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DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Posted Wednesday, July 11th 2007, 4:00 AM
GIVE US YOUR PICKS
Across the way, the new Yankee Stadium grows larger every day, and with it so
do questions about the team that will play there come 2009.
The new Stadium will have new features such as large concourses, luxury
suites and a myriad of new concessions. But it also will pay homage to the
team's history with a face that harks back to the original facade and a
transplanted Monument Park.
The Daily News staff reviewed the prospects in the organization, the coming
free agent market and quality of the current players to give fans a glimpse
of what the '09 team might look like. The Yankees will probably be a lot like
the park, boasting many new additions and important remnants of the team's
best days, such has Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada.
Catcher
None of the News staffers could see Posada, 35, anywhere except where he's
been for all 13 of his major league seasons.
"He's having a monster season," baseball writer Anthony McCarron said. "It'll
get him a two-year deal and maybe more."
"He says he wants to see what's out there on the free agent market, but
there's no way the Yankees want him playing anywhere but here," baseball
columnist Bill Madden said.
Posada will turn 37 during the 2009 season but the feeling here is that,
unlike with other catchers, his on-field performance won't decline much.
Catchers that start to slip at 35 have been playing the position - and taxing
their knees - from before the day they were drafted. Posada was an infielder,
so his legs have suffered less wear and tear.
The Infield
The biggest dispute came at third base with regard to Alex Rodriguez's
future.
"Even if Yanks miss the playoffs, I don't believe A-Rod is looking to leave
New York," baseball columnist John Harper said. "He enjoys all the buzz
around him, good and bad, and (George) Steinbrenner will be desperate to keep
him. With few position players in their system, the Yanks will have to
overpay somebody for offense, so why not A-Rod?"
Yankees beat writer Mark Feinsand and baseball writer Peter Botte see third
base as a spot where the team could pluck a big talent like Miguel Cabrera
off a small market club like the Marlins. "A-Rod gets replaced when the
Marlins can't afford to keep this slugger," Feinsand said.
Mike Lowell is earning $9 million in an All-Star season for the Red Sox and
will merit a raise they might not be willing to give. He came up through the
Yankees system and speaks reverently about it. The bet here is the Yankees
bring him while dealing their archrivals a blow.
The Bombers could continue to work Johnny Damon into a first baseman, but
most of the panel likes Mark Teixiera of the Rangers.
"Teixiera is the best guy who will be available and money will be freed up
when (Jason) Giambi's contract is through (in '08)," baseball columnist Bill
Madden said.
The Outfield
The sole consensus in the outfield is that Hideki Matsui will be there in the
final season of his four-year deal. There is a strong feeling, though, that
Melky Cabrera might continue his development and hold on to a job and that
Minnesota's Torii Hunter could be the Yanks' big offseason acquisition come
this winter.
"Minnesota will have to make some tough choices because they don't have the
money to keep everyone," McCarron said. "With a new ballpark coming, keeping
(pitcher Johan) Santana is a must and that will free up Hunter."
Designated Hitter
If Damon's physical decline from this season continues, his grinding at-bats
may be his only asset in the final season of his contract. That is why he
would fit as the DH.
Madden sees it as the only spot for minor leaguer Shelley Duncan, the team's
only power-hitting prospect. The feeling here is that with sluggers Troy
Glaus of Toronto and Travis Hafner of Cleveland becoming free agents, the
Bombers won't be able to resist.
Pitching
All agree that the Yankee organization is strong on pitching and that
Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes will be rotation mainstays for years. There
also is overwhelming support for Double-A prospect Joba Chamberlain, who
becomes the top pitching prospect after Hughes' promotion.
Still, they are the Yankees, and they always like big-ticket items. Aces from
other teams - Minnesota's Johan Santana, Baltimore's Erik Bedard, Cleveland's
C.C. Sabathia and Milwaukee's Ben Sheets - will hit free agency in the next
two years. Botte sees Houston's Roy Oswalt as an expensive asset if the
cost-conscious Astros drop from contention.
"They will offer Santana the moon," Harper said. Added Madden: "That's the
kind of big score they'll want to make."
There also was some sentiment that as long as Roger Clemens continues to
pitch effectively, he could remain on his half-season program.
"Roger would like the idea of going after Christy Mathewson and Grover
Cleveland Alexander at 373 (career wins)," McCarron said.
Manager
The consensus that Joe Torre will be gone is the survey's biggest upset. And
there are concerns that Don Mattingly's low-key approach would be too much
like Torre's.
"The Boss is the kind of guy who's going to want a fiery personality to
replace a laid-back style," McCarron said.
"They don't want to stick Donnie with being the guy who follows Joe,
especially because he has no managerial experience," Botte said.
"I have a feeling that (GM Brian) Cashman is not as sold on Mattingly as
Steinbrenner might be," Harper said. "He can sell Mattingly on getting a
chance down the road, but assuming that Torre is gone after this season, it's
now or never with Joe Girardi."
General Manager
The majority feel Steinbrenner will stick with Cashman. "There may be a
talent inside the organization capable of replacing Brian," Feinsand said,
"but George would have to see it."
The feeling here - and for McCarron - is that the Red Sox's new model may be
the one to emulate. The Diamondbacks are thriving under former Theo Epstein
assistant Josh Byrnes and another top assistant, Jed Hoyer, may be ready to
leave the nest. McCarron predicts that Epstein's contract will run out and
likes the Yankees' chances in a bidding war.
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