--1B Nick Swisher arrived in a trade with the White Sox along with a minor-leaguer for INF Wilson Betemit, RHP Jeff Marquez and minor league RHP Jhonny Nunez. The Yankees gain greatly at the big-league level, as Betemit never really found his groove as a Yankees utility man while the club expects Swisher to fill the void left by Jason Giambi at first base. Swisher can also fill in at all three outfield spots and adds some pop after averaging 26 homers the past four years. Marquez went 8-8 with a 4.47 ERA in the minors last season while missing some time with a shoulder strain. The Yankees also received RHP Kanekoa Texeira, who went 6-3 with a 1.33 ERA in 51 appearances for Chicago's Class A and AA clubs last season.
--LHP Damaso Marte signed a three-year contract reportedly worth $12 million with a club option for a fourth. The Yankees acquired Marte from Pittsburgh last season on July 26, and the pitcher struggled early as a Yankee while battling injuries. He went 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 25 appearances but allowed two earned runs over his final 16 outings. Marte, 33, gives the Yankees the left-handed specialist they'd been seeking for a while. But the former closer also gives the Yankees versatility and can be used in a number of roles. --LHP Andy Pettitte filed for free agency as expected. Pettitte had already announced to a Houston television station that he intended to pitch again in 2009, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has told reporters he hoped to work something out to bring Pettitte back. Pettitte was 14-14 in 2008.
--RHP Mariano Rivera said he was doing well while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. "I'm right there where I want to be," Rivera said. Rivera expects to start throwing at the end of January, he said, and he expects to be ready for spring training.
--C Jorge Posada told reporters there were no setbacks in his recovery from surgery on his right shoulder. He expects to throw in the second week of December. "I'm really looking forward to getting ready before spring training, too," said Posada, who missed much of last year and underwent surgery July 30. "But when it comes to March 1, I think I'm going to be 100 percent." Posada again repeated his mantra that "I want to be a catcher" when asked if he would take some practice time at first base.
--LHP CC Sabathia would certainly be welcome in the Yankees' clubhouse, but captain Derek Jeter repeated his usual stance that he doesn't "have to sell New York" to prospective free agents. "It's not like I have my checklist," Jeter said of a sales pitch while addressing reporters. Sabathia is the most sought-after prize in the free agent market, and the Brewers ace will be the Yankees' No. 1 priority. He's expected to draw offers of nearly $150 million over six years.
--LHP Kei Igawa may be one of the Yankees' biggest big-budget busts at the major league level, but he earned some acclaim in the minors. Topps recently named Igawa to its Class AAA All-Star team after he set a club record for wins (14) with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Of course, he might not have reached such a lofty mark had he not been quickly chased off the mound in his brief return to the majors for the Yankees last season. Igawa pitched in two games, yielding six runs and 13 hits in four innings.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Years in the contract LHP Damaso Marte received from the Yankees. The team has not had a consistently successful left-hander in the bullpen since Mike Stanton's first go-round in 2002, and it hopes Marte can fill that void.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to do what we do every year, and that's try to field a championship team. If that means spending money, it obviously means spending money." -- Co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner on the Yankees' goal for the free agency period this offseason.
