I agree with your assessment.
Rather than entering a dark period, the Yanks will have a single dark year. 2014 is when they will be under $189 million and save a lot of money moving ahead with the luxury tax.
After the dark year of 2014, the Yanks will be spending money to improve. With the surgeries to Banuelos and Pineda, there's no guarantee either will have a rotation spot. The youngster to keep an eye on is Jose Campos. He was a toss in for the Montero/Pineda trade, but might be the best player in the deal.
Despite dumping Scott Boras, Cano might still end up signing elsewhere. Someone will give the 30 year old, who won't run out ground balls, a 10 year contract. Remember when the experts said the Yanks had to sign ARod at all costs because they were moving into the new stadium? In hindsight, the Yanks should have let him walk.
I agree: 2014 may be worse than this year and they'll get under their salary cap threshold and then begin to spend again. I just hope they do it wisely. No more A-Rod deals!
I think Pineda will have a rotation spot next year. Sure it's not guaranteed but I think the Yankees will pull the trigger. They've already shut him down for the season and his numbers weren't horrible upon his return. With the lack of quality free agent pitchers this offseason, I could see the Yankees putting him in the rotation with no expectation and making him a number 4 or 5 guy to try and take some of that pressure off. I heard Jose Campos was good and could be an absolute steal. Didn't he miss this year as well due to surgery or no?
You're absolutely right about how the Yankees should have let A-Rod walk. I said that back in 2007 before he resigned. What I didn't know then and have only found out in recent months was that the Yankees were looking to move on without him and guess who they were talking to? The Florida Marlins. And guess who they were discussing. Miguel Cabrera! Can you imagine what they guy would be doing in Yankee Stadium as opposed to Comerica Park as a Yankee? He would have won his triple crown sooner than last year. Plus, he's younger and healthier too than A-Rod. The absolute most dangerous hitter in the league today. Shaking my head at what could have been...
