Delusional Yankee followers

While I was scrolling through MLBtraderumors today I came across an article written by Joel Sherman of the NY Post  that I thought was pretty telling of front-runner Yankee fans and media. The general theme of the article is that the Yankees will be a "deeper, less top-heavy team without Cliff Lee", since they can now allocate the money they would have spent on Lee to other places including the bullpen and a 4th outfielder.

Let me first point out just how ridiculous the notion is that if the Yankees had of spent $20-$25M per year on Cliff Lee they wouldn't have enough left to spend on extra arms in the bullpen or a 4th fucking outfielder. Those two relievers and a utility man would have put them over the top. Not Sabathia, Texeira, Burnett, Jeter, Rivera, or A-Rod's contracts.

Next on Sherman's Pulitzer prize worthy article was stating that the Yankees have one of the best farm systems in the MLB, and a solid young "core" that includes Robinson Cano and uhhhh...

According to MLB Fanhouse, the Yankees farm system ranked 15th before the season last year. This was before they traded away Austin Jackson. They currently have only two top 100 prospect according to Baseball America - both catchers in Jesus Montero and Austin Romine - who they are so high on that they went out and signed Russel Martin to be their starting catcher next season. This is also the farm system that couldn't offer up enough talent to pry Cliff Lee away from Seattle last year, and we all know how that turned out.

They do have CC Sabathia who is a stud, but after that they have Phil Hughes whose second half numbers in 2010 leave something to be desired, Any Pettitte who might not return, and the ghost of AJ Burnett. If Pettitte does actually return next year, their rotation will look something like this (at least until someone breaks down or shits the bed):

1) CC Sabathia
2) Phil Hughes
3) Andy Pettitte
4) AJ Burnett
5) Ivan Nova

But don't worry, Yankees fans. Now that you so fortunately avoided signing Cliff Lee you now have the financial flexibility to sign Brian Fuentes, or make a trade for Carlos Zambrano. Yeesh.