Let the frenzy begin

The Major League Baseball free agency period officially began at midnight on Friday...and the Yankees didn't wait long to remind everyone who they are.

According to the ever-trusty Buster Olney, the Yankees have already handed C.C. Sabathia, potentially, the biggest contract ever handed to a pitcher. Ever. And just to get rid of those annoying million-dollar bills lying around, the Bombers also handed Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett. Apparently, a patient Brian Cashman does not a missed playoff appearance make.

Seeing as one of those pitchers is believed to be an Oriole target, this might be the time for the Birds to act. As in, right now. The Yankees don't low-ball their free-agent hopefuls. Burnett (the best pitcher on the market not named C.C.) may be partial to Maryland (his wife is a local), but he's not going to hold out hope for an Oriole deal when he's got millions of dollars from the most marketable franchise in the country staring him in the face.

Of course, the word from MacPhail seemed to place a focus on finding a balance between aggressive free agent spending and the conservative rebuilding approach. Year 1 of the rebuilding process was a success, and the team may opt to stay the course for 2009. But if MacPhail, Angelos and Co. decide that now is the time to build an instant winner, they've got to move fast. Eventually, the pieces you need will be all be taken.