@ jdg:
One could argue that it is a much rarer feat to win a string of multiple championships then to develop a young pitcher and position player. Getting Doc certainly gives us the chance to win a few more, now. while everyone under long term contract is in their, or closer to (then they will be), their prime.

With Pettitte, the Yankees have options at number five that should include Wang, Ian Kennedy, Aceves, Hughes, Gaudin, and Mitre, plus one or two other guys from the minors. That’s plenty. Worse case, take a flier on someone like Sheets.

What they can’t do is trade some combination of Hughes or Chamberlain and one or two other top minor league position players for Halladay and then pay at 32 year old pitcher $25m per year for four or five years. That’s insane.

@ clintfsu813:
I’d rather wait to give big contract to a pitcher who’s worth it. Lackey is capitalizing on year where the free agent pool isn’t that great. Re-sign Andy. That gives you a 2009 rotation of: Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain, X.

Who to give the 5th (or other if its a trade or free agent signing) spot in the rotiaton. Now, I wouldn’t give Hughes the starting job out of the gate. I would more certainly kick the tires on Rich Harden (in which he’d be 3rd/4th with Andy and Joba would be 5th). If that doesn’t work out, I would have an open competition for the 5th starter job among the whole organization during spring training. The pitcher who impresses the most gets the nod and long man 2nd best, etc. All the young pitching depth we had last winter have aged another year, after all.

All of that said. If Cashman could somehow work a trade where we get Doc without sending Joba or Montero up north, I’m all for it. They can have Hughes as far as I’m concerned. You want Hughes, Jackson, McAllister, Austin Romine? We got a deal.

Who would you guys prefer?

Raf wrote:

I will be very surprised if the Yanks sign Lackey.

I don’t want him on my team, personally.

I will be very surprised if the Yanks sign Lackey.