Baseball

Yankees finally operating with brains

By dealing Big Unit, Bronx Bombers might have enough to land Clemens

The Yankees failed to land Barry Zito, but at the price the Giants paid for the lefty, it's another sign of fiscal intelligence from Cashman and gang.

Apparently, there is a limit to even what the Yankees can spend, and they’d reached it. There also is evidence that word has finally seeped through the thick walls — and thicker heads — of the Tampa bunker that the pinstripes can continue to make the playoffs following what is now a tired script, but they aren’t going to win the World Series without a couple of top young arms in the starting rotation.

Wright wasn’t it. Carl Pavano shows no signs of being the man, either. Johnson is old and very hittable. Chien-Ming Wang is a terrific No. 2 or 3 starter, but he’s not an ace. Mike Mussina is 39 and losing effectiveness.

Pettitte helps, but he’s not an ace, either. And Clemens, should the Yankees make that move, would help a lot through August and September. In the next year or two, the crown jewel of the minor league system, Philip Hughes, could become the next great Yankee home-grown starter.

But right now, the Yankees need a No. 1 starter. Clemens could be that man. If that’s the plan, it’s a good one. And how long has it been since we’ve been able to say that?

Mike Celizic writes regularly for MSNBC.com and is a freelance writer based in New York.

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