Yankees retooled and ready for run at 28th title

With the sounds of a champagne celebration in the background, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman stood in the hallway outside the Yankees' clubhouse after the clinching sixth game of the World Series last November.

"I'm happy we were able to complete the mission," Cashman said.

But, while clearly enjoying the moment, Cashman knew the moment would be short-lived.

"There will be a new mission now," he said, already casting an eye toward 2010.

A mission emblazoned on Joe Girardi's back with his number switch to 28, replacing the 27 he wore last season.

General managers never truly rest, and Cashman certainly didn't after the Yankees captured their 27th world championship. Although not active in a weak free-agent market, Cashman, under orders to trim last year's payroll, soon went to work retooling via the trade market.

He acquired Curtis Granderson, at once making the Yankees younger and more athletic in the outfield, and got some much-needed depth for the rotation by dealing for Javier Vazquez, who has pitched more than 200 innings in nine of the last 10 seasons (falling short only in 2004, when he pitched 198 innings in his first stint with the Yankees).

Cashman also prioritized re-signing Andy Pettitte, which secured the No. 3 spot in the rotation, and brought in Nick Johnson to DH. Johnson showed throughout spring training what he's capable of doing in the No. 2 spot in the batting order if he stays healthy.

The primary questions heading into spring training - primarily the fifth starter (Phil Hughes) and where Granderson and Brett Gardner would align in the outfield - were answered devoid of controversy.

Indeed, with the exception of Alex Rodriguez's meeting with authorities regarding their investigation of a Canadian doctor for the distribution of HGH, Yankees camp was quiet compared to those in the recent past.

In his news conference to kick off camp, Girardi faced several questions regarding the possibility that his team will be content with last year and perhaps won't enter this season as hungry.

"I think complacency comes down to character, and I really like the character of our club," Girardi said. "It's mostly the same people who have great leadership in that room, so I don't view it as being a huge problem. In saying that, it's something that you keep your eye out for, obviously, because you never want to see a club became complacent."

A few of the stars said it won't be a problem.

"I think it's a mind-set you have to have in terms of staying hungry, realizing how difficult it is," said Derek Jeter, who, like Girardi and Mariano Rivera, is entering the final year of his contract. "Because to win a championship is tough enough. But to win it back-to-back seasons is even harder to do. I think you just have to have the mind-set that last season is finished and let's move on and let's try to accomplish this year something we haven't done, and we haven't won a championship in 2010."

Mark Teixeira said the team won't rest off last year for a simple reason.

"Because we're the Yankees,'' he said. "You get complacent, it's going to be a tough year for you. I think once you taste that championship, it just makes you want it even more."

It's a topic Rodriguez said he and Teixeira discussed at lunch shortly before the two reported with the rest of the position players.

"We both talked about what an amazing feeling it was to be world champs and how badly we want to do it again," Rodriguez said. "Then it becomes an addiction. You want to just keep winning."