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This is a big election year...not in Washington, but Yankeeland. The Yankees have to elect to go with the new way of managing their business, or revert back to the old way of buying other teams players. After the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, will they continue to build from within or go the expensive, free agent route. Media types and others who screamed over the early 90's for the Yankees to get younger with homegrown talent and now screaming for the Yankees to go out and get everybody else's players to make sure that 2008 does not repeat itself.

Would it be that bad next year if the Yankees played well with younger players, but missed out again on the playoffs? I say not at all. Young players need to develop over time and get better with machinations of the major league game. Those guys who have performed well in AAA don't need "more seasoning" down there, they need to play in the Majors.

That is why it is unbelievable that the names of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Derek Lowe, Mark Teixeira, Nate McLouth and now Jake Peavy are bandied about as guys the Yankees "have to get if they are going to be better in 2009."  I can understand if Sabathia is signed; he is a workhorse ace, has good mechanics, would only cost money and if the Yankees only signed him (and no one else) they could let the youngers guys work the rotation, too.

But, guys like AJ Burnett and especially Jake Peavy scare the hell out of me. They are both injuries waiting to happen - especially Peavy.

History tends to repeat itself, and those who don't follow historically evidence, are usually doomed to failure. So, it is interesting how a year after passing on Johan Santana, a second 28 year old ace from a small market team is now available in trade. But, I must ask this question: Why would a team trade a young ace pitcher while in the prime of his career, and who is reasonably signed for the next several seasons?

The San Diego Padres basically made the playoffs in 2007, losing a play in game to the Colorado Rockies, but struggled in 2008. With the NL West division the way it is, there is no reason to believe that the Padres couldn't win the division next season as they have a good rotation and strong bullpen. But, their offense lacks pop in big Petco Park, so why not go out and get a couple good hitters to surround Adrian Gonzalez and lengthen that lineup?

One reason - and it is not that they want a group of young players - but that Jake Peavy is a major injury waiting to happen.

Peavy's arm action and delivery (the two big parts of a pitchers mechanics) are absolutely awful and remind me of Mark Prior's "winged" arm action when he breaks his hands. After Peavy's hands break, he leads the backward movement of his throwing arm with his elbow and not his hand. Why is this important? Because when a pitcher leads with the elbow, his arm does not get into the high cocked position ready to throw until it is too late, after his front foot lands. Then, the pitcher needs to "rush" his motion to help deliver the ball. This type of arm motion eventually leads to elbow AND shoulder injuries.

Also, the fact that he throws a slider almost every other pitch is cause for concern on the elbow, too.

And Peavy has had elbow problems twice in his career, most recently this past season in which he missed four weeks with an elbow strain. During the 2006 season, he missed several starts with shoulder tendonitis. And in 2004, he missed five starts after a mass formed in his right forearm just above the elbow. Isn't that similar to Billy Wagner, forearm tightness near the elbow?

Although MRI's this season did not reveal any structural damage, how many more sliders with bad arm action does Peavy need to throw before his elbow needs Tommy John surgery? Also, how many more violent deliveries need he throw before the labrum pops?

Peavy is schedule to earn $11 million in 2009, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012, then if the 2013 option of $22 million is needed to get traded to the Yankees (because of Peavy's no trade clause), it will total $81 million guaranteed.

There is no doubt that Peavy ranks up there with Brandon Webb, Johan Santana, and CC Sabathia as full-fledged, top-of-the-rotation, #1 ace starters.

But, with the money to be paid, and the prospects given, how many quality starts are left in that right arm of Jake Peavy? My bet is not $81 million worth.

I would advise Brian Cashman to stay far away from Jake Peavy. Let Peavy go to Atlanta, who have bigger chips to trade and like to trade for pitchers who have injuries after they get them, guys like Mike Hampton and Tim Hudson.