While the New York Yankees watch the MLB Playoffs from their couches, they can also start planning next year's roster.Free agency and offseason trades can potentially alter current plans, but there are a handful of prospects who could find themselves in the majors in 2012.They all made their major league debuts in 2011, but most of them saw limited action. Next year could be different. Begin Slideshow
New York Yankees' left-handed starting pitcher CC Sabathia must stay in the Bronx if the team plans to contend in 2012.Sabathia has an option to opt-out of the final four years of his seven-year, $161 million deal, signed prior to the 2009 season. If he does, any team with spending money will be in pursuit.The perennial American League Cy Young Award candidate—and one-time winner—is figuratively and literally the biggest piece of the Yankee puzzle.Here are some reasons why CC Sabathia needs to be retained. Begin Slideshow
It's hard to imagine the New York Yankees not wanting the best starting pitcher on the market (for now), but it can happen.The Yankees have their reasons as to why they don't want C.J. Wilson. Some fans may be outraged, but those are probably the same fans who said the Yankees should've gone after John Lackey when he was a free agent. That worked out for the Yankees, didn't it?Don't be surprised if the Yankees don't sign C.J. Wilson not because they got outbid, but because they didn't go after ...
After an incredibly disappointing 2011 season in Boston, fan favorite David Ortiz, known simply as "Big Papi," will be a free agent. Now we all know about the Red Sox's historic collapse this September, when they blew a nine-game lead in the AL Wild Card race to the surging Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox were not just supposed to make the playoffs this season, they were supposed to go to the World Series for an epic showdown with Philadelphia, but alas, the Sox failed to punch their ticket to the ...
The New York Yankees played well above their talent level in 2011, at least as far as their pitching was concerned. We knew they'd have a powerful offense, just as much as we knew a rotation rounded out with A.J. Burnett, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia wouldn't be able to deliver them a World Series championship.Sure enough, faced against a Detroit Tigers squad with a deeper rotation, the Yankees ended up getting knocked out of the playoffs during the ALDS.The eyes of CC Sabathia were wide open.At this point, ...
As if Boston Red Sox fans didn't have enough to stress about after their team had an epic collapse in September to miss the postseason, they were delivered another crushing blow on Wednesday morning.David Ortiz, the Red Sox's designated hitter, told ESPN that he would consider going to the New York Yankees if the Yankees offered him the right opportunity. He hasn't made any decisions yet, so Red Sox fans don't have to panic immediately, but they shouldn't be totally surprised by a possible jump, either.As Ortiz explained to Colleen ...
Last October, the Yankees and Rangers faced off against each other in the American League Championship Series.Now, it looks like they could face off for the services of CC Sabathia.According to Wallace Matthews of ESPN, Texas is prepared to court the Yankees ace if he decides to exercise his opt-out clause this winter.A source told Matthews that Rangers owner Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels are prepared to throw a ton of money towards Sabathia, but many expect the lefty to re-sign with the Yankees.The Rangers are preparing for ...
The overriding focus for the New York Yankees this offseason will be starting pitching.But in my humble opinion, the free agent signing that could push the Yankees over the top isn't who you might think. It isn't C.J. Wilson or Yu Darvish. Instead, it's Mark Buehrle. Buehrle has won 15 games or more five times in the past decade. This past season, on a bad team, Buehrle won 13 games and posted a 3.59 ERA. Those are numbers that could no doubt improve with ...
After a disappointing and shocking exit from the ALDS, the New York Yankees will certainly be looking to improve their team this offseason. The starting rotation will likely be a priority for the Yankees.There are a number of free-agent pitchers that the Yankees will look at this winter. The Yankees will likely make at least one big splash this winter and it will likely be on a starter.Begin Slideshow
The New York Yankees have won 40 pennants since 1921. They have been World Champions 27 times. Joe Girardi is a smart man. So are Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher. They all know that based purely on mathematical probability, a team that plays in 40 World Series should win 20 and lose 20. So Joe, tell us, how did the Yankees win seven more World Championships than expected and lose seven fewer? Sitting in an interview a few days after the 2011 Yankees' season ended at the hands ...