Buying big has left the Yankees home in October two years straight, but they are not making the same mistake this off-season.

This off-season, the AL East has been busy. The Red Sox reloaded by signing the two of the top hitters on the market in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, the Blue Jays revived their win-now hopes by nabbing Josh Donaldson from the Athletics, Michael Saunders from the Mariners and by signing the top catcher on the market in Russell Martin. And there is the Yankees.

New York has been extremely active this off-season, but the script is not the one we have come to expect from Cashman and the Steinbrenners. In many ways the Yankees have flown under the radar, at least to the extent that the most storied franchise in sports, playing in the country's biggest market can do so. The Yankees have attacked past off-seasons much like a chopper squad under the command of that iconic Bobby Duval character, riding in when no one expects them and blowing the competition away to the sound of Wagner's Valkyries. That was the M.O. when they signed Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Masahiro Tanaka last winter. It was the game plan that got them Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia. If you want to keep going back, the list goes on. The Yankees have let other teams set the market, then swooped in to take it over with the superior fire power of their massive payroll. It just takes one quick look at the deals the Yankees have made this year to tell you that no one in the front office is humming "kill the wabbit" as they go about their work this off-season, at least not yet.

To date the major transactions the Yankees have completed this winter have been:

-          Trading Shane Greene for Didi Gregorius in three-team deal with Diamondbacks and Tigers

-          Signing Andrew Miller to a four-year, $36 million deal

-          Signing Chase Headley to a four-year, $52 million deal

-          Trading Martin Prado and David Phelps to the Marlins for Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Jones and Domingo German

-          Trading Shawn Kelley to the Padres for minor-league right-hander Johnny Barbato

-          Re-signing Chris Capuano to a one-year, $5 million contract

-          Re-signing Stephen Drew to a one-year, $5 million contract

-          Trading Manny Banuelos to the Braves for David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve

What world is this? Orange is the new black, Taylor Swift is the new Jay-Z ,one-year, $5 million is the new seven-years, $100 million-plus, cats and dogs are living together, it's mass hysteria...

It is hard to look at these transactions and not conclude that something new is happening in the Bronx. They made a trade simply for a prospect, for crying out loud! Naysayers of the Yankees current plans could call these moves a series of minor bandages meant to address the bullet wounds that are their aging roster and its bloated salary. On the other hand, if this was the Rays or the Athletics, writers out there might be composing sonnets about such deals. It's true that there isn't really an obvious impact player in the bunch, but consider what the Yankees have given up here:

• Two back-of-the-rotation arms (Phelps and Greene)
• An average-ish hitter with terrible plate discipline, showing signs of decline (Prado)
• a fly ball-heavy righty reliever with some upside (Kelley)
• a wild, left-handed pitching prospect whose status has been in sharp decline since Tommy John surgery (Banuelos)
• $84 million in new commitments over the next four years and another $10 million committed only to 2015

Now, contrast that with what they have gotten back

• A starting shortstop with a solid glove who is still pre-arbitration (Gregorius)
• A LHH second baseman and backup shortstop who addresses Gregorius's platoon issues (Drew)
• A 24-year-old flamethrower in his first arbitration year (Eovaldi)
• A backup plan for the increasingly fragile Mark Teixeira (Jones)
• A third baseman with impact potential at a discounted cost (Headley)
• Possibly the best left-handed reliever in the game today (Miller)
• A right-handed, late-inning option in his first arbitration year (Carpenter)
• A second lefty for the bullpen, pre-arbitration (Shreve)
• Rotation depth (Capuano)
• AND two quality pitching prospects!

That last point really earns its exclamation point. These deals are not just a new approach for the Yankees because they lack headline-making stars or nine-figure salaries. Over the last few years the Yankees have played their usual game of buying big on the free agent market, making splashy trades for star players and paying a big price in prospects and they have gotten increasingly disappointing results. I have argued before that their strategy of continually waiting for the best players to reach free agency and outbidding the competition for them was no longer effective with teams buying out prime years so readily these days. Looking at these transactions, the Yankees seem to be coming around to that view. They bargain-hunted by choosing Headley over Sandoval. They let David Robertson walk to sign Andrew Miller at a lower price and netted a draft pick in the process, move that would fit perfectly in the Red Sox or Athletics playbook. They made unexpected, unflashy trades, got younger and got the kind of currency that can actually buy them an ace or premium bat under the age of 30. The biggest addition they have made this winter is not Gregorius or Headley or Miller, it's the flexibility to do the things they have not been able to in recent years.  As Ken Rosenthal pointed out recently,  they can now be players for Cole Hamels or another top trade target. Previously, even with all their financial muscle, they might have had to resign themselves to losing out on a deal for someone like that because teams like the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Cubs or Cardinals could easily outbid them in prospects. Now they can play that game too and thanks to their financial advantages, they can play it with the best of them even when drafts and international signings don't pan out. If you don't believe that is an effective way to build a team, just take a look at the Padres off-season.Now add the roughly $100 million extra a year the Yankees have to fix anything that goes wrong on the trade market. Buying big hasn't been the problem in itself, it is having few other options that has made it a problem. Now they have all the options they could want. They have fixed holes  and gotten better for 2015 and they have done so by adding players they can also deal for even bigger upgrades if they so choose. That's winning the off-season in my mind.

Even if this off-season ends with the Yankees jumping back in their Blackhawks and swooping down to take Max Scherzer or James Shields away from someone else, that probably won't mean a return to business as usual for New York. Outpsending everyone can't be their only strategy in this current market. The Yankees have always had the ability to continually grab players with a few pricey years left on their deals and flip them for young players, eating some salary or taking a slightly diminished return to stockpile talent and now they seem to be doing just that. They can then deal either their veterans or the new prospects for players who are just about to get expensive (like Eovaldi) or who find themselves on a team that is no longer competitive (like Hamels). Alternately, they can bring the kids up, see what they have and keep any stars they find, dealing away the merely average talents for even more trade currency, as they did with Phelps and Greene. Their deep pockets mean that they can replace such average talents with other mid-priced free agents without a care in the world, rinse and repeat. This way, even if the top of the free agent market is no longer what it once was, the Yankees can extend their buying power into the trade market, essentially buying the farm system they have failed to build in recent years. This doesn't mean they won't buy top free agents or that they shouldn't do so, just that they have found a way around the problems that increased revenues, rising parity and an emphasis on youth around the league have created for them. Moving away from  relying solely on the "Ride of the Valkyries" approach to this more patient and more subtle one can still have the same devastating effect on the competition.  Now, their next move will not be limited by a weak farm system or contracts that cannot be moved, so it could be an absolute blockbuster, even one that may have seemed completely out their reach when the off-season began.

For fans of the Yankees, this new development should be a source of excitement and relief. Even if you don't see these early results as favorably as I have painted them, they could bring about the headline-grabbing deals, now or in the near future thanks to the groundwork laid out this winter. This way of working makes them more capable of landing top players even if they never reach free agency and it does nothing to diminish the inherent power they gain from being the wealthiest team in the game. For fans of every other team, these moves might as well be the first faint sounds of helicopters and Wagner. They may not be upon us just yet, but the Yankees are on their way.

While collecting first round picks are a good idea, there are no promises that they will reach their potential.

Being drafted as a first round pick in the MLB draft comes with prestige, money and notoriety. Like anything in this world there are no guarantees that future potential will turn into real world results. Every year teams spend millions of dollars, hoping that they can produce the next Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw or Mariano Rivera. The reality is that even though first rounders statistically stand a better chance to contribute in the major leagues, they are far from certain to get there. Here are some cautionary tales of how placing high values on draft picks can sometimes backfire and leave the team with nothing to show for their efforts.

Eric Duncan: Drafted 27th overall in the 2003 draft, the Yankees offered the local New Jersey native a $1.25 million signing bonus to forgo a commitment to LSU. At the time, the Yankees had hoped that he would become a power-hitting corner infielder that could take advantage of the short right field porch as a left-handed hitter in Yankee Stadium. Duncan shot through the farm system, reaching Triple-A affiliate Columbus in just his third season of pro ball. Unfortunately, he just couldn’t overcome his hitting struggles and found himself out of the organization after the 2009 season at the age of 24.

Andrew Brackman: One-third of the former trio of the "Killer B’s" that also included Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos, the Bronx Bombers chose Brackman as the 30th pick in the 2007 draft. The Yankees took him and signed him to a major league deal despite knowing that he needed Tommy john surgery before ever throwing a pitch for the organization. It was a great risk, but one the team thought he was well worth taking for. Even with the injury setback, Baseball America still ranked him in the team’s top 10 prospect lists between 2009-2011, but like many others, he just couldn’t control his pitches in Triple-A and was granted free agency after the 2011 season.

Cito Culver: He was widely viewed as a reach when the Yankees chose him with the 32nd pick in the 2010 draft. The hope was that he would develop into the team's shortstop of the future and become the heir apparent to Derek Jeter. After five seasons in the team’s farm system, his bat has still not come to life and Culver found himself exposed in the 2014 Rule 5 draft. His inability to hit has continued to haunt him and at this point his days are likely numbered.

In recent years the front office has refocused on the draft in order to collect top first-round talent, and while the strategy is a sound one, to retool and set up the team for future success, it doesn’t come without significant risk. It looks like Aaron Judge and Ian Clarkin are on the path to the big leagues, but there have been countless others that have been in their position before falling apart. Prospects and draft picks can offer hope to a fan base, but if we put too much into these lottery tickets, the disappointment will only set us back even further.

As we wrote yesterday, Yankees prospect Ty Hensley was attacked over the holidays and had to be hospitalized after suffering a broken jaw and other facial injuries. It turns out the attacker was Anthony Morales, a football player who tried out for the Carolina Panthers NFL team this season and the altercation started over an argument involving player signing bonuses. After the attack, where Hensely was knocked unconscious from behind and then beaten while on the ground, the right-hander will reportedly press charges and now it seems like we are in a battle between lawyer statements.

Morales' lawyer is apparently trying to turn the tides of the entire conflict by blaming Hensley:

The lawyer representing the man charged with assaulting Ty Hensley says Hensley started the fight #Yankees

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) January 9, 2015

Lawyer representing the man charged with assaulting Ty Hensley says Hensley injured the man's face, but wouldn't detail the injury #Yankees

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) January 9, 2015

Ty Hensley was drunk when he attacked Anthony Morales, who was sober, according to Morales' lawyer #Yankees

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) January 9, 2015

Anthony Morales turned himself into authorities today and was released on $8K bond, Morales' lawyer says

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) January 9, 2015

Anthony Morales' lawyer blamed the #Yankees for spinning the facts to make Ty Hensley look innocent. Morales charged w/ assaulting Hensley

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) January 9, 2015

Anthony Morales' lawyer says Morales wanted charges pressed on Ty Hensley, but that it seems OK authorities have picked sides #Yankees

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) January 9, 2015

With the few facts that we do have and law enforcement seemingly believing Hensley's story over Morales' side of things, the Yankees prospect's lawyer didn't need to fire back too much:

Meanwhile, from Ty Hensley's attorney: "There is only one victim here and it is Ty Hensley." #Yankees

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) January 9, 2015

Ty Hensley's lawyer responding to Anthony Morales' attorney's allegation that Hensley started fight: "That's bogus." #Yankees

— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) January 9, 2015

Hensley's lawyer did release four pictures of the damage that was done to his client's face, so if you want to see some VERY GRAPHIC pictures you can follow the link here and see just what Anthony Morales is capable of.

Andrew Miller's transformation; someone has to sign Max Scherzer.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Andrew Miller explains his transformation into an elite reliever.

Washington Post | Barry Svrluga: Someone has to sign Max Scherzer, but which team will it be?

New York Post | Dan Martin: Ty Hensley reveals gruesome facial damage after being attacked over the holidays. Click at your own discretion as there are photos included.

SB Nation | Marc Normandin: The Yankees and Red Sox are now being considered the favorites to sign Yoan Moncada.

I don't necessarily mind Stephen Drew coming back to the Yankees, but still, should the team have re-signed him?

Well, Stephen Drew's a Yankee again. I know that's not news to any of you, but still, I find it tough to accept. Just over a month ago, it seemed Drew was destined for elsewhere. The Yankees had traded Martin Prado to the Marlins and publicly stated their intentions to let Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela compete for the 2015 second base job, so it looked like a sure thing Drew's short tenure with them was over.

Nonetheless, after Drew signed a one-year, $5 million deal with New York on Wednesday, it isn't, and neither apparently is the Yankees' inability to resist acquiring names. But that's not what I'm going to talk about here, because much as I'd prefer giving a youngster a chance, I don't hate Drew. In fact, I think he's an overall solid guy, and though it's a safe bet he'll struggle at times, I think he'll improve the Yankees. Here are a few reasons to support that, and keep in mind, I don't believe Drew will be a star. I simply expect him to contribute.

1. His Defense: I'll be honest, I know little to nothing about the gloves of Refsnyder and Pirela. I assume they're solid, but are they better than Drew's? Probably not. Drew's been one of the best defensive shortstops in the league for years now, and should only be better next season when he's a second baseman instead. Add on the fact Brendan Ryan and Didi Gregorius are also working the middle infield, and it's clear the Yankees have an alright group.

2. He's Better Than Ryan: Not that Drew's a great hitter, but is it really debatable whether or not he's better than Ryan? Drew's batted .256/.322/.425  in his career and Ryan .234/.295/.314, so the former certainly appears to be superior offensively. Granted, Drew was painful to watch in 2014, but most probably wouldn't be great either when their seasons start in late May. Now maybe you could still argue Ryan's the better defender, but how much is that worth when he's never getting on base? With Drew re-signed, Ryan's role with the Yankees will unquestionably be reduced, so it's necessary the two are compared. And when you do so, Drew is no doubt more likable, mediocre as he may be.

3. He Could Start if Needed: This sort of falls into the same category as the last one, but then again, it's different. Sure, having a good bench available when starters take days off is important, but then what about when starters get hurt? Basically, Drew could play everyday if needed. Yes, I'm aware he likely wouldn't be great at it, and yes, I'm aware he might still have the second base job come April. But in my opinion, he won't, so let's all just agree on the undeniable fact at hand: Drew is capable of starting, Ryan isn't. That kind of stuff matters a lot more than people usually acknowledge.

To put it simply, Drew signing this week won't be remembered for long, but for the year the contract lasts, it will definitely affect the Yankees. I'm one of those who assumes it will positively, and encourage those who don't to give Drew a chance. It's possible he'll struggle, but it's also possible he'll flourish. Let's just see what happens before we make too harsh of judgements.

Baseball? Still not back on yet. It's the weekend though, and that means playoff Football. Use this as your open thread to discuss such things. Pitchers and catchers report in 40 days.

Sigh. Miss you so much, Baseball.

Comments of the Day

BGFC is finding her comments in the COTD section a bit lately. Looks like she's fitting into our Gritty Gutty wonderland!

Haha, it's funny because Pavano was constantly injured while on the Yankees. Hahaha...siiiigh. Also, hospital food is inedible.

No worries. El Cruz is still young! Wait, what were we talking about again?

Perhaps noonoo would like to build a spaceship?

Between the premature answer comment and this one, I'm beginning to think our members do not always have the cleanest of minds.

GIF of the Day

Nothing really special in the GIF department today. I could have just shown Gardner on the phone again, but I'm sure that GIF will find its way into the GOTD section many times this year.

Honorable Mod Mention

Waffles, because she ate a cheesesteak. No really, that's the only reason. Now I want a cheesesteak.

• A classic: Name five of your favorite Disney Songs!
• Least favorite fast food restaurant?

This song is a transition out of Classic Cheesy Techno Week and into Classic Cheesy Love Song Week. As always, please link us your Song of the Day.

That's right. Classic Cheesy Love Song Week. Who says January cannot be a romantic time of year? Sure, you cannot quite take a date to a baseball game like you should. It's not all bad though. Football is on. So feel free to use this as your open thread for the day.

I swear I can fly.

The greatest pitcher in D'backs history became a member of the HOF, receiving 97.3 of the votes.

Quotes

"I picked up a lot.I don't know about him, but I was competing with him. That was what made it fun. R.J. was like, I guess I would compare him to like the early career of Tiger Woods -- every day you watched him, you were pretty sure you were going to see one thing you had never seen before. There were games that you saw a lot of things that you've never seen before."

- Curt Schilling on Randy Johnson

Daily D'backs

Schilling: Johnson greatest lefty hurler of all time - dbacks.com

2001 World Series was fans' favorite Randy Johnson Diamondbacks moment - Arizona Sports 620

A total of 841 votes were submitted, and 68 percent of voters chose the 2001 World Series as their favorite moment. Johnson went 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA and 19 strikeouts in two starts and one relief appearance against the New York Yankees in the D-backs' first and only World Series victory.

Dave Stewart: Price too high for catchers via trade - azcentral.com

On the day the Diamondbacks traded Miguel Montero, General Manager Dave Stewart said finding another catcher was something the club had to do. But after seeing the cost of catchers on the trade market, Stewart doesn't seem to feel that way anymore.

John McDonald calls it a career - dbacks.com

John McDonald, who willed his way through a 16-year career with eight different teams as a backup infielder, has decided to retire from the game at age 40. News of his decision spread Wednesday, when four teams -- the Indians, Blue Jays, D-backs and Angels -- offered up congratulations through their individual Twitter accounts. McDonald was that popular.

Around Baseball

Spring workout dates announced for all clubs

Yankees To Sign Stephen Drew - mlbtraderumors.com

Chad Billingsley, Scott Baker, and Felipe Paulino are all starting pitchers recovering from injury that could make sense as minor league signings for the Yankees

The Yankees really like buying low on players who they feel are in the right position to rebound. Many of these players, like Martin Prado and Brandon McCarthy, are in this position because of simple ineffectiveness and with a few tweaks they could be as good as new. Sometimes, though, good players are left with minor league contracts as their only option after dealing with injuries that put their career in question. The Yankees have already re-signed Andrew Bailey, who is still recovering from a serious shoulder injury, so there's at least a possibility that they could bring in others. Here are three guys who might fit.

Scott Baker, RHP: Throughout his career, Scott Baker has never been an exciting pitcher. He's been a solid backend starter over the years, contributing a 3.98 ERA and 3.86 FIP and averaging 164 innings per season from 2007-2011. Unfortunately, it was soon after that everything fell apart. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012, missing the entire season and almost all of the next. He finally made it back in a full-time capacity in 2014, but pitched terribly with a 5.47 ERA and 4.78 FIP over 80.2 innings. As a big fly ball pitcher he won't make the most sense, but he's not going to get in anyone's way and could be useful in case of an emergency. At his best, Baker could be an alternative to Chris Capuano.

Chad Billingsley, RHP: The one-time ace of the Dodgers before Clayton Kershaw came onto the scene is still only 30 years old. A healthy Billingsley could be a middle of the rotation-type pitcher who can keep the ball in the park (7.6% HR/FB) and on the ground (46.3 GB%). Things took a bad turn in 2013 when he required Tommy John surgery and he has now missed essentially the last two seasons, but a minor league deal could make sense for the Yankees as he continues to distance himself from surgery and Capuano stays in the rotation. If this is to be his first full healthy season back from surgery then it is probably best to see how he does at Triple-A first and then only expect him to serve as the fifth starter right now.

Felipe Paulino, RHP: Paulino was the type of arm that had plenty of potential, but didn't seem to be able to harness any of it. He didn't prove himself to even be a major league-caliber player until his age-26 season in 2011 when he pitched to a 4.11 ERA and and 3.51 FIP in 124.2 innings after being traded to the Kansas City Royals that year. He followed up his first solid year with seven elite-level starts in 2012 before he succumbed to Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2013 season and made only four starts last year before undergoing shoulder surgery as well. It seems that the price for unlocking his potential was the utter destruction of his pitching arm, and while he's unlikely to offer much going forward, he's at least worth a look as a potential Triple-A pitcher in order to fill out the rotation and hopefully surprise us.

Perhaps if the Yankees can determine that there is still something to be had out of either of their arms, one of Baker, Billingsley or Paulino could make sense as a minor league signing. Right now the Scranton rotation is devoid of much upside, and while guys in their 30s aren't going to add much, they at least hold the potential to be major league arms if they prove to be healthy. I'd really like the Yankees to go after Chad Billingsley, who seems to have multiple teams chasing him at the moment. The bar is currently set pretty low as he would only have to be better than Chris Capuano at some point in the season.

Johnson played for the Yankees from 2005-2006, but will he ever be thought of for his on-the-field endeavors with them?

ESPN New York's Wallace Matthews is going against those looking at now Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson as a "former Yankee."

Matthews gave his own take on the 51-year-old's short time with the team in an article published Tuesday, not speaking very highly of Johnson's two seasons in pinstripes in it to say the least. He argued in the piece that Johnson's brief stint with the Yankees will be remembered more for how it started and ended "than anything that happened in between," backing up his opinion with his own experiences covering the left-hander.

"My memories of him as a Yankee are murky at best," Matthews wrote. "I think I covered just a handful of his starts as a columnist over two seasons, and I came away with the impression that he didn't like New York, didn't like being a Yankee, didn't like the glare of the spotlight and certainly didn't like the media."

Johnson and the media certainly didn't get off on the best foot when Johnson first arrived in the Big Apple, so that observation doesn't appear misguided. On the way to a physical to confirm his trade from the Diamondbacks to the Yankees in January of 2005, Johnson shoved a local cameraman shooting footage of him on the street, clearly angry with him when doing so. Johnson would apologize for the event later on, but nonetheless, it would never be forgotten.

Maybe that's part of the reason reporters like Matthews came away with such a bad impression of him, despite his good reputation with other cities.

"I never really got to know him, but what I did know of him, I didn't particularly like," Matthews reflected. "And that is too bad, because guys who covered him in Seattle and Arizona tell me that deep down, he's really a pretty good guy. It's unfortunate that he chose not to show that side of himself during his time here."

Indeed it probably was, but the Yankees can still be grateful he at least had one good year on the field for them. In 2005, Johnson went 17-8 with a 3.79 ERA for New York, the fifth highest win total of his career.

He kept opponents to a mere .243 batting average that season, and solidly recorded a 1.13 WHIP.

LoHud | Chad Jennings: With the Yankees lineup probably set at this point, will they have enough offense to compete in 2015?

New York Post | Ken Davidoff: This Yankees offseason has a lot more of Brian Cashman's fingerprints on it than almost all of those in the past.

NY Daily News | Mitch Abramson: At a recent event, CC Sabathia said that his surgically-repaired knee feels "fine" and that he likes the moves the Yankees have made during the offseason.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty:Marcus Thames has been promoted to hitting coach at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, but the Yankees still haven't found a replacement for the major league team since Kevin Long's dismissal after the season.

ESPN New York | Andrew Marchand: A scout tells Marchand he thinks Sabathia could be more than just a No. 5 starter going forward; he just has to reinvent himself somewhat and begin a "second career."

The Yankees should strongly consider this Yoan.

One Cuban player has been cleared by the United States Treasury, perhaps not the Yoan you were looking for. While the wait on Moncada continues, Jesse Sanchez from MLB.com reports that Yoan Lopez has been cleared by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to negotiate and ultimately sign with a team in Major League Baseball. According to Sanchez's source, Lopez is expected to sign before spring training. The 21-year-old right-handed starter will come under the MLB's limitations on young-player international player spending, but is expected to attract significant interest. The team that signs him will likely have to blow well past their allotments and accept the associated penalties; steep taxes and far stricter limits on international spending in the next two signing periods.

We love the Yankees and baseball. To commemorate that, it's time for classic cheesy love song week here on Pinstripe Alley. Talk Yankees. Talk playoff football. Talk about whatever. Pitchers and catchers report in 39 days.

Nothing says "I love you" and gets you in the mood for romance quite like baseball. The crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd. The smell of the sausages and the price of the beer. We'll understand if you need a few minutes to yourself.

Comments of the Day

If Fox's strategy was to make us miss Tim McCarver, then mission accomplished.

Perhaps I should replace PSAers with PaiSAnos. Yes? No? Definitely no? What are you thinking, Greg?

This kind of behavior can stop any day now, please and thank you.

Truth: The ACYB totally steals our article ideas. They had the kizbits to claim that they came up with "Plangervis."

Speaking of romantic sights...

Magnificent. Would've been better if the Patriots lost, but then the Ravens would have won so meh.

GIF of the Day

You tell him, Ron!

Honorable Mod Mention

Andrew, for the GIFs he created above. Again, well done!

• Current Yankee baseball player-crush or player-crushes? (Can also be prospects)
• Have you ever made and/or received a cheesy mixtape from someone?

That's right. No pussyfooting around for Classic Cheesy Love Song Week. We're going full blown Bryan Adams to start us off. As always, please link us your Song of the Day.

Another round of Playoff Football is on this afternoon. So feel free to use this as your open thread for the day.

It's gonna last forever

Shi Davidi tells us that Russell Martin wants to catch R.A. Dickey.

"I'm preparing that it's going to be my job," Martin said Saturday prior to Baseball Canada's annual awards banquet. "Really, I don't know why I shouldn't. If I can catch the guy and be in the lineup, put me in the lineup, you know?"

Wouldn't that be great? We wouldn't have to see Josh Thole out there every 5 days.

Of course, J.P. Arencibia told us that he was looking forward to catching Dickey, that plan ended after one game. And Dioner Navarro said he'd like to catch Dickey, but, thankfully, that didn't happen.

It would make it a lot easier to keep Navarro if Russell could catch the knuckleball. I don't mind the idea of a starter having a personal catcher, catchers do need days off, so having a guaranteed day off every 5 works for me. If Navarro was the backup catcher,  I would make him Mark Buehrle's personal catcher. They seem to work well together.

If Russell can catch Dickey, it certainly wouldn't hurt, we'd have a much better line up with Russell in over Thole. You'd think the offensive edge would be worth a win in Dickey's 32 starts.

I had planned to ask which starter you all thought would be helped out the most by Russell's superior defense, but Dickey might be helped the most by Russell's bat. if the Jays do decide to let him catch the knuckleball.

I had figured that Drew Hutchison would be the one helped most by Martin's framing skills. Fake Teams, on the other hand think that Marcus Stroman is set for a 'breakout season'. Marcus did have a couple of games against the Yankees, where he couldn't buy a strike on a close pitch. I tend to think that had some to do with the Yankee Stadium strike zone.

Shi also notes that Marin became the 7th member of Baseball Canada's 'Wall of Fame' (though Baseball Canada calls it Wall of Excellence). Other's on the Wall are Larry Walker, Justin Morneau, Joey Votto, Ernie Whitt, Ryan Dempster and Jason Bay. I do kind of think that this sort of honor should wait until after a player's career is over.

Up to this point, Chase Headley's career path has looked very similar to that of Scott Brosius, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Prior to the 1998 season the Yankees found themselves with a giant question mark at third base. At 39 years old Wade Boggs was deemed expendable following the 1997 season and his platoon mate Charlie Hayes was traded to the San Francisco Giants for organizational depth in a cost-cutting move. In order to fill the gap at third the team officially made Scott Brosius the player to be named later in a trade with the Oakland A's that had sent Kenny Rogers out of town shortly after the World Series. Rogers was a disappointment in the Bronx and after his ERA ballooned to well over 5.00 nobody was sad to see him go. On the other hand, Brosius was coming off a year in which he slashed a putrid .203/.259/.317 and was by all accounts the worst everyday hitter in the American League. So this trade, the first ever orchestrated by Billy Beane, was really just an exchange of one problem for another on both sides. Regardless, the Yankees' third base job was Brosius' to lose.

Maybe a change of scenery was all he needed because at 31 years old, Brosius resurrected his career in a big way in 1998. He hit .300/.371/.472 with 19 home runs and 98 RBI for the World Champion Yankees and even saved his best for last. After pacing the Yankees with his bat in the first two rounds of the playoffs he took home the World Series MVP trophy by batting .471 with two home runs in the Fall Classic against the Padres. While it may have been unexpected, an outburst like this shouldn't have been that surprising for a player that had hit .304/.393/.516 with 22 home runs as recently as 1996. For the next three years, Brosius provided steady power with enough base hits to stay respectable offensively, though he did have an off-year in 2000 mixed in there. On top of that his glove rated as well above average for his entire Yankee career, taking home a Gold Glove in 1999. Add it up and he was worth an average of about two WAR per year as a Yankee, which was probably more than they thought they were getting, and good enough to help the team win the pennant each year.

While the current version of the Yankees is in much different shape than the one that was steamrolling into 1998, Chase Headley's story is very similar to the one just told about Brosius. Headley had a breakout year in 2012, hitting 31 home runs, leading the National League in RBI and earning the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove at third base in the process. However, his offensive production quickly took a nosedive and by the middle of 2014 he had an ugly .229/.296/.355 slash line. At that point, the Yankees and Padres decided to swap struggling third basemen as Yangervis Solarte was sent to San Diego. After donning the pinstripes, Headley found his way again. Thanks to a little bit of power, a whole lot of patience, and his usual steady glove he was one of the few bright spots for the Yankees down the stretch last year. Just like Brosius, it shouldn't have been a surprise considering how well he played just two years prior.

Based on that audition, the Yankees are convinced that Headley has his career back on track and will now pay him $52 million over the next four years to stick around. Again, much like Brosius, that keeps him in New York through his age 34 season. Therefore, if he continues to do his best Brosius impression, Headley should be worth at least two WAR per year over the life of the contract. That might not seem like much for the money he's earning, but smart people have estimated that the market cost of a win this off-season is somewhere between $5 and $7 million. A free agent signing whose on-field production equals his salary in the long-run would be a welcome addition to this team, so if Headley really becomes Brosius 2.0, it's a smart move by the Yankees.

The months-long search is over, as the Yankees have decided to go with a two-man hitting coach system for the first time in franchise history.

The Yankees definitely have odd timing with their announcements. They always seem to make moves on Fridays, the Manny Banuelos trade occurred on New Year's Day, and the news of their finally hiring a pair of hitting coaches leaked in the middle of the NFL Divisional Playoffs. Maybe they prefer it that way. Either way, the Yankees have their men for the job: Jeff Pentland and Alan Cockrell.

Source: Yanks are expected to hire Jeff Pentland as hitting coach and Alan Cockrell as assistant. 1st time team will have 2 hitting coaches.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) January 11, 2015

Yanks hire Joe Espada as infield coach

The Yankees tabbed Espada to be the infield coach over Willie Randolph.

As with many of the names in the coaching business who aren't former players, Pentland and Cockrell will be relative unknowns to most Yankees fans, but fortunately, YES Network's Jack Curry has spent some time over the past half-hour tweeting more about them and their backgrounds. Here's what Curry had to say:

So both coaches have certainly been around the block once or twice. The 68-year-old Pentland is definitely a veteran, having coached in various capacities in college, the minors, and the majors almost every year since 1975, despite only four years of minor league ball to his name. He's worked with the Cubs, Royals, Mariners, and most recently, the Dodgers, though he hasn't been in the majors since mid-2011. Pentland was an under-the-radar name present throughout the hitting coach search, and it seems like the Yankees really liked what they saw from him. This one tweet from Curry is especially encouraging about Pentland:

Pentland, who is 68, has strong resume as a hitting coach and has worked with the likes of Bonds, Sheffield, Beltran, Kemp, Sosa.

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) January 11, 2015

Those names are... okay. It's good that he's worked with Carlos Beltran too; maybe he can help him rediscover his Cardinals stroke in 2015.

Assisting Pentland will be the somewhat younger Cockrell, who is 52 and a former hitting coach with the Rockies and Mariners. A much more heralded prospect as a player, he was the 9th overall pick in the 1984 Draft, but 13 years in the minors led to just nine games in the majors, as a 33-year-old rookie in 1996 with the Rockies. Nonetheless, Cockrell appears to have established a solid reputation as a coach, so it will be interesting to see what he and Pentland can do as a tandem.

The Yankees have never gone with a dual hitting coach system like this before, but it has been adopted by more and more teams around baseball over the past several years. Here's hoping it pays off with a bounceback year from the offense in 2015.

After waiting for what seems like forever to fill their coaching vacancies, the Yankees decided to get it all out of the way on Sunday afternoon. Joe Espada has reportedly been hired as the new infield coach after the departure of Mick Kelleher follwing last season. Espada served as a major league scout for the Yankees last season and previously worked as a third base coach for the Marlins.

Willie Randolph interviewed for the open infield coaching position but apparently the Yankees preferred to give the gig to Espada. If the team wanted to go ahead and rightfully ditch Rob Thomson at third base, maybe they could find a spot for Randolph as well. I'll be holding out hope for this right up until Opening Day and maybe longer.

Yanks hire Pentland & Cockrell as hitting coaches

The Yankees have decided to go with a two-man hitting coach system for the first time in franchise history

Espada was drafted by the Athletics in 1996 and played until 2005 without ever reaching the majors. He caught on with the Marlins organization in 2006, serving as the hitting coach for their Low-A and High-A affiliates over the next two seasons before being named minor league infield coordinator. Espada was the Marlins third base coach before the team tried to reassign him to the minors to gain managerial experience when he opted to take a position within the Yankees organization instead. Now it looks as though he'll be first base coach for the team in 2015 unless the front office decides to shake things up even more.

Today's links look at the Red Sox's record payroll, Daniel Bard's attempt at a return, and a huge trade by a division rival.

Assuming nothing crazy happens between now and Opening Day, this looks like it'll be the most expensive Red Sox team ever. (Brian MacPherson; Providence Journal)

Jason Mastrodonato compares some past Opening Day lineups to how the offense ranked at the end of the season. (Jason Mastrodonato; Masslive.com)

Boston likely isn't done, though, as the bullpen could still use some work. Burke Badenhop is an option, among others. (Rob Bradford; WEEI.com)

As part of his Sunday Notes, Nick Cafardo provides an update on Daniel Bard. (Nick Cafardo; Boston Globe)

The Red Sox and Yankees are reportedly heavy favorites for Yoan Moncada. (Craig Calcaterra; Hardball Talk)

Shane Victorino continues to insist that you should not sleep on him. (Scott Lauber; Boston Herald)

This year's rookie development program is highlighted by two guys who should be part of the starting outfield. (Nick Rabasco; Sox Prospects)

The team has announced its minor-league coaching staff. (Kyle Brasseur; ESPN Boston)

They also signed a couple of players to minor-league deals over the weekend. (Drew Silva; Hardball Talk)

The Rays continued to rebuild their team by trading Ben Zobrist over the weekend. (Mike Axisa; CBS Sports)

If I'm Ryan Lavarnway I just shut my phone off for a month and have my agent tell me where to report for spring training. (Jeff Todd; MLB Trade Rumors)

New York Daily News | Anthony McCarron: The Yankees finally hired a hitting coach - and then they hired another one.  Jeff Pentland will be the new major league hitting coach, and Alan Cockrell will serve as the first-ever assistant hitting coach in Yankees history.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Five interesting things about new hitting coach Jeff Pentland.  A few tidbits - Pentland has a lot of experience around the league, and got a great endorsement from former Yankee Gary Sheffield.

LoHud Yankees Blog | Chad Jennings: Taking a look back at all the week's busy news, starting with the Stephen Drew signing, which Jennings sees as a low-risk move with a decent bit of upside.

Players' Tribune | Brandon McCarthy: The former Yankees starter opines that the BBWAA isn't taking the right strategy regarding the steroid era and the Hall of Fame. (Also he reveals his hypothetical ballot.)

MLB Trade Rumors | Zach Links & Charlie Wilmoth: The Orioles signed lefty reliever Cesar Cabral, who hasn't pitched in the majors since he was ejected for safety in a Yankees/Rays game last April.

Have things you'd like to say about the Yankees in 2015? Join our staff.

As the 2015 season rapidly approaches, now seemed like a good time for us to reach out to both new and old readers who may be interested in contributing to the site as a member of the staff next season. Our blog has grown so much over the last year and a half in terms of both readership and content produced, and we're still always looking for ways to expand and improve on our coverage of all things Yankees. If you think you might be the right person to help us continue to grow simply fill out the form below and submit a FanPost on the Yankees topic of your choosing right here over the course of the next week.

Please feel free to reach out in the comments below if you have any questions about writing for Pinstripe Alley or the application process. You can also contact me through the email listed on my SB Nation profile here. I look forward to hearing from you.

The Pinstripe Alley staff thought the Yankees would do something Friday like they always do. Instead, they showed us by signing coaches during the football games. A sinister plan worthy of the Evil Empire. Pitchers and catchers report in 38 days.

The Yankees care not about our free time and enjoyment of the sport of football. When they want to sign coaches, they're gonna sign coaches. They signed Jeff Pentland as their new hitting coach, Alan Cockrell as their assistant hitting coach, and Joe Espada as their infield coach. Sadly, no Willie Randolph. I still say they need a new third base coach as well.

Comments of the Day

I asked for a list of classic cheesy love songs. Boy did Waffles deliver on that.

Aaron Rodgers, you cad you!

It's amazing what we learn about players once they retire or just join social media. Who knew Roy Halladay was such a merry prankster?

Pictures of Derby and Rookie make any day better.

Too many coaches.

GIF of the Day

Alas, no GIFs yesterday.

Honorable Mod Mention

No mod was truly honorable yesterday, which is truly a shame.

• Name some hilarious benefits and problems with having two hitting coaches
• What is the silliest song you could think of for your "first dance" wedding song?

No joke, this is one of the best songs from the 80's. Also, Streets of Fire was an awesome movie. As always, please link us your Song of the Day.

Feel free to use this as your open thread for the day. Feel free to post some more classic cheesy love songs for our cheesy enjoyment.. Feel free to discuss our new coaching staff.

Moving sidewalks.