A few years ago, arriving at the Yankees’ Player Development Center in Tampa, I heard some news that brought a smile to my face.

The Yankees had decided, after some well-publicized back and forth between general manager Brian Cashman and others in Florida, to boost the emphasis on the farm system.

Damon Oppenheimer, the club’s VP of Amateur Scouting, Senior VP of Baseball Operations Mark Newman, VP of Player Personnel Billy Eppler and Director of Player Development Pat Roessler became part of a team that would upgrade the farm system.

“There is no reason why we can’t both develop players and sign free-agents when the need arises,’’ said Cashman.

The 2006 draft brought Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson, Zach McAllister, Ian Kennedy and Dan McCutchen, the latter two used in key trades. Andrew Brackman and Austin Romine came in 2007. The 2008 selections have yet to pan out, while outfielder Slade Heathcott and pitchers Adam Warren, Graham Stoneburner and D.J. Mitchell , all taken in 2009, are making their marks.

In addition, the Yankees, with their resources, signed players like catchers Jesus Montero and Gary Sanchez, infielder Robinson Cano and pitchers Hector Noesi and Manny Banuelos at the international deadlines, acquiring players who are equal to first-round draft picks.

Seattle went after the Yankees because in Montero, infielder David Adams and McAllister, the Ms knew they won’t get prospects who are any better for Cliff Lee.  The deal apparently stalled because Adams, who has not played for Trenton since May 22 due to a severe high-ankle sprain, could miss the rest of the season and is having trouble coming back from the injury.

The Yankees could have substituted others for Adams – Triple-A shortstop Eduardo Nunez and Single-A infielder Corban Joseph – if they wanted to revive the deal.

The farm-system work has brought the Yankees to a point, if such a trade were made, they wouldn’t have missed the talented Montero with Austin Romine in the catching wings. Adams is a terrific player who will probably be big-league ready in 2011 if healthy, but he has the talented  Joseph  right behind him.

McAlllister is good, but Noesi is better.

Yankees farm teams have won championships at just about every level over the past few years. Trenton won Eastern League titles in 2007 and 2008 with clubs filled with prospects, not veterans.

There are those who wondered what would happen if the Yankees built a formidable farm system – one, by the way, which has produced key young performers such as Cano, Brett Gardner and Francisco Cervelli.  Look at the 2010 bench, featuring Colin Curtis, Kevin Russo and Ramiro Pena, who have all contributed.

The Yankees used to spend money and use prospects as trade bait. Now they have become as good with player development as any team.

Which is why they were able to make such a strong run at Lee, or any other player they covet.

Jed spent 35 years in the newspaper business working as both a writer and editor, in both sports and news under tight deadline pressure. As both sports editor at the Indiana (Pa.) Gazette and a copy editor/columnist at The Times of Trenton, he made daily decisions on overall coverage and designed and produced thousands of pages and special sections. Since accepting a buyout from The Times, he has concentrated on broadening his writing and editing horizons to the medical, academic and business fields. Anyone is welcome to Google Jed to see the different places in print, on the Web and in front of the camera his professional expertise has spread to.

Jed Weisberger

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Tags: Billy Eppler, Brian Cashman, Cliff Lee, Damon Oppenheimer, David Adams, Jesus Montero, Mark Newman, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Zach McAllister