It was music to the ears of free agents, and their agents. With typical Steinbrennerian certitude, new New York Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner indicated his team is ready to open its wallet in the offseason, especially if the current downturn is not corrected and the team misses the playoffs for the first time since 1995. "We're going to win it next year," Steinbrenner said. "If we need to add a top veteran pitcher, we'll do that. We'll do whatever we need to do. Next year we'll be extremely dangerous." CC Sabathia looks like the best starter in the free-agent market that includes Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Ben Sheets next winter, and his price appears to keep shooting up as he pitches Milwaukee toward the playoffs. Then there is Adam Dunn, who seems perfect for Yankee Stadium. Bobby Abreu's contract is up after this year, Jason Giambi is owed a $22 million option the Yankees seem unlikely to pick up, and Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon will be in the last year of contracts in 2009. With all that left-handed power leaving, it seems like a hole Dunn could plug.
