Quote:Yanks won't part with Wang, Cano
Olney
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
Archive

The departure of Theo Epstein was the topic of conversation between two Yankees executives recently, and they agreed: The flak over Epstein could come back and bite them in 2006, because the Red Sox's front office would go above and beyond to prove they could win without Epstein.

If Epstein had remained, the team would have continued on a more conservative and -- and in the long run, perhaps more effective -- route of player development, with the budget constraints hardened. But now the Red Sox ownership, the Yankees' executives agreed, will be more aggressive, in the wake of Epstein's departure. They'll take more chances, perhaps expand their budget, do more to make sure the team will win in 2006, the first year A.T. (After Theo).

Now the Red Sox are moving close to a first big strike, with the impending acquisition of Josh Beckett, and we are accustomed to seeing the Yankees hammering away in response. However, what the Yankees might do is bite the bullet, instead of firing back.

B.J. Ryan
Ryan

Sure, the Yankees would love to sign B.J. Ryan to be a set-up man, but don't have any real hope that is going to happen. They'd love to add Brian Giles to their outfield, but they're fully aware he could sign someplace else. But in this first winter since the organization has rededicated itself to the philosophy of developing and even keeping prospects -- an approach that led to the dynasty of 1996-2001 -- the Yankees might make only marginal changes. "There is a perception that things haven't gone our way this offseason," Brian Cashman said Tuesday morning. "But everything that's happened so far is not unexpected to me."

The Yankees could have dived into the Josh Beckett sweepstakes and could have lost, anyway, given Boston's willingness to dangle top prospect Hanley Ramirez. But once the Marlins asked for Chien-Ming Wang and other prospects, the Yankees checked out. They want to keep Wang, top pitching prospect Philip Hughes and second baseman Robinson Cano, and right now, they don't have the depth in their farm system that the Red Sox have to even consider those types of trades without further damaging the organization long-term.

In addition, the Yankees would've had to absorb Mike Lowell, who would've been just one more high-priced older player thrown onto the pile of similar players the team has accumulated -- and the Yankees wouldn't have even had a natural place for Lowell to play.

Carlos Delgado
Delgado

There will be similar opportunities in the weeks ahead, such as a potential deal for Carlos Delgado, but for now, the Yankees intend to hold fast to their current course of rebuilding the farm system and passing up the opportunity for expensive stars. The weak free-agent market appears to provide only imperfect solutions: They have no interest in A.J. Burnett because of the enormous gamble he might represent, at a $50 million price tag, and they have little interest in Johnny Damon unless he's willing to sign with New York at a bargain rate, which is highly unlikely.

That could mean going into next spring training with Bubba Crosby penciled in as the center fielder. That could mean Jaret Wright will be switched into middle relief, with the Yankees hoping that either Wright or Tanyon Sturtze or Scott Proctor develops into the needed frontline set-up man. That could mean "operating like Billy Beane runs the Athletics -- finding solutions in spring training, or during the season," says one club official.

After getting such surprising results from Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon last season, club officials feel better about taking chances like that. Right now, the team is not operating with the manic need to fill every roster spot with an ex-All-Star.

They've still got a deep wealth of talent, that lethal lineup of Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui and the developing Cano, and whether or not they spend money this winter, the Yankees will still be in position to make midseason deals (for a Mike Cameron, for example).

But for once, the Yankees might actually pass on the compulsion to immediately fire back in their war against the Red Sox. They're trying to build and save their ammunition for another day.

Quote:Sources: Farnsworth to sign with Yankees
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

ATLANTA -- While there was no announcement from New York, the representative for free agent relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth informed Atlanta Braves officials Wednesday night that his client will sign with the Yankees, two sources told ESPN.com.

Kyle Farnsworth
Relief Pitcher
Atlanta Braves

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L BB K ERA
72 1 1 27 87 2.19

In making the move to the Yankees, Farnsworth, who played at Milton High School in Atlanta, rejected the Braves' offer to remain as their closer, the role in which he finished the 2005 season. Instead, he will serve as setup man to Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera, and replace Tom Gordon in that role.

The Yankees have been attempting to retain Gordon as their primary setup reliever, but he is seeking an opportunity to be a closer elsewhere. Aware they could not offer Gordon the closer's job, the Yankees resigned themselves in recent days to losing him and began to explore alternatives, with Farnsworth at the top of their wish list.

Contract details on the deal Farnsworth will sign with the Yankees were not available. The Braves had offered him a three-year contract. Atlanta can still gain a first-round pick as compensation for Farnsworth if the Braves offer him arbitration by Dec. 7 or New York signs him before that date.

Farnsworth earned $1.975 million in 2005 and it was rumored in recent days that the Yankees were set to offer him a deal worth at least $4 million annually.

A seven-year major league veteran, Farnsworth, 29, has spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs, who selected him in the 47th round of the 1994 draft. He pitched for the Cubs 1999-2004, and with Detroit for the first part of 2005 before Atlanta acquired him from the Tigers in a July 31 trade.

In 26 relief appearances with the Braves, he had no decisions, but provided stability in the closer's role, saving 10 games and posting an ERA of 1.98 in 27 1/3 innings. In his stints with the Tigers and Braves last season, Farnsworth appeared in 72 games, had 16 saves and an ERA of 2.19.