The Quest for 28 begins

So the champagne bottles are empty and all the confetti is being cleaned up. It’s time to start thinking of one of the most exciting part of the baseball season: the Hot Stove season.

The Yankees are sure to be involved as they always are and we’ll be here covering all of the moves en route to World Series Championship #28.

First, some important dates:

November 9-11: The GM Meetings will take place in Chicago.

November 22- Until this date, clubs have exclusive negotiating rights with their current players with expiring contracts. Free agency begins. You can go here for a quick rundown on the rules of free agency.

December 1- Last day for clubs to offer arbitration to players in order to receive draft pick compensation.

December 7-10- Winter Meetings in Indianapolis.

December 10- Rule 5 draft for players not protected by teams by being placed on 40-man roster.

December 12- Deadline for teams to tender players a contract

January 5-20- Teams and players exchange salary arbitration numbers.

February- Salary arbitration hearings take place.

February 12- Yankees Pitchers and Catchers report for Spring Training

Now here are the Yankees free agents:

Type A

Johnny Damon

Type B

Jerry Harriston, Jr.

Hideki Matsui

Xavier Nady

Andy Pettitte

Non-type

Jose Molina

Eric Hinske

Non-tender candidates

Chien-Mien Wang

Chad Gaudin

In all, that’s $40 million coming off the books to use in the free agent market. Or, you know, buy the Florida Marlins.

In the next couple of days, we’ll give an off-season preview with what with think the GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees will/should do in regards to free agency and trades and identify strengths and weaknesses.

SEE YA!