Although Roger Clemens has been signed and sealed, and is soon to be delivered, don’t expect the Yankees to stand pat and remain satisfied with their current roster configuration. Brian Cashman has a history of making mid-season deals, dating back to the frenzy of moves he made during the latter half of 2000 (when he acquired David Justice, Glenallen Hill, Jose Canseco, and Jose Vizcaino) and continuing in more recent seasons with mid-year pickups like Esteban Loiaza, David Dellucci, Matt Lawton, Bobby Abreu, and Craig Wilson. Some of the moves have worked, while others have bombed, but Cashman does deserve credit for trying to address at least some of the team’s needs each July and August.

Cashman is embracing a similar strategy this year, especially with the Yankees trying to make up a six-game gap in the American League East. Prior to the signing of Clemens, Cashman had engaged at least three teams in trade talks for starting pitching. He had revisited some old trade talk with the Phillies, with the teams considering a swap of Jon Lieber for Kyle Farnsworth. In addition, Cashman had fielded calls from the Giants, who showed interest in Melky Cabrera and appeared willing to give up left-hander Noah Lowry. Cashman had also inquired about right-hander Paul Byrd, a member of the Indians’ rotation.

With Clemens in tow, the urgency to make any of these deals has lessened, but has not completely died on the vine. After all, the Yankees may still need starting pitching. The age of Clemens and Mike Mussina, coupled with the disappointing start to Kei Igawa’s major league career, puts the Yankees just one or two potholes away from another pitching emergency. If everyone stays healthy and Phil Hughes can return in six weeks, the rotation will be just fine. If not, Joe Torre will have to do more juggling. That is why Lieber remains a viable option. He pitched well in his one season in the Bronx, shows no fear of the big stage, and possesses an ability to economize pitches that makes him a certified innings-eater. At one point, the Yankees would have bristled at the notion of giving up the electric-armed Farnsworth for a journeyman like Lieber, but the thoughts of the front office and coaching staff have changed. Frustrated with the high-strung Farnsworth’s faulty mechanics and his inability to pitch on successive days, the consensus in Yankeeland now concedes he’ll never prosper in pinstripes. Brian Bruney has the stuff to replace Farnsworth in pitching the eighth inning, and a back-end starter like Darrell Rasner or Matt DeSalvo could take over Bruney’s role in the middle innings.

A Cabrera-for-Lowry deal is less likely, if only because the Yankees already have such little depth on their bench. They are also concerned by Johnny Damon’s nagging leg and back injuries, which make him unavailable from time to time. Still, the Yankees could take a chance on replacing Cabrera with Kevin Thompson, Kevin Reese, or the intriguing Bronson Sardinha. (Or how’s this for a radical idea? The Yanks could bring back Rickey Henderson, who wants to continue playing at the age of 48.) A trade of Cabrera might be worth fulfilling the goal of adding some young left-handed pitching to the rotation. With Igawa banished to Billy Connors’ pitching camp, there are few young lefties in the system besides Chase Wright that can be counted upon to contribute to the rotation in the next year or two.

While starting pitching remains the top priority, the Yankees have also contemplated changes elsewhere. Doug Mientkiewicz’ awful April almost resulted in his release, but his three-run home run against the Red Sox saved his job, triggering a resurgent May, which has included a series of spectacular defensive plays at first base. So for now, Minky remains the first baseman, backed up by the underused Josh Phelps. As long as the Yankees continue to score runs, Minky should be safe, but another prolonged slump—either for him or the team—will once again have his detractors calling for a change.

A more immediate change could take place behind the plate, where backup Wil Nieves has been horrifically bad. For an organization that had a pretty strong tradition of backup catchers from the 1970s through the 1990s—with capable reserves like Johnny Ellis, Rick Dempsey, Cliff Johnson, Ron Hassey, and Joe Girardi—the backup catching situation has deteriorated badly in the new millennium. Chris Turner, Alberto Castillo, and Kelly Stinnett were poor enough, but Nieves looks like the worst catcher the Yankees have had in 40 years. He can’t hit (one hit in 34 Yankee at-bats and even that was erased when he tried to stretch a single into a double), and isn’t particularly good defensively. Simply put, Nieves does not deserve a spot on a major league roster. As a result, the Yankees can be expected to pick up talks with the Phillies about Rod Barajas, who has been a free agent disappointment in Philadelphia. Barajas can’t be traded without his permission until June 15, but the Yankees may pounce on a deal shortly thereafter. Another option would be Pittsburgh’s useful Ryan Doumit, who swings the bat well and can play both first base and the outfield. Don’t be surprised to hear rumors linking Doumit with Melky Cabrera; the Pirates are unhappy with their outfield situation as it pertains to center and right field. Then again, Pirates GM Dave Littlefield seems to have a phobia about making trades.

Finally, the Yankees’ overworked bullpen will need to be addressed. An in-house option involves veteran left-hander Ron Villone, who has been dominating the International League, but has to be recalled by May 15 or else be granted free agency. The potential return of Villone won’t excite many Yankee fans, but it speaks volumes about the state of Joe Torre’s relief staff.

So while we all wait for Clemens to officially begin his second stint in New York, let’s keep in mind some of these other possibilities. Given the ground that they need to make up in the standings, the Yankees are not done making moves—not by a long shot.