YankeesRedSox.com

Bill Madden argues in the Daily News today that Cashman made a mistake by not extending Rivera and Posada back in March. Well, hindsight is 20/20 and that is the hole in this argument. What would have happened if Posada didn't hit this year or Mariano couldn't close anymore? Cashman took a risk and lost, but that doesn't mean it was a dumb decision.

But, if there is one thing you want to see that Brian has learned from his risk is to look at this from the other end of the process, the younger end. Cano and Wang are about to become arbitration eligible. That means for the next three years they and the Yankees can exchange figures for salary increases and either agree on a number or let an arbitrator decide. Here's where you save some money, how about offering these guys longer term deals?

This is where the Yankees have never ventured. When Bernie Williams was an up and coming star the Yankees did nothing and went to free agency with him. Derek Jeter got to the point in arbitration where the club was offering $14.25 million and he was asking for $18.5, before the Yankees finally gave him a contract. Contrast that with the Red Sox and their approach with Nomar. They signed him after his first full season in the bigs and ended up with a well below-market deal with him as a result. They reached extensions with Beckett and Crisp when they got them via trade and while the Crisp deal doesn't look great, Beckett earning $32 million over the next three years is a steal.

If the Yankees want to take some risks, this is where you do it. Sign some of these younger guys to deals now. Get Cano and Wang settled before the arbitration process starts. Is it too early to talk to Joba and Hughes? Maybe, but considering the price of young pitching today, locking them up could be the smartest decision they could make.