A-Rod will have more extensive surgery after the season, but the Yankees hope the lesser surgery will give them less risk and more reward during the year.
The club, which already faced a World Series-or-bust year, will have to deal with the absence of its cleanup hitter along with the presence of never-ending storylines circulating around him.
The Yankees will need to turn to new stars C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett even more if Rodriguez misses a lot of time.
For all the potential, the team that already had a ton of pressure on it will face yet another obstacle as it tries again for the club's 27th World Series title, in a new stadium.
ARRIVALS: 1B Mark Teixeira (free agent from Angels), LHP C.C. Sabathia (free agent from Brewers), RHP A.J. Burnett (free agent from Blue Jays), OF/1B Nick Swisher (trade with White Sox).
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 as eyes will be on: Alex Rodriguez's hip injury and steroid saga top the list, which includes the adjustment of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira to their new team. It also will be interesting to see how manager Joe Girardi handles his pivotal second season after some shaky dealings with the media and his clubhouse in the first.
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. C Jorge Posada
5. DH Hideki Matsui
6. RF Xavier Nady
7. 2B Robinson Cano
8. 3B Cody Ransom
9. CF Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera
Barring a trade for a temporary fill-in, that could be the lineup until Alex Rodriguez returns at some point in the second month of the season following surgery on his right hip on March 9. Obviously the Yankees will be counting on their star-studded rotation to pitch in as they miss A-Rod's presence in the middle of the lineup. The Yankees also have to hope for recoveries by aging stars Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada. The Yankees might have to make a deal from the Nady/Swisher combo and, most likely, Cabrera along with some prospects if they need to fill a gap at third base.
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 if Ransom or Berroa were pressed into starting duty at third base for Alex Rodriguez without a trade being completed. Another possibility is trading Swisher or Nady, which could help fill the third base spot but possibly hurt the outfield depth. 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.
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Alex Rodriguez (torn labrum in right hip) had surgery on March 9 and was expected to return in six to nine weeks. He will have more extensive surgery during the offseason.
DH Hideki Matsui (left knee surgery) played in his first spring training game on March 5. He hopes to be ready for Opening Day.
RHP Mariano Rivera (arthroscopic surgery on right shoulder) might make his first Grapefruit League appearance during the week of March 16-22. He expects to be ready for Opening Day.
C Jorge Posada (right shoulder surgery) might appear behind the plate for the first time in a Grapefruit League game on March 15.
2B Robinson Cano (sore right shoulder) was injured while playing in the World Baseball Classic.
LHP Damaso Marte (sore left pectoral muscle) was injured while playing in the World Baseball Classic tournament with injuries, but he could be back in mid-March.