"Michael Pineda has pitched just one season in the majors and Hiroki Kuroda never has been out of the NL West, but CC Sabathia said he is convinced the pair make the Yankees the favorites in the AL East again.

When asked if he thought the additions gave the Yankees what they needed to win a title, the lefty didn't hesitate.

"I do," Sabathia said. "We're going to try to win a championship. That's always our goal and it's a realistic goal. We made some great moves. Our team was good [last year], but they made it even better."

Derek Jeter agreed.

"It's good," the shortstop said. "We always do something and sometimes things come out of the blue."

After the Yankees won 97 games and the AL East a year ago, their season was cut short by the Tigers in the ALDS.

Though general manager Brian Cashman might have gotten Sabathia some help by getting Pineda and Kuroda last week, the ace remains the most important part of the Yankees' rotation heading into 2012 and beyond.

Sabathia knows as long as that's the case, his weight is going to be a concern. After he put on weight during the season a year ago, that became more of a significant issue."