Ho, Ho, Hot Stove!

Well it looks like there was a grease fire on the old hot stove this week. The Yankees made the first splash towards the end of the Winter Meetings when they acquired CF Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers in a three way trade that also involved the Arizona Diamondbacks. They also brought back Andy Pettitte for another season. This seemed to wake up the Red Sox because they signed free agents John Lackey and Mike Cameron this week. The questionable five year/$85 million deal given to Lackey, 31, clearly shows that the Sox brass would do anything to keep the pitcher out of Yankee pinstripes.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays have completed a trade that lands Cy Young winning pitcher Roy Halladay in the City of Brotherly Love. Phillies fans were generally not enthusiastic when they learned that the deal would require giving up Cliff Lee, who was arguably their most valuable player in this past post season. As if that weren't enough, the Phils also give up three top prospects, Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor and Travis d'Arnaud. Cliff Lee goes to the Seattle Mariners, who suddenly look like a threat in the AL West.

The Yankees said goodbye to World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, as he signed a one year contract with the LA Angels. Many fans are not happy about the departure, but Matsui's role as a full time designated hitter did not give the Yanks much flexibility in their lineup. Also, his history of knee problems made him a potential liability.

Also on his way out the door is Chien Ming Wang. The Yankees did not tender a contract to Wang, who was never the same after suffering an injury while running the bases in an interleague game.

I believe that the Yankees would not mind bringing back Johnny Damon as a DH and part time outfielder, but only at a reduced salary and not for the three years that he wants. So Johnny Rocket continues to shop himself around – with no apparent interest around MLB.

The pitching well seems to be drying up fast. Will the Bombers get another arm?