What offseason?

Only in baseball, only in New York. Newsday's Shaun Powell said it best: "Here in New York, the 'hot stove' puts football on the back burner." In a week when the Jets earned their biggest win of the season and the Giants are 8-1, the Yankees stole back page copy hours before open bidding on free agents began.

Nick Swisher is a Yankee, acquired from the White Sox for Wilson Betemit, and Minor Leaguers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez. The deal received acclaim from many outlets, including my colleague Steven Goldman. Basically, the Yankees received a poor man's Mark Teixeria, a cheaper and more versatile player who's can handle first base and the corner outfield spots. Logic suggests the Yankees are out of the Teixeria running, but these are the Yankees and they have money, no matter how much they throw at CC Sabathia. I love Teixeria's game and he'd be a great fit in the Bronx, but there's no guarantee he'd want to come here. In Swisher, you for the moment solve your problem at first base and can make an all-out blitz for Sabathia.

Speaking of CC, it's obvious the Yankees want him — badly. Odds are they will get him because they'll trump Johan Santana's crazy contract and the depressing economy will price everyone else out. But again, no gurantees. Sabathia's heart may rule his head enough for him to walk away from Yankee zillions, billions and trillions for him to sign with a National League team on the west coast. Should that happen, so be it, says Yankees manager Joe Girardi. There are other options available.

The Yankees have a new first base coach and Tony Pena will sit alongside Girardi as his bench coach in 2009. Girardi better hope the Yankees do not stumble out of the gate. Should the Steinbrenners decide to act impulsively, Pena, the 2003 AL Manager of the Year with the Royals, is an interim skipper in waiting.

Will Mike Mussina retire? Probably. But he's still making up his mind. We'll supposedly find out next week.

Swisher will be introduced to writers via a conference call as soon as today. I'll have his reaction after it happens.