Heating The Stove

Now that the Yankees have been crowned World Series champs, the hot stove season can begin. The 2009 General Manager meetings are currently taking place in Chicago, and the rumor mill has been ripe with information on what the Yankees plan on doing this winter:Pitcher John Lackey is supposedly on the Yankees radar, although GM Brian Cashman has already denied any interest. Analysts are speculating that the Yankees will try to offer the right-hander a contract similar to the one they offered A.J. Burnett last year. The 30 year-old Lackey went 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA last season, but missed the first month of the season with an injury. If the Yankees could bring in Lackey on a three or four year deal, he'd certainly make the rotation even stronger.The Yankees will try to retain Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte, although Pettitte is their primary target and Damon's agent has stated that the outfielder will not accept a hometown discount to return to New York. There ha...