Offseason Recap: Yanks Bolster Rotation

The Yankees didn't spend like the Yankees. They didn't throw money at Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, or Jose Reyes. While other teams made headlines this offseason, the Yanks quietly had one their best offseason in a while.

The 2011 ALDS ended with a dismal performance by the Yankee lineup. After a 10-1 thumping of Detroit in Game 4, Game 5 brought woes at the plate with runners in scoring position, as the Yanks managed to only go 2 for 9 in those situations. However, scoring runs wasn't a problem for New York in the regular season. The Bombers lived up to their nickname, finishing first in the league in home runs (222). They also crossed home plate 867 times, good for second in the Junior Circuit.

The Yanks looked to improve upon their rotation, and improved it they did.


The number-one task on the agenda was to resign staff ace CC Sabathia, who opted out of his gargantuan contract in search of a raise and extension. Sabathia was his old self as usual in 2011, posting a 19-8 record with a 147 ERA+. His HR/9 (0.6), BB/9 (2.3), and K/9 (8.7) were the best in his three-season Yankees career. Without Sabathia, the Yankees rotation would have been left in shambles. CC ended up with what he wanted, a five-year contract worth $122m with a vesting option in 2017.

The Bombers remained rather dormant until mid-January. After silent trade talks, top prospect Jesus Montero  and Hector Noesi were shipped off to Seattle for second-year fireballer Michael Pineda and prospect Jose Campos. Pineda, 23, was a huge addition to a pitching staff that was oldest in the American League (average age: 31 years old). Standing in at 6'7", he finished 2011 with 28 major league starts under his belt and a 103 ERA+. His 9.1 K/9 rate was also second in the American League. It will be interesting to see how his stuff translates to the Big Apple.

Just as that trade was being finalized, the Yankees struck again, this time in free agency. New York locked up starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda with a one-year, $10m deal. Kuroda, 37, pitched to the tune of a 121 ERA+ and 3.29 K/BB ratio.

With so much pitching, the Yankees had the luxury to unload AJ Burnett. Projected as their seventh starting pitcher, he was traded to Pittsburgh for not much more than a song and a dance. The Pirates took on $13m of the pitcher's salary ($5m in 2012 and $8m in 2013). This was a classic case of addition by subtraction. Yankees fans can thank AJ all they want for Game 2 and walk-off pies, but there was not much else to be desired from him.

The Yankees also managed to tweak their already-potent lineup. After resigning outfielder Andruw Jones and third baseman Eric Chavez, the Yanks wanted to partially fill the void at DH left by Jesus Montero. Former Phillie Raul Ibanez was signed on by New York on a incentive-laden, one-year, $1.1m contract. Raul isn't the hitter he used to be, hitting a subpar 91 OPS+. He still managed to slug 20 home runs and drive in 84 runs. Expect the lefty to be used almost exclusively against right-handed pitching.

This offseason wasn't the money-throwing party that most Yankee fans have come to expect. This was even better. The Bombers managed to turn a weakness into a strength without decimating their lineup or farm system. This team is one of the most well-rounded Yankee teams in the past decade and is primed to do damage in 2012.