Standing O

Joba - bullpen.

Problem solved.

Where have I been? MK2

Right here,

But the Jeter talk forces me to break my silence.

Dear Yankees,
Sign him.

Dear media,
Shut up.

Got Melky? The Yankees don't

Soooooo ...

The Yankees acquired Javier Vasquez.

Shall we walk again the long and winding road that lead, at one point, to Vasquez coming to the Yankees from the Expos for a pile of players — including Nick Johnson — and then being sent to Arizona for a pile of players and cash for Big Headache Randy Johnson?

Let's not.

Acquiring Vasquez is a good thing. He's seasoned enough now to withstand the rigors of a season in New York. He'll be effective lower in the rotation and benefit from the Yankees powerful offense.

But sending Cabrera away presents several problems:
If creates a hole that wasn't there. The Yankees have sent away their best arm and most versatile outfielder, a switch-hitter to boot. Now they need a leftfielder, who may or may not be Mark DeRosa, a veteran who's a fine, but more expensive option. Not that THAT matters.

More importantly, the Yankees traded Robinson Cano's best friend on the team. Cano is immensely talented, but emotional and sometimes absent-minded. He got himself straight this year after a down season in 2008. One hopes Cabrera's absence doesn't affect Cano's attitude, and thus, his play.

Hey Curtis, wow

Curtis Granderson: impressive

Hey Curtis, nice suit

Nothing is more awkward and uninspiring than the press conference welcoming a new player, no matter who the player is.

KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE!!!!!!

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMME BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hot stove

Happily, Yankee-killer Roy Halladay appears on his way to the National League. Good, the Yankees won't have to worry about facing him until the World Series, and with Cliff Lee's exodus from Philly, advantage still Yankees — in my totally non-biased opinion.

Closer to home, John Lackey looks set to join the Red Sox, at a slightly higher salary than AJ Burnett.

Here's a quick breakdown of Lackey's seven-year career versus Burnett's 10-year career. Although Burnett made only 20 starts in 1999 and 2000 and 2003 was lost almost completely to injury, so each has pretty much pitched seven full seasons in the majors.

Lackey
233 starts
Record: 102-71
ERA 3.81
Innings: 1,501+
Ks: 1,201

Burnett
244 starts (24 starts in 1999 as a rookie, 2000, 2003)
Record: 100-85
ERA: 3.84
Ks: 1,473

Lackey somehow has the reputation of a consistent mound presence, while Burnett has the reputation of being unhittable one day and unimaginably bad the next. But the stats show they're almost the same guy.

The Yanks also let Chien-Ming Wang go. I would be shocked if the Sox didn't take a chance on him.