Johnson isn't a long-term solution, but he did have a great season this year and for all his knee problems, I don't ever recall his spending a lot of time on the disabled list in his career (unlike, say, the man who wore No. 27 for the Yanks this year). I have to say I like this deal, especially because the Yanks didn't give up much to get him. Eric Duncan was blocked by A-Rod, and reviews were mixed on Dioner Navarro.
I would like to see the Yanks start thinking about a young replacement for Posada, though, as he is approaching his mid-30s and the time when he is going to have to make the move to DH.
JJ, I think the possibilities are great for the Yankees to do serious damage to the rest of the league in '05 if Johnson stays healthy--and that looks like a much better bet than wagering on No. 27's ability to get out of bed in the morning--and everyone else in the rotation and the newly retooled bullpen (Felix Rodriguez, Mike Stanton to help reconstruct the Bridge to Mo) performs up to par. Right now the Yanks' rotation is better than the Sox', and the Yanks' bulllpen is probably better than the Sox'.
But the games do have to be played.
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