Well the Gm Meetings are getting underway and more rumors continue to pile up as the Yankees look to improve on their failed 2008 campaign. Let’s take a look at some rumors we’ve heard lately:

- Jake Peavy apparently is good friends with Yankee captain Derek Jeter and the Yankees may actually be the only team in the AL Peavy would come to.

- The Arizona Diamondbacks will not be able to lock up Brandon Webb long term and it seems like the Yankees would of course be interested. Though I doubt the Backs trade Webb this early.

- The Rockies are willing to trade Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins and Willy Taveras. The Yankees are said to be interested in all three.

- Si.com Jon Heyman believes the Yankees are the front runners for both CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett.

- Hank Steinbrenner really likes Manny Ramirez!

That’s about all of them for now. More will begin to roll in. We shall see!

This Rockies blog:

[Click Here]

is reporting a trade that would send Ian Kennedy to the Colorado Rockies for CF Willy Taveras. If you think this trade is lopsided towards the Rockies you are wrong. Ian Kennedy’s value is down a lot and its really not selling low on. Scouts have recently said that Taveras is close to his best days as a Major Leaguer. I know we have Gardner already, but Taveras is the more proven Major Leaguer and this move wouldn’t necessarily call the end of the Gardner era in New York.

I think most Yankee fans believe CC Sabathia will be in pinstripes come opening day 2009, but it will take a good chunk of money for that to happen. Friends of Sabathia have had different opinions of the lefty ace’s personality. Some say he would love NYC and take on the spot light, while others say he is a quiet man who likes to keep to himself. It’s no secret that the Yankees WILL offer CC the best and largest contract on the table and out of every team could also offer him what he so desires, a chance to win the World Series.

News is coming in this morning that the Milwaukee Brewer’s may offer Sabathia a contract of 4 years 100 million. Sabathia is very fond of the Brewers so one may say he might accept that deal, but it’s highly doubtful. It’s tough to see CC not getting more money then Johan Santana – 6 years 137.5 million -  did with the Mets, which also favors the Yankees –who rarely ever lose money even when the economy struggles-. What also favors the Yankees is a beautiful new field opening up across the street from the cathedral, which even Sabathia mentioned when talking about the Yankees.

Its going to be a long off-season of rumors so please continue checking in as news is sure to heat up.

Ok, since we are back up and running I want to get a question to the fans out their –hope your out their, ahaa-. What is your dream trade this off-season? First, please be realistic! No Kei Igawa for Prince Fielder stuff.

Here is mine:

Yankees Get: Matt Cain, but have to take on the contract of Barry Zito or Aaron Rowand.

San Francisco Get: Robinson Cano, Juan Miranda and Jose Veras or Edwar Ramirez / Robinson Cano, Hideki Matsui –contract also- and Jose Veras or Edwar Ramirez

Why the Yankees would do this:

The Yankees want good starting pitching and vision their rotation as a young crop to build around. Since I do think the Yankees will land CC Sabathia they could enter the 2009 season with a rotation of Sabathia, Cain, Wang, Joba and Pettitte –who wouldn’t like that?-. The Yankees will deal Cano if they could get a young SP like Matt Cain and I’m sure they would be willing to take Aaron Rowand to play CF.

Why The Giants would do this:

The Giants have a nice crop already of young SP’s and are a few hitters and pen pitchers away from being a solid team. Cano would add a middle of the order bat that the Giants do not have. Matsui would add the same as Cano, while a player like Juan Miranda could see time at 1B and be a regular pinch hitter. Edwar Ramirez and or Jose Veras would be a solid 8th or 9th inning man for the Giants.

Let’s here some of yours!

The Yanks started the off-season by bringing back GM Brian Cashman to a three-year extension. This was the right thing to do as the Yankees did not have a person in the organization who was a clear favorite to replace Cashman. I also like that Cash will not change his plans –growing from within, but still spending money- because the Yankees did not make the post-season. I’m going to try to do a little predicting here with knowledge of what the organization wants to do.

1. The Yankees sign AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe.

- Theirs a lot of rumors floating around that the Yanks will make a run at CC Sabathia, but aren’t even sure if money will change the work-horses mind. The organization is said to be high on the idea of signing Burnett and Lowe to “reasonable” contracts. Burnett will have to get good guaranteed money due to the fact he is arguably the second best free-agent SP available. Derek Lowe is also said to want back in the AL East because the NL West isn’t competitive enough.

2. Yankees explore a trade for Zach Greinke, but fail to strike a deal.

- Trust me when I say the Yankees are going to make a serious run at Zach Greinke, but the bad thing is they will come up short. The Royals will only deal Greinke if it betters their organization, which some feel it will. What I see going down is Robinson Cano as the center piece of a deal, but the Yanks backing out because the Royals will demand Cano plus a top line Starter like a Phil Hughes.

3. Joba Chamberlain will be a Starter!

- Brian Cashman already said he will be so let’s end the talk, shall we?

4. Yankees Trade for Casey Kotchman

- This is pure speculation on my part, but please don’t give me the BRAVES WONT TRADE HIM STUFF! The Braves have more problems then the Mets getting through September. If the Yankees cough up Ian Kennedy plus a prospect or two Kotchman will be dealt. Casey struggled a bit in the NL likely due to not being familiar with the pitchers he faced. Great glove and timely hitting has always seemed to be Kotchman’s game and guess what that’s what the Yankees need!

5. Yanks sign Orlando Hudson if Cano is traded.

- Now for you who talk to me online, you know I love Robinson Cano. As I’ve told you Cano needs to be traded if his name is mentioned to land a young SP like Zach Greinke. If this happens you will definitely see Brian Cashman favorite Orlando Hudson in pinstripes come opening day 2009. I’ve also heard some rumblings that the Yanks may sign Hudson anyway and move Cano to 1B, I wouldn’t look too much into that though.

6. Yanks try to trade Kei Igawa, but fail!

- For some odd reason I think the Yankees may look to trade Kei Igawa. Hmmmm wonder why I think that. They won’t find a taker, but will trade some of the dead weight in the system.

7. Bobby Meacham is let go!

- Yes, it will happen. I think the Yanks will get Joe Girardi’s staff a little more toughness and experience. Look for names like Don Baylor, Willie Randolph, Larry Bowa and Lois Sojo.

8. Brett Gardner starts 2009 in CF and stays for good!

- Brett Gardner will be the Yankees opening day CF and wouldn’t surprise me if he is there for a long time. I know Austin Jackson is on the rise, but no way does he cover more ground then Brett. Austin will be fine in LF come 2010. Kevin Long switched Gardner’s open stance to a closed stance, which proved to be a huge mechanical change. Gardner all of a sudden was quicker to the ball and shows why he is a Major League starter.

9. The Moose calls it quits.

- I know you feel it too. Moose you were great!

10. Yanks fix their bench!

- I don’t know how, but they will. Wait, that’s not a prediction. It’s good enough!