DEPARTURES: RHP Mike Mussina (retired), INF Wilson Betemit (traded to White Sox), RHP Carl Pavano (free agent, signed with Indians), 1B Jason Giambi (free agent, signed with A's), C Chad Moeller (free agent, signed minor league deal with Orioles), RF Bobby Abreu (free agent, unsigned), RHP Sidney Ponson (free agent, unsigned), C Ivan Rodriguez (free agent, unsigned).

SPRING FOCUS: The Yankees, as usual, have enough storylines to fill several teams' camps. Eyes will be on the adjustment of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira to their new team -- and the expectations that go with it; how manager Joe Girardi handles his pivotal second season after some shaky dealings with the media and his clubhouse in the first; and, of course, the annual circus barrage of questions for Alex Rodriguez, who will now have to handle the fallout from his steroid revelation -- which makes the "A-Fraud" revelation in Joe Torre's book, "The Yankee Year," seem trivial by comparison.

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. LHP CC Sabathia

2. RHP A.J. Burnett

3. RHP Chien-Ming Wang

4. LHP Andy Pettitte

5. RHP Joba Chamberlain

Manager Joe Girardi could play with that order in a couple of ways, but, with all due respect, he certainly won't be harkening back to the days of plugging in Sidney Ponson and Dan Giese. What was a glaring weakness only a couple of months ago should become a towering sign of strength as the Yankees are solid on paper from top to bottom.

Obviously, the most important piece of that rotation is at the top, and the Yankees hope Sabathia will adjust to New York as well as he seems prepared to do, because everything else follows from him. But the depth is nice, and even concerns about Burnett's injury-riddled past have been somewhat placated as the Yankees have RHP Phil Hughes and RHP Ian Kennedy waiting in the minors for depth along with other strong, young arms, such as RHP Alfredo Aceves and LHP Phil Coke.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)

LHP Damaso Marte

RHP Brian Bruney

RHP Edwar Ramirez

RHP Dan Giese

RHP Jose Veras

The Yankees again turn to Rivera to anchor their bullpen -- though they'll have to hope his dominance continues after offseason surgery -- and hope to offer more help getting to him. The advantage of their improved rotation is the bullpen shouldn't be as taxed or needed as much as it was last season, but the unit will miss the presence of Joba Chamberlain, who will now be a full-time starter.

There will be plenty of battles for spots in the bullpen as Rivera, Marte and Bruney are the only seemingly sure bets. LHP Mark Melancon (a young prospect who's been compared to Chamberlain), and LHP Phil Coke offer the biggest possible upside from the largely untested young candidates, and RHP Jonathan Albaladejo and RHP Dave Robertson earned a little more experience last season.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. LF Johnny Damon

2. SS Derek Jeter

3. 1B Mark Teixeira

4. 3B Alex Rodriguez

5. C Jorge Posada

6. DH Hideki Matsui

7. RF Xavier Nady

8. 2B Robinson Cano

9. CF Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera

As long as everyone stays healthy, this should be a dominant lineup, though that's no guarantee, of course. For now, Nady is projected as the starting right fielder, but as several rumors insist, that the Yankees still might deal him to make room for Nick Swisher. Cabrera and Gardner will battle for the center field spot though the Yankees could always do some in-season shopping to top off their premium purchases from the winter.

The key to the lineup really will come from Posada and Matsui, who each battled injuries last season. If those players are healthy, the lineup is a monster. If not, it could start to deteriorate a little more than expected.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C Jose Molina

OF/1B Nick Swisher

OF Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera

INF Angel Berroa or Cody Ransom

The bench probably is the weakest point of the team and would become weaker still if Swisher moves into the lineup and Nady is traded. Molina proved to be an excellent backup last season but can wear down if he's called on too often. Whoever loses the center field battle between Gardner or Cabrera should be a solid bench player.

Berroa, a non-roster invitee and the former Rookie of the Year for Kansas City, will battle Ransom for the utility infield spot.

TOP ROOKIES: CF Brett Gardner turned heads with his speed and defense last season after earning a look in center and could win the job full-time if he can show a little more offense. He batted .296 for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season but only .228 in 42 games with the Yankees. LHP Mark Melancon could earn a spot in the bullpen with a good spring. Melancon was touted last spring as a possible Joba Chamberlain-type presence in the bullpen and struck out 89 batters in 95 innings in three different levels of minor league ball last season. LHP Phil Coke could also play a role in the bullpen, but the Yankees might prefer to nurture him as a starter in the minors.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Mariano Rivera (arthroscopic surgery on right shoulder) is expected to be all right by spring training.

C Jorge Posada (right shoulder surgery) expects to be 100 percent by the start of spring training.

DH Hideki Matsui (left knee surgery) is expected to be ready to go by the spring.

RHP Chien-Ming Wang (ligament sprain in right foot) is expected to be ready for spring training.