During last night's broadcast of the Yankees/Indians ALDS on TBS, a fan was holding up a sign with the black letters of "T", "B" and "S". It stood for "Torre Better Stay". Clever, but not likely to happen. And he'll have company as he packs his boxes, too.

After getting throttled by the Indians in Games 1 and 2, Yankee boss George Steinbrenner said this about Torre: "His job is on the line. I think we're paying him a lot of money. He's the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series."

Well, they didn't win. In fact, they got crushed. Just like last year. And the year before that. The Yanks haven't won a World Series since 2000 vs. the Mets. And they haven't been to the Series since the 2004 when the Florida Marlins defeated them 4-2. None of it is acceptable in Yankee World or to George.

For once, I agree with Steinbrenner. It's time to change, and do the "R" word--hang on Yank fans--rebuild. And that, my friends, will not be easy.

It will all start with Torre being fired within the week, I imagine. (We all know how George like to steal the spotlight from the Red Sox.) Torre has looked uninspired and passionless in the dugout since the 2004 collapse against the Red Sox. The fire in his belly gone. He has, however, remained well respected in the egocentric and multi-millionaire Yankee clubhouse. But that's not enough.

So who will possibly replace him? Former Yankee catcher and post-season hero, and 2006 Manager of the Year with the Florida Marlins, Joe Girardi, has got to be the #1 candidate on the Boss' list. The Yanks could also go with Yankee fan and player favorite and current bench coach Don Mattingly. Dusty Baker, who dealt with Barry Bonds' ego in San Francisco for years, is another possibility. Other candidates could include Buck Showalter, Jim Tracy, Tony LaRussa and Phil Garner. Tony LaRussa could be particularly interesting. He would likely bring along pithcing coach guru Dave Duncan with him, and given the Yankees young pitching talent, luring LaRussa away from St. Louis and possible retirement could be a real boost.

And then there's Alex Rodriguez. He can opt out of the final 3 years of his current 10-year, $250-million contract and test the free agent market. A-Rod's had a rough go of it in New York since Day 1, except for this year when he put up spectacular numbers. But with Torre and others likely gone from the picture, and the spotlight turned up even more on A-Rod to carry the team (a position he's clearly not comfortable in), A-Rod could choose to bolt. If he does, the Anaheim Angels can be considered big-time front runners for A-Rod's services. I wouldn't rule out the LA Dodgers, either.

Sure-fire Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera also indicated today that he'll test the free agent market.

Likely also gone are Roger Clemens, who'll be closely followed by Andy Pettitte, both off to a life of country club golf. Mike Mussina's contract (and arm) are over, too. I don't anticipate any of them re-signing with the Yanks unless general manager Brian Cashman becomes so desperate for pitching that he goes overboard (again) with offers to Pettitte and Mussina.

Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi are all still under contract for the next 1-2 years, respectively. Their skills and power are all greatly diminished, and their huge contracts make them virtually un-tradable.

Worst still is that this is going to be a bad year in the free agent market for the Yanks to try and rebuild via free agency as they have in years past. The talent, especially pitching, isn't out there to buy. So the Yanks will have to do what they haven't been doing for over a dozen years now: start bringing up talent from their farm system. That won't be easy considering how much the Yankees have sent away in prospects in order to get July trade deadline and major league talent for their post-season runs. The farm system has been decimated.

But there is hope in the forms of pitchers Jaba Chamberlain and Phillip Hughes. Let's be serious, though. These two are still largely unproven and still very raw, young talents. Given the media New York scrutiny and impatience and success-now-or-never artifical demands placed upon them by fans, well, it could get ugly.

So Yanks fans, the times they are a changin'. Interesting times lay ahead. Only thing is certain, though. It's going to get worse before it gets better, you can count on it.