Jumping the Gun: Previewing the 2008 Yankees Rotation

Although the 2007 season is far from over, this Yankees fan is already looking forward to next year, the Yankees' final season in that history-filled dump at East 161st Street & River Avenue. Let's continue with the starting pitchers.

Here's how the 2007 rotation shaped up:

• Chien-Ming Wang
• Andy Pettitte
• Mike Mussina
• Roger Clemens
• Kei Igawa/Phil Hughes

Here's how the 2008 rotation might look:

• Chien-Ming Wang
• Andy Pettitte
• Mike Mussina
• Joba Chamberlain
• EXCITING FREE AGENT ACQUISITION

This assumes that Carl Pavano has been taken out behind the Stadium and shot, naturally. Andy Pettitte has an option for 2008, but it's a player option and not a team option. That being said, Pettitte knows how much we love him so he won't make the same mistake twice and leave the Yankees again. Mussina may be old and decrepit but he's due to make $11 million next year, so pencil him in. Joba Chamberlain has way too many effective pitches in his arsenal to stay in the bullpen.

So where, you might ask, is Phil Hughes? After last night, I'm too disappointed to include him right now, so I will play the part of Brian Cashman circa 2002 and make a wacky free agent signing...let's go with...Rodrigo Lopez.

-Rob Iracane