right now. This is New York and this is the Yankees so things can change quickly but for right now it is camp quiet and everything is good in the world. Here are some final notes from Yankees camp today. Some of the outfielders filtered in to the clubhouse today to drop their bags off in preperation for next week when they will all report to camp. Randy Winn was there along with Nick Swisher, Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson. Joe Girardi said that Winn has a lot of experience and is used to being an everyday player. He will be competing for playing time in the corners Girardi said. The Yankees haven't decided if they will keep both Hughes and Chamberlain on the same schedule to line them up for the 5th starter or break them up, we will see how that all shakes out. There are no major injuries and no visa problems right now which is a good thing. Joe Girardi said anywhere between 100-120 games played for Jorge Posada would be good. He is talking about him catching that amount of games. 1,528 fans were in attendance to watch the Yankees first workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. This was announced by the Yankees.