New York Yankees

For most of the last two years, the New York Yankees specialized in acquisitions that were anything but flashy. Many were useful and some were surprisingly good, but none of them screamed, "Look at us!"

Like trading for Aroldis Chapman did. Now that's a Yankee move.

What? Did you think the New York Yankees were going to steer clear of star players all winter?

Guess again, friend. The Yankees have gone and acquired a rather big star. In so doing, they have set their immediate future up for quite a bit of intrigue.

At one point, closer Aroldis Chapman appeared destined for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Investigations into an alleged domestic violence incident, however, squashed those plans and forced the Cincinnati Reds to pivot.

Are you sitting there wondering why the New York Yankees haven't seemed interested in building for 2016 this winter?

Here's a potential spoiler: It might be because they have their eyes on what's coming after 2018.

The New York Yankees have taken a second base situation that impressed nobody and have addressed it with a trade that doesn't seem to be satisfying everybody.

But if you're among those who are on the fence, rest assured. The Yankees have had worse ideas.

For years, the New York Yankees won the winter the traditional way.

They bought it.

The guy who used to play there isn't a realistic option, but the New York Yankees clearly need something at second base.

A few years back, a general manager of a limited-budget team shook his head while talking about the New York Yankees.

"Sometimes it seems like they're trying to operate like us," he said. "If we had their money, we wouldn't operate like us."

The New York Yankees need starting pitching. That's not breaking news, but it's an undeniable truth.

They can get it by spending on the open market, which would be the classic Yankee Way. Or they could get creative on the trading block, which might be the Yankee Way 2.0.

If they go the trade route, here's a name the Yanks and general manager Brian Cashman will at least consider dangling: Brett Gardner.

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia admitted this week he's known about his alcohol problem for about three years. Yet, it wasn't until near the end of the regular season in Baltimore that he finally understood he needed help.