[CJFusco]

The more I think about this, the less it looks like a big deal. let me elaborate: Soriano, probably the best 2nd baseman in the majors, was dealt for A-Rod... and Aaron Boone PROBABLY lost his job with the Yanks. Enrique Wilson, as an afterthought, will play 2nd. The way I see it, the Yankees offense didn't get that much better with the aquisition of A-Rod:

A-Rod + Enrique Wilson = Aaron Boone + Alfonso Soriano

Yes, most of the production on the left of that equation is A-Rod... I think that the combination of Boone and Soriano would put up similar numbers to A-Rod by himself. Granted, the Yankee lineup looks a lot better now...

NEW YORK (by position) Boston (by position)
Posada C Varitek C
Giambi 1 Millar 1
Wilson 2 Reese 2
Jeter SS Garciaparra SS
Rodriguez 3 Mueller 3
Matsui LF Ramirez LF
Lofton CF Damon CF
Sheffield RF Nixon RF
B. Williams DH Ortiz DH

Slight advantage to the Yankees there... but let's look at the pitching rotation, shall we?

NEW YORK BOSTON
Mussina Martinez
Vazquez Schilling
Brown Lowe
Contrarez Wakefield
Lieber BH Kim
closer: Rivera closer: Foulke

Advantage DEFINITELY goes to Boston in this situation.

Now, New York is paying $112 million for A-Rod, money they could (SHOULD) be using to go after pitching; they could have re-signed Pettite, and gone after Colon and Maddux for that money, AND had some left over for a decent set-up man.

Stein and Co. are seeming more and more inept, the more I think about it...