The Great Giambino, Pavano cut from the Yanks

Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano have lost their pinstripes. The Yankees cut them, saving eleventy billion dollars ... or about $35 million in 2009 salaries.

Seriously, let that number soak in.

$35 million.

For Giambi and Pavano.

The Yanks will pay close to $7 million in buyout money to the duo. The healing process can begin.

Giambi, like the CBS story says, has struggled more recently, both defensively and offensively. He hit .236 in '07 and .247 in '08. His power numbers, though, never really tanked, so he might be a nice DH option for a team that has a solid average-plus-power hitter at first base.

Pavano was 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA in four years -- and just 26 starts -- in New York. Awful.

Elsewhere

-- Jai Lucas is transferring. Jeff Withey is not (allowed).

First, Lucas. Not really sure what to make of it. He was going to be a key guy for the Gators this year. In fact, the transfer really hurts Florida. It'll be fun to see where he goes because this kid is a talent.

Second, Withey. Tall, 'bout 6-10, kinda gangly. It always great to see a school deny a kid's desire to leave. Rules say that he has to adhere to his letter of intent, waste a year of college eligibility and stick around at 'Zona ... or ... transfer to another Division I school (which, being the No. 8 center in last year's class, would make sense), lose a year of eligibility while sitting on the bench.

The NCAA: Where your personal freedoms go to die.

-- Bobby Mo was picked third in the NEC. The Fightin' Bobbies won the league last year, but Mt. St. Mary's won the conference tournament and got stampeded in the NCAAs by UNC, 113-74. Not that Bobby Mo would've done better. But hey, on a side note, Bryant University (formerly Bryant College), one of Rhode Island's finest, is the new kid on the block. Bryant put together some high-quality programs in the 2000s before making the move. It'll be fun watching the new D-I club operate.

-- Look at the last line of this story.

Parting thought: Our first basketball president. May he reform conference tournaments and start letting kids out of scholarships.