The Yankees didn't make any major splashes on the free-agent market this winter, passing on - or getting outbid on - big names such as Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Instead, the Bombers shed a couple of big contracts, dealing Randy Johnson and Gary Sheffield, while bringing back old friend Andy Pettitte. Despite their bloated - albeit decreasing - payroll and All-Star lineup, the Yanks are looking to players such as Philip Hughes, Humberto Sanchez and Jose Tabata to carry them into the next decade rather than dole out hundreds of millions to players in free agency.
That's not to say that Brian Cashman is in the midst of a rebuilding project. The Yankees' objective for 2007 is the same as always, which is to bring the World Series trophy back to the Bronx.
With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to Tampa on Tuesday, here are the five biggest questions facing the Yankees this spring.
1) Is the rotation good enough?
That depends on two separate questions: Will Carl Pavano stay healthy and can Kei Igawa make a smooth adjustment to the major leagues? If the answer to each of these is yes, then the Yankees are in good shape. If not, it could be a long year in the Bronx.
Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Pettitte lead the rotation, and while there are always concerns about Pettitte's health, the lefthander has put some of those fears to rest by surpassing the 200-inning mark in each of the past two seasons.
Pavano's health, on the other hand, is still a hot topic. After working out in Arizona this winter, he says he's in the best shape of his life. His first two years in as a Yankee have been an unmitigated disaster, marred by a slew of injuries, some more bizarre than others. Pavano, who has pitched a total of 100 innings in pinstripes, is entering the third season of his four-year, $39.95 million deal. He will have to take the ball every five days and prove to his teammates that he wants to be on the field with them.
Igawa is more of a mystery, as few in the organization had even seen him throw a pitch before he arrived in Tampa earlier this week. Will Igawa follow Hideki Matsui's lead and make an easy transition from Japan to the majors, or will he resemble Hideki Irabu, who never lived up to expectations? The Yankees project him as a back-of-the-rotation starter, so there shouldn't be too much pressure on him.
2) How good are these kids, anyway?
Over the past few months, Cashman has been restocking the farm system, adding several hard-throwing young arms to the organization. Sanchez and Ross Ohlendorf were acquired in trades for Sheffield and Johnson, respectively, landing two blue-chip arms in the Bronx.
When these young pitchers will pay dividends is yet to be determined, but Joe Torre figures to get a good look at all of them during spring training. As Cashman likes to say, it typically takes 20 to 25 pitchers to get through a 162-game season, so these youngsters may be needed in 2007, just as Darrell Rasner and Jeff Karstens were called upon last year.
Then there's Hughes, who is likely to open the season at Triple-A Scranton. Hughes isn't just the team's top prospect, he's also probably the top pitching prospect in the league.
This will be Hughes' second go-around in big-league camp with the Yankees, only this time there is an outside chance that he could make the Opening Day roster. Either way, it's a near lock that Hughes will be wearing Yankee pinstripes at some point this season. If Pavano or Igawa stumbles during the spring, Hughes could seize the opportunity.
3) Can A-Rod stay out of the limelight?
It's unlikely that Alex Rodriguez will be able to blend into the background this spring. Despite the projections that A-Rod will opt out of his contract at the end of the season, he remains the highest-paid player in the game, and along with that title comes plenty of attention. Throw in the fact that he is coming off yet another dreadful postseason, and all eyes will be on Rodriguez for yet another spring.
The conjecture about his contract will be a year-long story, though it will be little more than speculation until the fall. A-Rod says he's committed to playing in New York, but could another October disappointment change his thinking? Only A-Rod knows the answer to that, though he is unlikely to reveal that answer for about eight or nine more months.
Unfortunately for A-Rod, his regular-season performance in 2007 - no matter how good it may be - will do little to silence critics. Only a strong October and a Yankees World Series win can do that.
4) Is Joe Torre on the hot seat?
Torre almost lost his job following the Yankees' first-round loss to the Tigers last October, but the manager was brought back for a 12th season - the final year of his three-year contract.
Like the A-Rod situation, there figures to be plenty of speculation as to Torre's future. Will this be the skipper's final season in New York? Will he move on in 2008 and manage elsewhere? Will he ride off into the sunset if his Yankees earn him a fifth ring? Will he be fired during the season if the team doesn't meet the owner's expectations?
It is hard to see George Steinbrenner giving Torre the ax during the season, even if the Yankees get off to a slow start. After all, the team stumbled out of the gate in 2005 and didn't get off to the hottest start last season, yet the Bombers have reached the postseason in each of Torre's 11 years. Knowing that Torre's contract is up, Steinbrenner could wait until the end of the season and make a change without the bad PR that would come with a firing.
This is still the Yankees, so a terrible first month, combined with a hot start by the Red Sox, could change everything.
5) Who's on first?
Doug Mientkiewicz will fill the left side of the platoon, playing against right-handed pitchers, while Andy Phillips and Josh Phelps battle it out for the other spot.
Phillips was expected to see a lot of time at first base last season, but a mediocre first half led to the Yankees' deadline deal for Craig Wilson, reducing Phillips to the bench. He hit just .240 with seven homers and 29 RBIs, proving himself to be a streaky hitter.
Phelps, whom the Yankees plucked from the Orioles in December's Rule V draft, did not play in the majors last season, but he has had success during his brief career. The 28-year-old hit 15 home runs in 74 games with Toronto in his rookie season of 2002, then followed that up with 20 homers in 2003. He hasn't done much since the Blue Jays traded him in the middle of 2004, but he has an opportunity this spring to play his way back to the big leagues.
Camp info
Pitchers and catchers report: Tuesday Park: Legends Field Location: Tampa, Fla. Seating capacity: 10,000 First game: March 1 vs. Minnesota at 1:15 p.m., televised on YES (The Yanks get ALDS rematch with Detroit in their third home game, March 5 at 1:15 p.m. on YES and ESPN) Ticket prices: $17 (200 level outside bases); $21 (200 level inside bases); $23 (100 level outside bases); $25 (100 level inside bases); $25 (boxes and suites) Ticket info: log on to http://www.yankees.com or call (813) 879-2244
