The more I consider the off-season moves that have occurred so far, the one that feels the worst is the Yankees giving up Nick Johnson for Vasquez. Don't misunderstand me, the Yankees got a great pitcher. But Johnson was an important player for the Yankees.

First, Johnson is a great first baseman. I have discussed in this space many times how important a first baseman is for an infield. Secondly, there is no way in baseball heaven that Giambi will be able to play first base every day for the Yankees. As also mentioned in this column, Giambi is in that danger zone of being a big player in a time bomb of a body. Coming into his ninth season, Giambi is entering borrowed time for a big man playing a wear and tear kind of game.

Secondly, Johnson was rare in the Yankee lineup as someone who could put the ball in play and take a hundred walks. It takes baserunners clogging the bases to cause pitchers trouble. The Yankees have a great lineup on paper, but they strike out too much. Jeter struck out 88 times in less than 500 at bats. Soriano struck out 130 times. Giambi struck you 140 times. Posada struck out 110 times. This is a team that needs baserunner to force a pitcher to throw strikes.

The Yankees would have been much better off trading Soriano who gets into funks where he will swing at anything and is an easy out. Johnson had more discipline and if he stays healthy will have a break out year with Montreal.

And have you looked at the Yankees roster? Their bench is dreadful. Tony Clark? Enrique Wilson? Miguel Cairo? *Patooey* And I don't like Kenny Lofton on this team at all. He's never been the same since hurting his shoulder in the post season a few years ago. He's a 37 year old "speedster" who doesn't fit.

The Yankees have made a mistake the past few years trading all of their good young talent. A team needs to replenish a part of itself from within as much as without and their farm system has nothing left. Their mid-season acquisitions will be much harder from here on out.

The Red Sox had the right formula for building a team last year and a bit more pitching and they would have won it all. A long season needs a bench full of players that can get the job done. I don't see that with the Yankees. It could be a bumpy year in the Bronx.