You’re welcome, Butchie…
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So we don’t disagree, I’m simply coming at it from the point of view/belief that if Cashman signed Lowe, he’d see fewer spots for the kids in the short and intermediate term and thus might be compelled to move them for a bat or whatever else.
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Depends on the deal made. If the right deal comes along, I don’t mind parting with the kids. The Yanks have a ton of arms in the system, and they can absorb the loss of a few prospects

Raf, I want to thank you for posting that information from Cot’s(about Lowell) the other day about Lowell, I owe you one. Now you turned me unto a great site, thanx.

Raf and MJ, the Yanks have the monetary flexibilty to make any type of deal happen or work. IF CC or Burnett flop, they have the fianacial wherewithal to get yet another pitcher next year with revenues of 800 million next year. I think that if Lowe is signed then you might see Hughes ,Kennedy or one of the flamethrowers in the minors dealt for another piece preferably an offensive one(that being their greatest need).

MJ, I agree with your rotation for 2010 with one exception. I am one of the guys that are bearish on Hughes so I think there might be a competition for that spot if they don’t sign Lowe. I see them probably going outside the organization and going for a Peavy, Halladay( highly unlikely but hey you never know) or an Oswalt if the pitching falters in 2009 or to a lesser degree if it doesn’t.

Depends on organizational philosophy and needs.
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Exactly. So we don’t disagree, I’m simply coming at it from the point of view/belief that if Cashman signed Lowe, he’d see fewer spots for the kids in the short and intermediate term and thus might be compelled to move them for a bat or whatever else.

I’m not saying it WILL happen, I’m just saying that in my opinion, Pettitte being here on a 1-year deal makes it less likely to happen.

If you lock yourself in for a long-term deal with someone else, you have a greater incentive to deal the young pitchers (something I’m really not in favor of at this time).
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Depends on organizational philosophy and needs. But I don’t think that’s the case any more than having young pitchers gives an organization greater incentive to trade them for proven veterans.

If you sign Lowe for 4 years (just going with your example), the kids still develop, you can still re-evaluate where you are with them after the season’s over. If they’re not ready, you have Lowe for another season. If they are, they get worked into the rotation, they work out the bullpen, Lowe gets traded, whatever.

Too many factors to consider, and at the end of the day it doesn’t matter whether they go for Pettitte for 1 year or Lowe for 4.

A long term commitment wont tie them down either, as shown with Kenny Rogers, Javier Vazquez, Randy Johnson, among others.
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Fair point but short is still better than long, especially when we’re discusing a potential choice of 1Y/$10M for Pettitte or 4Y/$66M for Derek Lowe.

Plus, I’m looking at it more from the young pitching perspective. If you have Pettitte in for one year then you can re-evaluate where you are with the kids. If you lock yourself in for a long-term deal with someone else, you have a greater incentive to deal the young pitchers (something I’m really not in favor of at this time).

but a short term commitment that doesn’t tie the Yankees down
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A long term commitment wont tie them down either, as shown with Kenny Rogers, Javier Vazquez, Randy Johnson, among others.

Pettitte for one year. Best of both worlds for the Yanks: a veteran, relatively reliable arm for the 4th spot in the rotation but a short term commitment that doesn’t tie the Yankees down or give them a good enough reason to trade away all their youth.

In 2010, the rotation should (hopefully) be Sabathia/Burnett/Wang/Chamberlain/Hughes.
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Couldn’t have said it any better, agreed.

Would you guys rather us sign Pettitte for another year or go with an open competition for the 5th spot between Hughes/Kennedy/Aceves?
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Pettitte for one year. Best of both worlds for the Yanks: a veteran, relatively reliable arm for the 4th spot in the rotation but a short term commitment that doesn’t tie the Yankees down or give them a good enough reason to trade away all their youth.

In 2010, the rotation should (hopefully) be Sabathia/Burnett/Wang/Chamberlain/Hughes.

Would you guys rather us sign Pettitte for another year or go with an open competition for the 5th spot between Hughes/Kennedy/Aceves?