Hank Steinbrenner endorses GM's offseason moves

Hank Steinbrenner thinks the New York Yankees are in a strong position to repeat as World Series champions due to the acquisition of pitcher Javier Vazquez and outfielder Curtis Granderson.

Vazquez, obtained from Atlanta, joins a rotation that includes CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain. Granderson, acquired from Detroit, takes over in centerfield from Melky Cabrera, who was sent to the Braves in the Vazquez trade by general manager Brian Cashman.

"The two trades that Brian did, I was really pleased with and very proud of," Steinbrenner, a team co-chairman, said yesterday. "I think that is going to make a big difference for us."

The Yankees allowed designated hitter Hideki Matsui and leftfielder Johnny Damon to become free agents. New York also added DH Nick Johnson and outfielder Randy Winn.

"We needed another top-notch starter and got one," Steinbrenner said.

Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who has started pre-spring training workouts at the team's minor league complex, spent time yesterday with Hank Steinbrenner and his brother, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner.

"I asked him his opinion, and he said, 'It's all about pitching,' " Hank Steinbrenner said.

Jeter is entering the final season of a $189 million, 10-year contract. The Yankees have a policy of not negotiating new deals until after a player's previous contract.

"We'll get into all of that eventually," Steinbrenner said. "Jeter's place in Yankee history is obvious, so I think you can pretty much assume from there."

* Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Parker has been suspended for the first 50 games of the season following a second positive test for a drug of abuse under the minor league drug program.

Parker, a 24-year-old righthander, is on the roster of Bowie, a Double A Eastern League farm team. He was 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 35 relief appearances last year for Baltimore's Class A Frederick team in the Carolina League, and 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two games with Bowie. The Orioles drafted him from Lewis & Clark in the 19th round of the 2007 amateur draft.

Six players have been suspended this year under the minor league program.

* Lefthander Erik Bedard and the Seattle Mariners are close to agreeing on a 1-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press.

Bedard has been in his native Canada rehabilitating from surgery in August to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder.

* Pitcher Carlos Marmol and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a 1-year contract worth $2,125,000, the midpoint between the figures the sides exchanged in arbitration last month. In addition, Chicago reached a minor-league contract with first baseman Kevin Millar.