its still early so ill wait until after the World Series to make all of my predictions on who will be on the 2006 roster.
I dont like Pierre, I would not mind Damon (for 2 or 3), trading for Cam, or getting Hunter. Though I would prefer one of the first teo I mentioned, because you all know im a huge Melky fan and want him to be the everyday CFer in a few years (not going to happen with Hunter in there). But dont get me wrong, I would be very saitsfied with Hunter.
No way we get both Wagner and Ryan, I would be somewhat surprised if we get one of them. Wagner I doubt will take a setup role and Ryan is still up in the air.
Embree is definately gone, I think Al Leiter retires to the YES booth with his good pal Kichael Kay.
I wouldnt mind having Andy Phillips take the backup infielder role, and maybe even teach him some outfield in spring training, which would make him the most versatile player on the team. I want Tino back (only if Joe is back, if Joe's gone I want him to sign with another team then all of the "Yankees" such as Jeter, Rivera, Bernie, Posada, etc.. demand trades to that team and I will automatically root for that team.) I wouldnt mind having Womack back, though I have a better chance of making the Yankees next year than Womack being brought back. Reason I like Womack is because hes super quick, when in there everyday he can hit sometimes, hes versatile as he can play all 3 outfield positions and the middle infield. But if they get rid of him I would want to keep Lawton or bring in Rickey Ledee for old-time's sake.
I wouldnt be super surprised if the Yankees trade Posada. I owuld be very happy with what Arod proposed with getting Ramon Hernandez to catch. I also recently read a thing in one of the papers regarding Molina possibly coming to New York (the big talk is for him to come to the mets, but the Yankees were also mentioned in the article). If thats the case, him and posada can platood between catcher and DH. The one thing I DO NOT like about that is that we would have to carry 3 catcher-only players (players who can do noting but catch, even though in emergencys Posada can play 2nd and Flaherty can play 1st) and the fact that we pretty much lose the DH spot for Bernie, Sierra, or whoever.
Last year I was a mad-man in the offseason, I knew every roster move as it happened, I could tell you when a no-name veteran, over the hill guy signed a minor league contract with someone. thats how crazy I was, like I could have been a reporter last winter, I dont anticipate doing that this year, im just too drained. (Though I will follow super closely on a daily basis, im just not going to spend every second of every day exploring the hot stove)
Go Astros!