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Yankees NYY

200889–73 (0.549)
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GM: Brian Cashman

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2008, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$218M
Surplus $M
-136
Win %
0.549
TAB
-7.1
WAB
-4.5
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
38.1
Dead money %
24%
Depth Players
9.0
Dead WAR
-4.9

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2008 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RJosé Molina97
RChad Moeller33
RIvan Rodriguez⇄32
BJorge Posada30
RFrancisco Cervelli3
RChris Stewart1

1B

LJason Giambi113
BWilson Betemit36
RRichie Sexson⇄22
RCody Ransom19
RShelley Duncan16
BJorge Posada7
RMorgan Ensberg7
LJuan Miranda5
RChad Moeller2
LJohnny Damon1
RJosé Molina1
RXavier Nady⇄1

2B

LRobinson Canó159
RAlberto Gonzalez⇄4
BWilson Betemit3
RCody Ransom2

3B

RAlex Rodriguez131
BWilson Betemit21
RMorgan Ensberg21
RCody Ransom4
RChad Moeller3

SS

RDerek Jeter148
BWilson Betemit14
RCody Ransom9

LF

LJohnny Damon87
LHideki Matsui21
RXavier Nady⇄19
LBrett Gardner17
RJustin Christian9
BMelky Cabrera8

CF

BMelky Cabrera117
LJohnny Damon34
LBrett Gardner22
RJustin Christian3

RF

LBobby Abreu150
RXavier Nady⇄36
BMelky Cabrera5
RJustin Christian5
RShelley Duncan4
LHideki Matsui3

DH

LHideki Matsui66
LJohnny Damon27
LJason Giambi26
BJorge Posada15
RAlex Rodriguez7
LBobby Abreu4
RJustin Christian4
RXavier Nady⇄3
RChad Moeller2
RDerek Jeter2
RIvan Rodriguez⇄1
RMorgan Ensberg1
RRichie Sexson⇄1
RShelley Duncan1
BWilson Betemit1

Starters

RMike Mussina3.6 WAR
LAndy Pettitte3.3 WAR
RJoba Chamberlain2.9 WAR
RChien-Ming Wang1.5 WAR
RDarrell Rasner1.1 WAR
RBrian Bruney0.5 WAR
RDan Giese0.5 WAR
RPhil Hughes0.4 WAR
RAlfredo Aceves0.1 WAR
LKei Igawa0.1 WAR
RCarl Pavano0.0 WAR
RSidney Ponson⇄-0.2 WAR
RIan Kennedy-0.2 WAR

Bullpen

★ RMariano Rivera39 sv
LDamaso Marte⇄25 h
RBrian Bruney12 h
RJose Veras10 h
REdwar Ramirez5 h
RKyle Farnsworth⇄0 h
RLaTroy Hawkins⇄0 h
RRoss Ohlendorf⇄0 h

Each position shows its top 3 by games (top = starter) — click "+more" for the rest. The letter is bats/throws; ⇄ marks a player traded mid-season. Starters are ranked by WAR, bullpen by holds; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

Key additions (new vs 2007)

PlayerfWAR
Brett Gardner1.1
Xavier Nady0.8
Dan Giese0.5
Phil Coke0.5
Damaso Marte0.4
Cody Ransom0.4

Key subtractions (gone from 2007)

Player2007 fWAR
Roger Clemens1.6
Doug Mientkiewicz0.9
Luis Vizcaino0.3
Matt DeSalvo0.1
Mike Myers0.0
Andy Phillips0.0

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Yankees. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 2008; everyone else is shown as a 2008 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Mike Mussina 2008 +3.6 +63.4 11.1 +52.4 $3.1M 2.19× –
Mariano Rivera 2008 +3.0 +60.7 15.0 +45.7 $5.1M 2.57× –
Johnny Damon 2008 +3.7 +53.6 13.0 +40.6 $3.5M 1.79× –
Alex Rodriguez 2008 +5.8 +66.7 28.0 +38.7 $4.8M 1.43× –
Andy Pettitte 2008 +3.3 +51.4 16.0 +35.4 $4.9M 1.96× –
José Molina 2008 +3.7 +33.3 1.9 +31.4 $0.5M 1.12× –
Joba Chamberlain 2008 +2.9 +29.6 0.4 +29.2 $0.1M 1.28× –
Derek Jeter 2008 +3.4 +31.7 21.6 +10.1 $6.4M 1.18× –
Chien-Ming Wang 2008 +1.5 +12.2 4.0 +8.2 $2.7M 1.02× –
Brett Gardner 2008 +1.1 +7.6 0.4 +7.2 $0.3M 0.83× –
Damaso Marte↔ 2008 +0.4 +4.7 0.7 +4.0 $1.7M 1.34× –
Xavier Nady↔ 2008 +0.8 +5.2 1.3 +3.8 $1.7M 0.83× –
Phil Hughes 2008 +0.4 +3.0 0.4 +2.6 $1.1M 1.02× –
Brian Bruney 2008 +0.5 +2.9 0.7 +2.1 $1.3M 0.67× –
Melky Cabrera 2008 +0.2 +1.6 0.5 +1.2 $1.9M 0.83× –
David Robertson 2008 +0.2 +1.2 0.2 +1.0 $0.9M 0.67× –
Juan Miranda 2008 +0.2 +0.7 0.4 +0.3 $2.4M 0.56× –
Jonathan Albaladejo 2008 +0.1 +0.5 0.4 +0.2 $3.8M 0.67× –
Bobby Abreu 2008 +1.6 +15.8 16.0 -0.2 $9.8M 1.22× –
Jose Veras 2008 +0.0 +0.2 0.4 -0.2 $8.9M 0.67× –
Humberto Sanchez 2008 -0.0 -0.1 0.4 -0.4 – 0.67× –
Billy Traber 2008 -0.2 -1.0 0.5 -1.5 – 0.67× –
Ross Ohlendorf↔ 2008 -0.2 -1.2 0.3 -1.6 – 0.67× –
Shelley Duncan 2008 -0.3 -1.5 0.4 -1.9 – 0.56× –
Ian Kennedy 2008 -0.2 -1.6 0.4 -2.0 – 1.02× –
LaTroy Hawkins↔ 2008 +0.0 +0.0 2.2 -2.1 $350.3M 0.67× –
Robinson Canó 2008 +0.1 +0.3 3.0 -2.7 $51.8M 0.56× –
Wilson Betemit 2008 -0.3 -1.5 1.2 -2.7 – 0.56× –
Kei Igawa 2008 +0.1 +0.9 4.0 -3.1 $37.3M 1.02× –
Richie Sexson↔ 2008 -0.3 -1.2 3.6 -4.7 – 0.56× –
Ivan Rodriguez↔ 2008 -0.3 -1.4 3.6 -5.0 – 0.52× –
Morgan Ensberg 2008 -0.7 -3.2 1.8 -5.0 – 0.58× –
Jason Giambi 2008 +2.4 +15.6 23.4 -7.8 $9.7M 0.81× –
Kyle Farnsworth↔ 2008 -0.7 -3.6 4.4 -8.0 – 0.67× –
Hideki Matsui 2008 +0.8 +4.6 13.0 -8.4 $15.7M 0.69× –
Carl Pavano 2008 +0.0 +0.4 11.0 -10.6 $249.7M 1.02× –
Jorge Posada 2008 -0.4 -1.6 13.1 -14.7 – 0.52× –
Alberto Gonzalez↔ 2008 -0.5 -2.0 – – – 0.56× –
Alfredo Aceves 2008 +0.1 +1.0 – – – 1.02× –
Chad Moeller 2008 +0.1 +0.4 – – – 0.52× –
Chris Britton 2008 -0.2 -1.1 – – – 0.67× –
Chris Stewart 2008 -0.1 -0.2 – – – 0.52× –
Cody Ransom 2008 +0.4 +1.8 – – – 0.56× –
Dan Giese 2008 +0.5 +2.6 – – – 0.67× –
Darrell Rasner 2008 +1.1 +8.9 – – – 1.02× –
Edwar Ramirez 2008 +0.3 +1.5 – – – 0.67× –
Francisco Cervelli 2008 -0.2 -0.7 – – – 0.52× –
Justin Christian 2008 -0.1 -1.0 – – – 0.83× –
Phil Coke 2008 +0.5 +2.5 – – – 0.67× –
Scott Patterson↔ 2008 -0.0 -0.0 – – – 0.67× –
Sidney Ponson↔ 2008 -0.2 -1.3 – – – 1.02× –
Total—+37.9+462.3218.7+231.5—

Trades

Every graded 2008 deal involving the Yankees — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 5 total.

2008 · NYY / CHW
NYY · Brian Cashman +$89.6M
Nick Swisher, Kanekoa Texeira
CHW · Kenny Williams −$89.6M
Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez, Jhonny Núñez
NYY came out ahead by $89.6M
2008 · NYY / HOU
NYY · Brian Cashman +$8.0M
Matt Cusick
HOU · Ed Wade −$8.0M
LaTroy Hawkins
NYY came out ahead by $8.0M
2008 · NYY / WSN
NYY · Brian Cashman +$2.4M
Jhonny Núñez
WSN · Jim Bowden −$2.4M
Alberto González
NYY came out ahead by $2.4M
2008 · DET / NYY
DET · Dave Dombrowski +$13.6M
Kyle Farnsworth
NYY · Brian Cashman −$13.6M
Iván Rodríguez
DET came out ahead by $13.6M
2008 · PIT / NYY
PIT · Neal Huntington +$25.6M
Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen, José Tábata
NYY · Brian Cashman −$25.6M
Xavier Nady, Dámaso Marte
PIT came out ahead by $25.6M

Current & Historical Payroll

2008 payroll
$218.5M

What the front office was committed to as of 2008, 2008–2014. Pre-2015 has no contract-terms data — forward italic $ are realized actuals (hindsight, not commitments known then). Control labels (ARB/FA) are point-in-time.

current $ guaranteed $ actual $ (hindsight) arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent

Guaranteed / signed (22)

PlayerAgeSvc2008200920102011201220132014
Alex Rodriguez3214.000$28.0M$33.0M$33.0M$32.0M$29.0M$28.0MFREE AGENT
Jason Giambi3713.000$23.4MFREE AGENT
Derek Jeter3413.000$21.6M$21.6M$22.6M$14.7M$16.0M$17.0M$12.0M
Andy Pettitte3613.000$16.0M$5.5M$11.8MFREE AGENT$2.5M$12.0M
Bobby Abreu3412.000$16.0MFREE AGENT
Mariano Rivera3813.000$15.0M$15.0M$15.0M$14.9M$15.0M$10.0MFREE AGENT
Jorge Posada3713.000$13.1M$13.1M$13.1M$13.1MFREE AGENT
Johnny Damon3413.000$13.0M$13.0MFREE AGENT
Mike Mussina3917.000$11.1MFREE AGENT
Carl Pavano3210.000$11.0MFREE AGENT
Kyle Farnsworth329.000$4.4MFREE AGENT
Ivan Rodriguez3617.000$3.6MFREE AGENT
Richie Sexson3311.000$3.6MFREE AGENT
LaTroy Hawkins3513.000$2.2MFREE AGENT
José Molina339.000$1.9M$2.1MFREE AGENT
Morgan Ensberg328.000$1.8MFREE AGENT
Xavier Nady298.000$1.3M$6.5MFREE AGENT
Wilson Betemit267.000$1.2MFREE AGENT
Damaso Marte339.000$747k$3.8M$4.0MFREE AGENT
Sidney Ponson3110.000—FREE AGENT
Chad Moeller338.000—FREE AGENT
Cody Ransom327.000—$455kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (7)

PlayerAgeSvc2008200920102011201220132014
Hideki Matsui345.000$13.0MFREE AGENT
Chien-Ming Wang283.000$4.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Robinson Canó253.000$3.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Bruney264.000$725kARB 3FREE AGENT
Billy Traber285.000$500kFREE AGENT
Melky Cabrera233.000$461kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Darrell Rasner273.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (22)

PlayerAgeSvc2008200920102011201220132014
Kei Igawa281.000$4.0MPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Phil Hughes221.000$406kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Shelley Duncan281.000$398kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ian Kennedy231.000$394kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jonathan Albaladejo251.000$393kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jose Veras272.000$390kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Humberto Sanchez250.000$390kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brett Gardner240.000$390kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Juan Miranda250.000$390kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joba Chamberlain221.000$390kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ross Ohlendorf251.000$326kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
David Robertson230.000$198kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dan Giese31–—
Justin Christian28–—
Chris Stewart262.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Patterson29–—
Phil Coke250.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Britton25–—
Francisco Cervelli220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alfredo Aceves250.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Edwar Ramirez271.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alberto Gonzalez251.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 2008 acquisition stacked onto Yankees's playoff-odds curve. The side table is ranked by PPA.

Rosternomics — front-office performance, roster value, and transaction history. Follow @rosternomics on X.
Decision-maker records extend to 1933; resource-controlled WAR and payroll metrics cover 1985–2026. Data sources include FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, the Chadwick Bureau register, the Lahman Database, prospect rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs, and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0).
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