Not much news coming from the Yankees this month. Looks like Robinson Cano will be given a contract, four years plus two options years that will take him through his free agency time. This would also keep the the three big names on the infield Yankees for at least the next six years.

The Johan Santana sweepstakes have gone cold. Now it seems that no team is willing to giveaway their prospects and approximately a $150 million contract. Teams may just wait until next year and try to sign Santana.

New Yankee Stadium is beginning to take shape.

Straight from the NY Post. Not too exciting, but the guy did have one decent year:

The Yankees signed Jason Lane to a minor-league contract yesterday.

Though the 31-year-old Lane has been a career outfielder, the Yankees believe he could play first base, where he has appeared in four games during his six-year major league career. Shelley Duncan, Jason Giambi and Wilson Betemit also are in the first-base picture.

Lane, 31, hit .175 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs in 171 at-bats for the Astros and Padres last season. He hit a career-high 26 homers in 2005 with Houston, when he batted .267 and had 78 RBIs.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman announced the agreement on the team's YES Network.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01112008/sports/yankees/yanks__lane_reach_deal_833694.htm

Welcome to the first post of 2008. Many things have changed since the Yankees bowed out of the 2007 Playoffs...and many things have stayed the same.

It is still too early to determine what the '08 Yankees will look like. Johan Santana is still on the block, but the Red Sox seem to have the inside track. As a Yankee fan, I hope the Yankees don't trade the farm (pun!) for Santana. I would hate to see a package of Hughes, Kennedy, and Cabrera go for Santana.

I also wonder how the Yankees will react to their new manager, Joe Girardi. A former Yankee (bonus points), but one that may not be as patient as former Yankee manager Joe Torre. It will also be interesting to see how Girardi handles the New York media; something that Joe Torre mastered.

If the season started today, the Yankees have Matsui, Damon, Cabrera and Abreu in the outfield. The infield has Rodriguez, Jeter, Cano, and Giambi. Jorge Posada is still the backstop. A starting rotation of Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Pettitte, and Mussina doesn't seem all that bad. Mo Rivera returns as the Yankees (and All-Time Master) closer. The lineup is solid but is becoming old in some places quickly.

The "new" ownership (the Steinbrenner boys) are trying to prove that they are in control. The Santana trade talks has proved Hank an amateur at best. Fortunately, the Yankees do have Brian Cashman with enough authority to keep Hankie ad the boys from doing anything stupid; the Joe Torre contract withstanding.