With all of the noise the New York Mets made this offseason, the Yankees seemed uncharacteristically content to quietly go about their business.

But with the signing of Johnny Damon to a four-year – $52 million contract, the Bronx Bombers have made the necessary moves to upgrade their team and suddenly – however quietly – look primed to make a championship run in 2006.

The biggest problems for the Yankees after last season were replacing Bernie Williams in centerfield and bridging the gap to Mariano Rivera in the bullpen. 

By signing Damon, the Yankees filled their first need. The former Red Sox now gets to roam the famous center field at Yankee Stadium and leadoff an extremely powerful lineup. He had a hurt shoulder at the end of last year, which compromised his throwing arm and dropped his average down, but when was all was said and done, the All-Star hit .316 with 10 home runs, 75 RBI, and a .366 on base percentage.

Damon’s agent Scott Boras went into this winter looking for a seven year contract for his client, but the Yankees, sensing the market, quietly waited and gave Boras essentially a take it – or leave it ultimatum, since other options on the non-tender market, like Corey Patterson, opened up.

Unlike past seasons, the Yankees publicly went after free agents, but this year the public line was to go into the season with Bubba Crosby in center. Of course, no one believed general manager Brian Cashman and Joe Torre was almost laughed at when he suggested moving Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez to center.

And now a few days before the holidays, Damon comes wrapped up. Boras may be losing his touch or he may have misjudged the market for his client, but with the Red Sox front office in disarray, there weren’t too many options for the centerfielder to take.

So, the Yankees waited and silently went about signing set-up men for the bullpen. First it was Kyle Farnsworth, who turned down the opportunity to close for Atlanta to set-up for Rivera. And with the lack of left-handed pitching on the market, the Bombers managed to snag two for the ‘pen. They signed Mike Myers from the Red Sox – further weakening their hated rival - and acquired Ron Villone from the fire sale that is the Florida Marlins.

Add to that Octavio Dotel, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery and the bullpen went from suspect to pretty darn good. With Aaron Small in the spot starter/long relief role, the Yankees have successfully put together a talented staff, which will allow Torre options when removing a starter in the sixth or seventh inning.

And that was the real problem last year. Too many times a quality start ended up going for naught when the arsonists in the Yankee ‘pen came in and gave up the lead. With now a totally balanced lineup and solid relief corps, the Bombers seem primed.

There are still questions surrounding the starting rotation. Randy Johnson will be 42 and Mike Mussina isn’t getting any younger, but they still can be effective. Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright are coming back from injuries and are also question marks. But with young Chien-Ming Wang and the surprising Shawn Chacon, the staff should hold up as the Yankees make their march in 2006.

But they won’t be quiet about it during the summer.