Yankees Race For 28th World Series Title

Steinbrenner once said, “Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.” The New York Yankees did win –in the regular season– but faltered in the playoffs last season of their ultimate goal of 28 rings.  While it was a season of personal accomplishments for the team as Derek Jeter finally reached 3,000 hits and Mariano Rivera became the all saves leader with 603 current saves, the team is still not satisfied. To breath new life into the team, it needs to follow a four step plan if they want to win their 28th World Series Championship and possibly build a dynasty.

Resign CC Sabathia
Pitching is the name of the game in the MLB right now and the team must resign their main workhorse CC Sabathia, if they want to be successful. He has performed well on the New York stage and the team can not let go of a pitcher who has the potential to consistently win 20 games a season. It is almost impossible to find a pitcher with good command of a fastball, sinker and slider. After the team resigns Sabathia, they need to go trade for a quality ace for the number two spot in the rotation and trading for Felix Hernandez seems like the perfect addition to the pitching staff.

Farm System Package Catcher and Trade for Felix Hernandez
The Bronx Bombers have to make a tough decision on who to keep between Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero, and Austin Romine who all have their own special gifts. The catcher position is such a difficult position to secure that most of the MLB teams would love to add one of them. With some cash, one of these prospects, the team would then be in a position to solve their long term need for an excellent number two pitcher by trading for Felix Hernandez.  With Seattle in rebuilding mode and ”King Felix” not content with losing, this would be the perfect time for the New York Yankees’ management to trade for the talented pitcher. This would not only give the team the best one-two punch in the game, but would also place them in position to win future championships. He is a workhorse like Sabathia, has always performed well in Yankees Stadium on the big stage when the Seattle Mariners played the team, and possesses at least four quality pitches. The Bronx Bombers need to bring “King Felix” to the Big Apple.  After the team secures Felix Hernandez, they need to consider moving Alex Rodriguez permanently to designated hitter.

Move Alex Rodriguez To DH
With Alex Rodriguez getting more injured each season, it is going to be very difficult for him to be an every day third baseman and a quality hitter. However, the team has the flexibility to move Mark Teixeira over to third base which would free up ARod to become the top designated hitter in the game. With the extra rest, it would help him stay healthy over a long season and probably lengthen his career. After the team has permanently decided to move Rodriguez to designated hitter, then management should make a bold move and sign either Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols.

Sign Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols
The stars could not aligned more right for the Yankees as both Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols are free agents looking to secure long term deals.  Either player would be a great fit on the team because they both have tremendous power, generally stay healthy and would be a great long term solution for the team at first base.  Both players would make a great fit on the team because they play adequate defense and have great leadership skills.  However, I think most fans would prefer the team add Pujols because he is on track to still become all time home run leader.

The Future Of The Bronx Bombers
The team did a lot of good things last season; however, after not winning it all, the timing could not be more ideal to not only attempt to get 28th World Series Championship, but attempt to build a dynasty. Resigning CC Sabathia, trading for Felix Hernandez, adding Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols will make this team clearly the best organization in baseball. Making big time moves is what the organization is about and falls in line with the Yankees’ spirit of seizing the day and never letting a great opportunity pass them by. Hopefully, Brian Cashman, Randy Levine and the rest of Yankees’ management exercise some foresight and understand the timing is perfect to make some major moves. If they execute this plan, fans of the team around the world will have plenty to celebrate over the next decade.