If you are a Yankees fan, you have to love this time of year.

While I love the drama of a 162 game season that stretches from April until October, I really enjoy the off season, specifically the Hot Stove.

As of now, the Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, has his work cut out for him. Lets do a shopping list  for Mr. Cashman to keep things prioritized.

1. Retain the Good ol' boys-- With A-Rod and Joe Torre having bolted the Bronx like a boatload of Cubans defecting in the middle of the night, the Yankees front office brass knows it has to do whatever it takes, back up the Brinks truck, to keep closer Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada.

Here's how I see it breaking down:

A) Rivera will become the highest paid closer in the history of the game.... at least until Frankie K-Rod hits free agency in a few years. The Yankees will end up signing the Sandman, in my humble opinion, a three year/ $46.5 M deal, three years at $15.5 per year. High? Yes. But they know that they need Joba Chamberlain in the starting rotation next year, and they know Mo still has 'a little go in his shooulder'. With his deal, he closes the old stadium, and pitches the first two years in the new one, all the while serving as a mentor to the army of young pitchers the Yankees are hording.

B) Posada will make them work for his services. I think declining to negotiate with him during the season and spring training, but making runs at A-Rod really upset him, more than who the manager is. And, Hip Hip Jorge knows that he is at the front of a weak free agent class. He knows the Mets will throw at least four, if not five years at him. However, in the end, he signs with the Yankees for four years, $50 million, working out to $12.5M a year. He also knows he will likely finish the last year, possible year and a half as a DH/1B.

2. 3B-- With Opt-Fraud gone.... thank god.... a new man is needed to hold down the hot corner. If you believed the Bubba Crosby joke of 2006, then yes, Virginia, Wilson Betemit is your opening day 3B.

But here's what really will happen:

A) If Cashman can convince the Marlins to come down from their asking price of one of the Yankees' 'Lethal Weapon III' pitchers, ie Joba, Phil or Ian, for Miguel Cabrera, then a deal will get done. If Cashman could pawn off, say, a package built around Alan Horne, Dellin Betances, Humberto Sanchez, Jeff Karstens and Brett Gardner for Cabrera, he would pull the trigger. But don't look for that trade to happen.

The Marlins have a highly regarded scouting program, a program that targeted Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez for Josh Beckett while managing to dump Lowell, who at the time of that 2005 November trade, was described by a scout as 'standing in quicksand both at 3B and home plate.' So do not expect them to be fooled.

B) The Johnny Damon for CHW Joe Crede trade, that was started by the talented writers at MLBtraderumors.com? Not happening. Maybe they'll snag Crede as a backup plan F, assuming he is non-tendered. However, Damon, after meeting Girardi for breakfast in Orlando this week, was told he will be leading off and playing LF for the Yankees this year. That rumor is dead as disco.

C) Scott Rolen-- at three years and $36 million? Not for our hot dog vendor from the box seats, which any bleacher creature will tell you...suck. I wouldn't take Rolen if all St. Louis wanted in return was Pavano's ####ed up Porsche.

D) Mike Lowell-- If he doesn't re-up in Beantown, let him get his four or five years of solid decline elsewhere. If they think he is Scott Brosius reincarnated, wake up... He is a aberration of that crummy little ballpark, where you or I could hit 15 home runs in 500 ABs.

And finally...

E) I'm grouping these two together b/c they make the most sense, thats why I saved them for last: Eric Chavez and Miguel Tejada. 

a1) Billy Beane has said he is thinking of blowing up the A's, once and for all. I say offer two mid-level prospects, a la the Abreu trade, to let him get out from under the Chavez contract, originally 6 years for $66M. He has 2 years and $22 M left. One rumor making the rounds was that Beane was interested in Giambi with his OBP obsession. With Giambi having one year at $21 M left and Chavez 2 yeras at $22M, do a straight up, with the NYY tossing in Tyler Clippard and $10M. Chavez is reportedly a great clubhouse guy, good defense at 3B, 20 or so HR, he's 29 years old but somewhat of an injury risk, but so is Giambi. Point is, won't cost much in prospects, like Miggy from Fla.

b1) Tejada is an even easier move, in my opinion. The Orioles are looking for relief and OF depth. Mark Feinsand of the Daily News, a fabulous publication, stated that the O's would be willing to move Miguel Tejada (two years, $26 M left-- $13M a year), for a decent deal. Feinsand imagines one of either Karstens/ Clippard or Sanchez, along with an OF prospect such as Brett Gardner and, believe it or not, make sure you are sitting, Krazy Kyle Farnsworth, would be enough to get this one done.

Miggy would make a great 3B, strong arm, power bat from the right, capable of 25-30 HR, and a work horse.  And any attitude questions will be dealt with quickly by Seargent Major Girardi.

3. Starting Pitching-- Paul Revere might as well be on his horse, lantern in hand, making his way east from Minnesota, screaming "Johan is up for sale, Johan is up for sale!"

The news dropped like Lindsay Lohan trying to walk a straight line for a sobriety test... Johan Santana is going on the market. He will reject the Twins second attempt at a contract extension and is expected to be placed on the market in time for the winter meetings. Teams such as the Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, Angels, Orioles, Red Sox, White Sox will try to get him, but it has been preordained: Johan Santana will be traded to the New York Yankees.

For arguments sake, lets say the deal that brings Miguel Tejada to the Bronx consists of Humberto Sanchez, Kyle Farnsworth and Brett Gardner.

In order to get Johan, Cashman will initially offer Ian Kennedy, Jeff Karstens, Dellin Betances and Melky Cabrera. At that point, Minnesota will laugh and hang up. Cashman will wait one week, gauge the price, and then make the new offer:

NYY offers Ian Kennedy, Alan Horne, Jeff Karstens, and Melky Cabrera. Minnesota says they need to think about it.

The Yankees then say, one day later, final offer Phil Hughes, Alan Horne, Dellin Betances, Ross Ohlendorf and Melky Cabrera, to which the Twins accept for Johan Santana. Hate to see Phil go, but Joba is regarded higher in the organization, and when the best pitcher in baseball is one the market, at age 29, you get him.

The 2008 NYY starting rotation consists of Johan, Joba, Wang, Kennedy, and Moose. Hopefully Dandy Andy comes back for one more year, making either Moose or Kennedy fight it out for #5 and long relief.  And whats funny-- in five years, when Hughes is set to be a free agent, and Santana has become a number three pitcher, and the Twins can't afford Hughes anymore, guess who gets him in free agency?....Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead!

5. OF-- To make up the loss of Melky Cabrera (part of Santana trade) in the OF, you sign Torii Hunter to a 4 year deal worth $75 million. Low years, high money. Great glove, great clubhouse, good righty bat. OF of LF Damon, CF Hunter and RF Abreu is above aberave defense. And in two years, when Damon and Matsui are done, and next year when Abreu is gone, you start breaking in Jose Tabata and A-Jax.

Final results:

1. L Damon (LF/ PT DH)

2. R Jeter (SS)

3. L Abreu (RF)

4. R Tejada (3B)

5. R Hunter (CF)

6. S Posada (C)

7. L Cano (2B)

8. L Matsui (DH/ PT LF) or L Giambi (DH/ PT 1B)

9. R Duncan (1B/ PT RF/ PT DH)

Rotation: Johan Santana, Joba Chamberlain, Chien Ming Wang, Ian Kennedy, Mike Mussina--poss Andy Pettitte?

What do y'all think?