What does the Crawford Sigining mean for the Yanks?

So now that Carl Crawford signed with the Red Sox, and with Adrian Gonzalez also on his way to bean town, what does this mean for the Yankees?

I'm actually less worried about A-Gon than I am about Crawford, despite what the numbers may say. A-Gon hasn't seen American League pitching, where as Crawford has dominated the AL, and brings with him significant speed.

What really scares me though is that Fenway's dimensions are shrinking. The place is already a band box, and now they're bringing in the fences in right field. And they call Yankee Stadium small. Just look at this overlay of the current dimensions: (NYS = New Yankee Stadium)

 Once they bring in the fences, the only place Fenway will be bigger than Yankee Stadium is dead center. This will play perfectly to A-Gon and Crawford's strengths, not to mention Ortiz. Now that's scary.

Boston is still lacking in the Pitching department, which will be emphasized by the smaller dimensions, but as of now so are the Yankees. If the Yankees don't sign Lee, they're in even more trouble in 2011. They could conceivably miss the playoffs all together.

Analyzing the 2011 Free Agent Class Part II: The Maybes

This is part two of our four part series. Today we're going to take a look at the players that the Yanks could make a run at this offseason. This is the first of two posts on the maybes.

Adam Dunn:
First things first...I love Adam Dunn. Hes one of my current favorite non-Yankees. I remember watching him in the '09 World Baseball Classic and he was just an exciting player to watch. Yeah, he strikes out a lot (he only bated .260 last year) but man does he hit the hell out of the ball. Since 2004 he has hit at least 38 home runs each year, and only the last two did he hit less than 40, and that was in a weak Washington lineup. Not to mention, Nationals Park is 335 down the line where as Yankee Stadium is only 314. Imagine him in that ballpark, with the kind of protection that the Yankee lineup provides? He'd be a home run machine, easily hitting at least 45, maybe as many as 50, especially if he's in the 5 or 6 hole, hitting behind Alex or Robbie. This could potential be a very good pick up at DH for the Yanks, however I feel that he'll be looking for similar money to the $12 million he got last year, which may prove to be too much once the Yanks sign bigger names (more on that thursday), but I would still love to see this happen.

Victor Martinez:
As much as I would love to have Jesus Montero be the everyday starter next year (and some think he is), it wouldn't make sense to expect him to catch 162 games right out of the gate (and yes I know he'll probably never catch every game, but you get the point). The best option is to platoon him. Assuming we don't sign Adam Dunn, the Yankees will still have a gaping whole at DH. Which is why I propose moving the aging Possada to DH, and platoon Martinez and Montero. Cervelli won't cut it as a backup with a rookie as your full time starter. It makes way too much sense, not to mention while his defense isn't great, Martinez would be an obvious defensive upgrade over Possada, who throws out about as many batters as my 4 year old cousin each year.  Not to mention, signing him would piss off bandwagon nation Red Sox nation, and nothing makes me quite as happy as that. 3 years, $22 million.