The New York Yankees began their free agent hunt fast and early. On the first day of free agency, the Yankees offered a 6-year deal worth about $140 million to C.C. Sabathia. If Sabathia agreed to the deal, he would be the highest paid pitcher in baseball. If the Yankee offer is higher than the Dodger, Giant or Angel offer, Sabathia will be forced by the MLB Player's Association to take the Yankee deal. Being a Yankee wouldn't be so bad, in the new state-of-the-art Yankee Stadium, Sabathia can be himself and only face the media one day when he pitches.

The Yankees plan to offer deals to other free agents, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe. If the Yankees quickly fill their starting pitching needs, then they can focus on Mark Teixeira to fill a hole in the lineup and at 1st base. The Yankees have recently begun trade talks with the San Diego Padres for Jake Peavy. The Padres have stopped trade talks with the Braves and Cubs.

In the Arizona Fall League, Phil Hughes has been stepping up lately. Hughes is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks in 20 innings.

On November 13th, the Yankees acquire 1B/OF Nick Swisher and minor league pitcher Kanekoa Texeira from the Chicago White Sox for Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez. Swisher hit .219 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs. Swisher is a switch-hitter with good but not great defensive skills. The only questionable part about Swisher is his offense. Swisher has .244 career average, but he averages about 25 home runs a season with over 60 RBIs.

Because of the Swisher acquistion, the media is now speculating that the Yankees might not go after free agent Mark Teixeira. However, the Yankees need Teixiera's big bat and great glove on the team. With the depature of Abreu and Giambi, the Yankee offense will be questionable. The Yankees need Teixeira to hit 3rd in front of A-Rod. The Yankees cannot let Teixeira sign with the Boston Red Sox or Baltimore Orioles. If the Red Sox signed Teixeira, it would be catastrophic for the Yankees.

Free agency has begun several hours ago, and the Yankees are determined to strike in the baseball world. The Yankees have already offered a deal to C.C. Sabathia. ESPN's Buster Olney reported that the first proposed deal is 6-years worth $140 million.

In the Arizona Fall League, Phil Hughes is struggling. Hughes is 1-0 with a 5.68 ERA in 3 starts. Hughes is having control issues. Scouts have been saying that Hughes' delivery and command have been bad. Hughes' velocity is fine, his fastball is topping at 94 mph. The only to fix his problems is to fix his delivery. In the Hawaii Baseball League, Yankee prospect fireballer Andrew Brackman is getting knocked around with a 5.03 ERA, however Brackman has 20 strikeouts in 19.2 innings.

Back home the word is spreading that A.J. Burnett dosen't want to come pitch in New York. However, Burnett's agent hasn't ruled out the Yankees yet. Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos is talking about going both after Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett. Both of them are from Maryland. Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated is reporting that Yankees are planning to give a huge offer to C.C. Sabathia, which he can't refuse.

The Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that the Yankees have had preliminary discussions with the San Diego Padres about a possible trade for 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy. It's not known whether the Yankees would actually deal their top pitching prospects this winter for Peavy. Sources say that the Atlanta Braves have also spoken with the Padres regarding Jake Peavy.

On October 16th, the Yankees will begin their organizational meetings down in Tampa, Florida. The entire front office will meet to discuss how to address major issues on the team and who the Yankees will persue in free agency. The Yankees have been rumored to want C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Jake Peavy and Mark Teixeira. Derek Lowe seems to be a reach, because reports out of Los Angeles are saying that Lowe is not intrested pitching in New York.

The Yankees already began making internal changes, by firing third base coach Bobby Meacham and special pitching instructor Rich Monteleone. The media has speculated that Willie Randolph, Larry Bowa and Luis Sojo was candidates to coach at 3rd base.

Sources have said that Andy Pettitte intends to pitch for the Yankees in 2009. Pettitte's agent Randy Hendricks has notified the Yankees of Pettitte's decision. In past interviews, Pettitte has said that he wants to pitch in the new Yankee Stadium.

In the Arizona Fall League, Phil Hughes through 2 starts (10 innings) has a 0.90 ERA with 6 walks and 10 strikeouts. Centerfield prospect Austin Jackson has struggled, hitting just .143. First baseman Juan Miranda has been hitting .543.

Mariano Rivera underwent successful surgery in his right shoulder to remove calcification on top of the AC joint. Rivera will resume throwing in three months. Phil Hughes made his Arizona Fall League debut on Tuesday. Hughes pitched 5 shutout innings, allowing 1 hit, walking 5 and striking out 7 batters. Hughes said that he was a bit rusty which led to his control issues. Double-A center-field prospect Austin Jackson tripled and drove in four runs.

There are have been rumors that Yankee executives spoke with the Pirates about a Nate McLouth- Robinson Cano trade, which the Pirates likely rejected. Yankee officials have denied the rumors. Right-fielder Bobby Abreu recently came out and said he wants a 3-year deal from the Yankees. Getting such a deal for Abreu is unlikely, because the Yankees are thinking he is getting older. Recent reports from C.C. Sabathia have said that he will choose happiness over the amount of money in an offer from a team. The Yankees have to woo him to sign him. It will be tough for the Yankees to get him, they are facing the Dodgers, Giants and possibly a wild card Mets in the sweepstakes for Sabathia.

On October 1st, Brian Cashman held a press conference announcing his return for next season and talking about the future of the New York Yankees. When asked about the biggest hole to fill on the Yankees, Cashman said the starting rotation. Clearly, Cashman is right. The rotation suffered a lot, with the injury to Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain, but also the poor performances of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Cashman did state that Joba Chamberlain will be a starter in 2009. Cashman also stated that Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy will have to compete for a spot in the rotation. On the problem in centerfield, Cashman said that centerfield is up for discussion. The Yankees will have talks on centerfield in their meetings this winter. Cashman and manager Joe Girardi are saying that Jorge Posada will be the starting catcher for the Yankees next year. Concerning scouting international players, Cashman established a scouting office in the Far East to evaluate players better than in recent years. But going into the winter, Cashman will not have supreme authority like in recent years, because of his failures to deliver a world championship.

The Yankees have re-signed Brian Cashman to a 3-year deal. Looks like the Yankees will be balancing between signing free agents and developing players from the farm system.

The Yankees finished 89-73 in 3rd place in the American League East. In 2008, the Yankees dropped dramatically in run production with 789, 7th in the AL. In 2007, the Yankees were the best in baseball in runs scored with 968 runs. Run production went down nearly 20% from 2007 to 2008. In the pitching department, the Yankees improved going from a 4.49 ERA in 2007 to a 4.28 ERA in 2008. You can credit Joe Girardi and Dave Eiland's handling of the pitching staff.

Here are the reasons the Yankees missed the playoffs:

1. The injuries to Chien-Ming Wang, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Joba Chamberlain.

2. Poor production from Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.

3. Barely any clutch hits from the lineup. Rallies were killed by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez constantly.

4. Another slow start early in the season. The Yankees went 14-15 in April, 50-45 in the 1st half.

5. Losses to bad teams like Pittsburgh, Texas, Cincinnati and Kansas City.

The first annual Hot Yankee Fan of the Month of October is Crystal Gunns. She is a model and exotic dancer. She is 32 years old and a native of Queens, New York. She is fan of the New York Yankees and her favorite player is Derek Jeter. She is also a fan of the Miami Dolphins and loves Dan Marino. Crystal currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. Crystal Gunns is the Hot Yankee Fan of the Month for October 2008.

We are hours away from the end of the 2008 baseball season. The Yankees will go home after their doubleheader on Sunday. Mike Mussina will go for his 20th win, weather permitting. During the off-season, I will monitor Phil Hughes' development in the Arizona Fall League. During the off-season, I will publish a Yankee Universe constitution, which will have laws, for example regarding team allegiance.

At the end of the season, $89 million is coming off the $207 million Yankee payroll. Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano and Ivan Rodriguez will become free agents after the playoffs. Most of them will be gone, except for Pettitte and Mussina, but the Yankees will only let them come back for a discount. The Yankees have to be done overpaying for free agents. The Yankees will be likely spending this winter on free agents, because they have to compete in a tougher AL East in 2009. The Yankees need to sign C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira. Sabathia can be the ace of the rotation to counter with the Red Sox's Josh Beckett. Mark Teixeira is a gold-glove fielding 1st baseman with a swtich-hitting bat. His switch-hitting bat is also a plus because the Yankees are too left-handed in their lineup. In the bullpen, the Yankees need to add 2 more right-handed relievers and a setup-man for Rivera. Joba Chamberlain should stay in the rotation, because if the Yankees get Sabathia, they will be stacked with great arms. The Yankees must also address the issues with Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera. One idea could be for the Yankees to trade Robinson Cano for a centerfielder and sign gold-glove fielding 2nd baseman Orlando Hudson.

But in the long run, the Yankees have to focus on drafting position players, the Yankees haven't produced many of them. Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano only come to mind. If Brian Cashman comes back, he will have less power because of the bad moves he has made in past years.

On the night of Tuesday, September 23rd at 9:54 p.m. EST, the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs after the Red Sox beat the Indians, 5-4. Thanks a lot, Indians, you've killed us again. For the first time since 1993, there won't be a postseason with the Yankees. A season full of devastating injuries and inconsitencies led the Yankees away from the playoffs. Devastating injuries to Chien-Ming Wang, Jorge Posada and Joba Chamberlain killed the Yankees. Taking a 19-game winner and a .290 hitter will hurt any team. Inconsistencies from Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Andy Pettitte, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera killed the Yankees. The Yankees will now watch October from their couches. Expect a lot of changes in the off-season. I will not blame Joe Girardi, he did everything he could. I salute Mike Mussina (who is at 19 wins), he's one of the few Yankees that has produced the whole season. The Rays and Angels also killed the Yankees. The Angels acutally put the Yankees to bed during that long road-trip in August.

The New York Yankees closed Yankee Stadium in a very classy ceremony. Joe Girardi managed the game against the Orioles like if it was Game 7 of the World Series. The final out was a grounder hit by Orioles 2nd baseman Brian Roberts to 1st baseman Cody Ransom. After the out was recorded, Ransom gave the winning ball to Mariano Rivera. Yankee Stadium was history. Derek Jeter made a great speech saluting the fans, with the rest of the team behind him on the mound. Personally, I want to thank Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Scott Brosius, Paul O'Neill, Mariano Rivera, David Cone, David Wells, Andy Pettitte and Aaron Boone for all the great memories of the greatest sporting venue in the world.

I noticed as I was surfing the internet, that the Boston-based Red Sox propaganda BostonDirtDogs.com called the Stadium as "a dump since '76." Listen Red Sox Nation, don't even get me started to talk about your dump- Fenway Park, which looks like it's about to collapse because it's so old. So shut up "Nation", let us celebrate the great Yankee Stadium.

Phil Hughes returned to the Yankees and started tonight for the first time since April 29th. Hughes pitched 4 innings allowing 1 run and striking out 4. Hughes was OK, but he threw to many pitches and lasted too short. Hughes came into the start sporting new glasses which will help him pitch, because he had a problem with the lights/glares at home earlier this season. Hughes is likely to get several more starts before going to the Arizona Fall League after the season. For next year, Hughes is going to have to work hard to make the rotation. Everyone enjoy the last homestand at Yankee Stadium!