Step aside -- 'Yankees just keep getting better'

INDIANAPOLIS -- It's probably fitting that in the wake of the Yankees getting Curtis Granderson in the first big deal of the Winter Meetings, officials from one organization were speculating that Roy Halladay will eventually land with the Phillies.

Understand, this was speculation, not news, and not even a strong prediction.

But also understand this is how baseball works these days. In the days since they played each other in the World Series, the Yankees and Phillies have been aggressive (and successful) in their attempts to improve.

The teams they beat to get there have been spinning their wheels, saving their money or, in too many cases, looking for ways to improve without spending an extra cent.

Eventually, the Red Sox will get somebody, probably either Jason Bay (who they already had) or Matt Holliday (who could replace him). Eventually, the Angels will get somebody, maybe John Lackey (who they already had) or Halladay (who could replace him).

Meanwhile, as Rangers manager Ron Washington said, "The Yankees just keep getting better."

The acquisition of Granderson doesn't shake the baseball world the way last year's Yankee signings of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira did. But the general belief is that in the three-way deal that was agreed to Tuesday, the Yankees parted with nobody they'd have a hard time replacing, and in the process got significantly better.

And, of course, they could still trade for Halladay, or sign Lackey, too.

Granderson comes to the Yankees with a few question marks. He strikes out too much, was terrible last year against left-handed pitchers (.484 OPS) and even badly misplayed a couple of balls in center field as the Tigers were fighting (unsuccessfully) to hold on in the American League Central.

But he's 28 years old, with speed and power that should make him fit perfectly in Yankee Stadium. Granderson hit 30 home runs last year while playing home games at spacious Comerica Park (he hit 20 of the 30 on the road), and some scouts were already guessing that he'll approach 40-homer power next year.

The Yankees can still bring Johnny Damon back, if they want to and if he'll accept a short-term deal. They can still bring Hideki Matsui back, if they want to.

They can get somewhat younger, definitely more athletic and even -- if they want -- cheaper, because Granderson will make only $5.5 million in 2010.

They were able to take advantage of a Tigers team that wasn't in fire-sale mode (Tuesday's deal is an indication the Tigers were telling the truth when they said they weren't), but did need to move some money.

The initial reaction among scouts and executives was that the Tigers had done very well for themselves -- "What a haul!" one exec gushed -- but they were maneuvering more for 2011 and beyond than for 2010.

The Yankees rarely if ever do that. Their mandate every year is to construct a championship team, and their mandate this winter was to take a championship team and improve it.

Many feel Curtis Granderson will have 40-homer potential playing in Yankee Stadium. (US Presswire)

"I'd love to be Joe Girardi," one rival manager said. "He did a good job this year, but still, I'd love to be Joe Girardi."

Because of their resources, the Yankees have long been able to do things that other teams couldn't. It just feels even more that way now, because so many other teams are so limited financially.

The Dodgers, who should be a big-market club, are so limited that they've spent this week trying to dump Juan Pierre's salary so that they can add a needed starting pitcher. Dodger officials were saying Tuesday that there's very little chance they'll add that pitcher before they leave town Thursday.

The Rangers, who not that long ago gave Alex Rodriguez the biggest contract in baseball, are so limited that they're trying to figure out if trading Kevin Millwood (a pitcher they'd really prefer to keep) will help them by allowing them to add a hitter they need.

Even the Phillies, who already added Placido Polanco and backup catcher Brian Schneider, are trying to figure out how to find dollars for the bullpen help they still need.

Those constraints are one reason the Phils still must be considered a long shot for Halladay, no matter what rival teams think.

Meanwhile, the Yankees must be considered a player for anyone that can help them.

So often now, it seems as if they can do whatever they want.

They wanted Granderson. They got him.

And the price didn't even hurt that much, if at all.

The Yankees just keep getting better?

Yes, they sure do.