When Anaheim kicked the Yankees from the playoffs in the first round, we knew New York would break open their pocket book to close off any holes in the team this off-season. While many were surprised when they chose to allow some of their bullpen staff to leave as free agents and began discussing changes in the rotation, one must remember that those players were members of the team that failed owner George Steinbrenner these past two seasons. Therefore while they might not have been directly responsible for the losses, they were viewed as expendable.

While Bernie Williams has patrolled center for the Yankees for the past several seasons, they haven't gone for big guns on the corners. This off-season they set out to add another bat to the outfield, targeting Hideki Matsui, who was the biggest name remaining in Japanese baseball. One wonders if New York was particularly willing to allow Ramiro Mendoza to depart because he wore Matsui's #55, which Matsui was quite interested in retaining.

You may recall with Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhisa Ishii that teams bid for the rights to negotiate for the services of the star players from Japan. That took place because those players were under contract with Japanese teams. Their teams received the money from the high bidder. Matsui was a free agent, so there was no need for that additional step in his case. After he announced his interest in signing with a major league team, any organization could have contacted him with an offer.

However, here we once again encounter the benefits of international recognition, as Matsui was already focused on the Yankees and wanted to sign with them first and foremost. New York was familiar with his skills and shared his interest in completing a deal. Last week, the two sides agreed to a three-year, $21M contract. Matsui will receive $6M in 2003, $7M in 2004, and $8M in 2005 with an additional $500,000 in incentives available each season.

Last season Matsui hit .334 with a .461 OBP and .692 SLG on 167 H, 27 2B, 1 3B, and 50 HR with a 114:104 BB:K and 3 SB in 500 AB. Those numbers will drop against the more difficult competition of Major League Baseball. However, his plate patience should allow him to maintain a good deal of his effectiveness with his new team. The left-handed hitter should also find Yankee Stadium advantageous.

In November, the Yankees established a relationship with Matsui's former club the Yomiuri Giants. The partnership facilitates an exchange of information with the Yankees helping the Giants with Latin American scouting, the Giants assisting the Yankees in scouting their region of the world, and the two sides sharing information on major league players, league rules, and player care. At this time, the agreement is not currently in place to facilitate player movement between the two organizations, though it does allow for exchange of minor league non-player personnel. However, this alliance should strengthen the Yankees' international scouting and further increase their international prominence.

Matsui wasn't the only player on the international market in which the Yankees were interested. They were also determined to snatch this off-season's other prominent rookie free agent. Jose Contreras defected from Cuba in early October and then set up residence in Nicaragua in order to be able to name his price as a free agent rather than be subject to the first year player draft.

Boston was the other team pushing hard to sign Contreras, but the Yankees won out, agreeing to a four-year, $32M contract with the right-handed starter on Christmas Eve. The 31-year-old was a member of Cuba's national team for seven years and is considered to have very good stuff. Now the question is what will happen with the remainder of the Yankee rotation.

New York extended an arbitration offer to Roger Clemens, though reportedly only after he informally agreed not to accept. Clemens did not accept, but by making the offer the Yankees extended the time period in which they can negotiate with the free agent. The two sides are still talking and are supposedly close to a deal, so Clemens is expected to return to New York in 2003.

Sterling Hitchcock will return to a long relief role if not traded before Opening Day. However Contreras, Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Orlando Hernandez, David Well, and Jeff Weaver only have five rotation spots to share. Given the resources invested in Weaver, he should become a full time member of the rotation this year, and Hernandez seems likely to move to the pen. Meanwhile Pettitte unfortunately appears to top their list of trade bait. Although I find it disappointing to think of the Yankees dealing the only starter on the team who doesn't seem like a mercenary, Pettitte should bring more than the others in trade and will be easier to deal. If they want to remain younger, they could also attempt to find a buyer for David Wells, who certainly increased his marketability last season.

In addition to their more flamboyant acquisitions, the Yankees also signed Todd Zeile to a one-year, $1.5M contract and Enrique Wilson to a $700,000 one-year deal. Zeile, who can earn an additional million in incentives, provides the Yankees with a right-handed backup for the left-handed hitters at first, third, and DH. New York is still considering trading Nick Johnson, which would open up additional at-bats at DH. I'm a bit surprised that the Yankees didn't attempt to upgrade from Wilson in the middle infield, as both his bat and glove skills have deteriorated over the past few seasons.