Word of Justice

The Yankees stood pat as well, and that's a good thing. GM Brian Cashman offered a boatload of young talent for Johan Santana, and when Twins GM Billy Smith wanted even more, Cashman had a change of heart. Shrewd move. He was offering too much to begin with.

Cashman might end up leaving the Yankees over the deal, but that doesn't mean he was wrong. He has steadily steered the Yankees back to a roster built around homegrown prospects.

The Yankees aren't just going to be good in 2008. Thanks to Cashman, they're poised to be really good for a really long time. So with Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte all back, the Yankees have stability and a very deep roster.

First base is an area of concern, but if the young pitchers are even close to being as good as advertised, the Yankees will be back in the postseason tournament.

Perhaps the real concern is that the club is under new management, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. They're the reason Joe Torre is no longer the manager and could be the reason Cashman leaves.

-- Richard Justice

Numbers Game

38 - Starts made by this gaggle of below-average hurlers: Kei Igawa, Tyler Clippard, Matt DeSalvo, Darrell Rasner, Sean Henn, Jeff Karstens, Carl Pavano and Chase Wright. Injuries are a part of baseball -- especially when it comes to pitchers -- but the Yankees had more than their share of bad fortune last season. Their rotation could be shaky in 2008 because they're relying on youngsters Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, but it seems unlikely they'll have to face a rash of injuries like they did last year.

2 - Projected starters in New York's Opening Day lineup under the age of 30 (Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera). The Yankees are one of the oldest teams in the majors, and while that means they are more likely to deal with injuries, it also means they are a very seasoned bunch. Their order is every bit as dangerous and deep as Detroit's is with Miguel Cabrera.

5 - Consecutive seasons by closer Mariano Rivera with at least 30 saves and 70 innings pitched. He won't be getting more than three outs as much as he used to as he nears his 40s (having Joba Chamberlain in front of him helps), but he's still one of the most dangerous weapons in the majors. Signed to a new three-year deal this winter, the Yankees are hoping his 3.15 ERA last year (his highest since 1995) isn't the start of a decline.

-- Andrew Johnson

Fantasy Spin

Not much has changed with the Yankees from a fantasy perspective. Normally, you'd assume that's a bad thing, but not when your team is stacked with stars like New York is. They're one of only three teams in the American League where you can justify drafting almost every player from the batting order (Detroit and Boston being the others).

Scanning the statistics from the infield to the outfield, you'll see plenty of 100's popping up in RBI and runs. Rodriguez is the clear No. 1 pick in most leagues. It's a no-brainer when you combine his reliability and multicategoricaliciousness (look it up in the fantasy dictionary). Abreu is a top-15 outfielder -- a contributor across the board with plenty of life still left in his legs, even if his power disappoints. Matsui will give you 20-25 homers, a high average and 100 RBI/runs again. Jeter's power and speed totals tend to fluctuate (and left something to be desired in 2007), but he's still a top-five star at a shallow position. Regardless of age, a repeat campaign seems likely. Speaking of age, can you believe Giambi is 37 years old? Nevertheless, he has something left and could surprise as a deeper league option.

Robinson Cano has the best chance to improve on his 2007 season. The 25-year-old second baseman hit .343 with 13 homers after the break last year, a potential indicator that he has more power to display. While I have Cano ranked just outside my top five due to a lack of speed, I'm expecting a big year from him. The player in this lineup I'm least excited about is Damon. The nagging injuries and lack of ability to drive the ball deflate his value. He should put up 100 runs and 20-plus steals if he stays healthy, but I don't foresee a repeat of his 2006 season.

While the pitching clearly can't compare to the bats, there are a few arms that will be forces all season long. Another 19 wins aren't a guarantee for Chien-Ming Wang, and he's not going to dazzle you with strikeouts, but one thing you can bank on is solidarity. Expect a sub-4.00 ERA and 15-plus wins from the reliable sinkerballer. Andy Pettitte is dealing with back spasms, but he'll be a solid starter (15 wins, around a 4.00 ERA) for the backend of your rotation if he can shake it off. Phil Hughes has questions to answer coming off injury, but he's the perfect low-risk, high-reward draft pick. This is the one year you can call Mariano Rivera a great bargain. Coming off a non-Sandmanesque year of 30 saves and a disappointing ERA, he's definitely one of the best buys when it comes to closers. The Yanks need Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen more than they need him in the rotation right now, but that could change at any moment. If the shift happens, be prepared to dash for the wire in shallow leagues. Ian Kennedy has looked sharp this spring and could surprise, so keep a close eye on him.

-- Tom Herrera

Preview Poetry

The Yanks had a(nother) disappointing post-season
I'd like to blame gnats, but that wasn't the only reason

This year they want to go all the way
And take a look at their roster: they've got the goods, I must say

They passed on Santana by not pulling out all the stops
In favor of keeping the young'uns on the team, which is tops

Nothing beats having talented kids on the roster
Cashman's got even more on the farm to foster

Of course there are veterans on the team, too
Posada and Jeter should lead the team through

The biggest moves, of course, were Girardi and A-Rod
Both fabulous signings that greatly improved the squad

With Girardi at the helm I'm feeling optimistic
It should go without saying that the Yankees are my pick!

-- Yankees Chick, FanHouse