Wither the Bombers?

It's going to be a very interesting off-season for the New York Yankees. Not since the early 90s has the team been in such flux.

At 89-73 in '08, the Yankees could be said to be at the precipice of playoff contention, except they're not. They are old, slow, defensively creaky and getting more of each. Their best pitcher from last year retired and another veteran hurler is either joining him or poised to continue his career downslide. They have four DHs, no first basemen and an outfield of noodle arms and rubber legs.

That's the bad news for pinstripe partisans. The good news is that they still have some great assets, including the best hitting shortstop-thirdbaseman combination in the league -- maybe even in history. They have $75 million in bad contracts coming off the books and some delicious free agent possibilities. Dismissing Jason Giambi was the right move because his defensive liabilities limit him to a DH role that render him redundant on this team. He'll find employment on a younger, weaker-hitting lineup.

The obvious apple of the Big Apple's eye is Mark Teixeira. Tex is two players in one -- a peak-of-career banger who draws walks and a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman. He fills an open spot on the diamond and his presence would mitigate some of the infield's defensive deficiencies while his bat delivers RBIs in clumps. With a reasonable expectation of some resurgence from Robby Cano at second base, the Yankees would sport a spiffy infield. Of course, the Teixeira option will come at a nine-figure cost, with warm regards from Scott Boras.

Jorge Posada returns, but at 37 and coming off shoulder surgery he'll need an apprentice. Similarly age-enhanced Ivan Rodriguez and talent-challenged Jose Molina don't qualify. Adios amigos! Ring in the new!

The Yankees should re-sign Bobby Abreu despite his age. Both his patience at the plate and his speed are valuable assets to the Bombers and he'll be needed to fill that decrepit patchwork outfield. Among the now-brittle Matsui, Damon and Abreu there'll never be more than two healthy players, and one of these lefties will be needed to platoon with Xavier Nady against righties. Nick Swisher is an adequate stopgap centerfield option, allowing the Yankees the luxury of not relying on Melky Cabrera's unlikely bounceback. One of Damon, Matsui and Posada can DH while Brett Gardner serves as an everyday defensive replacement.

This arrangement allows for the foreseeable breakdown in bodies over 162 games and will give the front office another year to fertilize the farm system or fish for a unheralded studs.

In the rotation, NY would be well-served by signing an average or better lefty starter. Wang and Joba are locks, and the Potential Twins -- Hughes and Kennedy -- will get their chance. Figuring one of them succeeds sufficiently to be a #3 starter, that leaves the rotation one good pitcher short. (Every team needs a better fifth starter; if the fifth starter was a star he wouldn't be a fifth starter.) Banking on Andy Pettitte's return is a fool's errand, but so is banking on a CC signing. He's going to cost an arm and a stomach; the latter is frighteningly prodigious and the former has thrown 700 innings in three years. This will be the most important move the Yankees make.

Bullpens are always fluid entities and this one is no exception. The 39-year-old Panamanian could lose 10% of his effectiveness and still anchor the pen. Beyond him, a couple of lefty-righty options ought to be available from the scrap heap if Brian Cashman is vigilant.

If Cahsman turn the dial a little towards younger, faster and better defense, the Yankees will be able to reload as they compete with the Red Sox and talent-stuffed Rays. If not, the pinstriped machine will lose worn-out parts as the season progresses and grind to a halt in the dust of Boston, Tampa and even Toronto.