WHY IT'S ABOUT TO GET NUTTY

The Winter Meetings have begun. Game on. One thing's for the sure, everyone who thought that the Washington Nationals were going to make a lot of offers but wouldn't be taken seriously, like myself, were all wrong. These guys mean business. They signed Jayson Werth to a 7 year deal for $126 million and literally blew the top off the free agent market...why you ask? Because before that, Carl Crawford was getting that deal. But now he could probably ask for 8 years and $180 million. No way the Yanks are offering that to Carl Crawford. And remember that "rumor" a few weeks ago about the Yankees offering a 7 year, $140 million offer to get Cliff Lee? Then, of course, the rumor was disputed by Yankee Execs. Remember that? Well, now it will have to be legit because the Nationals just knocked the market out of whack. Expect big numbers and years. "Werth got it, Why can't I?" Mentality. Get ready for it.

Look for a real slutfest between the Rangers and the Yankees. Right now the word on the street is if the Rangers offer Lee 6 years, he'll stay in Texas. The touble is, the Rangers "say" they're not willing to do it. The Yankees are, but, do the Yankees offer 7 years? Everyone says NO. I say Yes, on this 1 fact, the Yankees have wanted Lee for a long time and at $140 million or $150 million, whats another year on a pitcher that you know will get you to the World Series. Quality Pitching wins ballgames. I expect the Yanks to do it, especially after the Werth signing.

Look for a Russell Martin deal this week, my new obsession. A lot of talk about it and it makes sense. The question is, how much. I do however love a Martin / Montero platoon.

Look for unique signings that Cashman will do for bench help and part time play. Kind of like what he did with Swisher a few years ago. Remember, no one really cared about Swish when he was signed, and he wasn't supposed to play rightfield. Then we woke up finding that we had Teixeira at 1st base and suddenly Swish was an outfielder again, like he was in Oakland and Chicago. Then he worked hard and became our every day Rightfielder for 2 years, he's done great work for us.

Cashman knows talent and expect another player or players like that. There are some nuggets out there that can still give the Yanks some quality work. Podsednik, Okajima and the like. People are even talking about George Sherrill, a lefty who came off a horrible year for the Dodgers. Could someone like Sherrill help the Yanks? We'll have to see what Cash thinks.

One things for sure, signing Jeter was huge and now, we can concentrate on make the Yankees even better. Pitching, Catching and bench.

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