Kuzul

About six or seven years ago, the Yankees had one of the most improved minor league systems in baseball, thanks to a new commitment to growing young talent by general manager Brian Cashman. He wanted to try to keep the team competitive by growing arms and bats in place of the usual expensive acquisitions it would have otherwise made.

The cream of this crop was a 20-year-old right-hander from Southern California who was also a first-round pick in the 2004 draft. At the same time, another 20-year-old out of Lincoln, Neb. was taking the minor leagues by storm and made it to the big leagues only a year after being drafted. Their names are Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, and they were the face of what was supposed to be a new era of Yankee baseball, one that would focus on improving and sustaining the franchise through a surplus of young talent for years to come. Chamberlain and Hughes were set to be the centerpiece for this new golden era.

Chamberlain, armed with a high-90s fastball and a devastating slider, became an instant rock star in his debut in 2007, showing mortality only in the infamous bug game in Cleveland in the American League Division Series. He would make his move to the rotation in 2008 and dominated until injuring himself in August.

Hughes struggled in his first three years in the big leagues as a starter but found a home in the bullpen assuming Joba‘s old role as Mariano Rivera’s eighth-inning setup man for the 2009 World Series champions. At the same time, Chamberlain struggled and labored through the ’09 campaign thanks to an innings limit that routinely forced him to exit games early down the stretch and almost cost the Yanks Game 4 of the World Series.

In the 2010 season, Hughes beat out Chamberlain for a rotation spot and took the AL by storm, winning 18 games and earning an All-Star appearance in Anaheim. Chamberlain struggled in a role he once dominated and lost the setup job to David Robertson, the likely successor to Rivera next season. Hughes struggled down the stretch and was lit up twice in the American League Championship Series to Texas.

For the next three years, both pitchers continued to struggle. Chamberlain was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2011 and has never been the electric reliever he once was. In fact, even worse.

Hughes struggled with a “dead arm” in 2011, won 16 games in an up-and-down 2012 and has struggled big time with a 4.99 ERA this year. Both are free agents this winter, but it is unlikely either will make a good payday and the Yankees probably will not bring either back.

Alas, the two pieces that were expected to help complete the puzzle of a new age of Yankee baseball—its own version of John Smoltz and Tom Glavine—never panned out after all the signs of talent and the nasty stuff they once had faded.

Why did this happen? It’s not like they weren’t good enough. They were. Injuries had a lot to do with it, as Hughes pulled his left hamstring in his rookie year while pitching a no-hitter in Texas and suffered a dead arm in 2011, the same year Chamberlain had Tommy John surgery.

But you know what? This one is on the Yankees front office.

Ever since Chamberlain came up, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Joba Rules” repeated several times, referring to how the team would use him. In 2008, the Yanks kept him in the bullpen until there was a need for starting pitching, and even then they still tried to keep him under wraps by limiting his innings.

In 2009, it really hit the fans when the team decided to regulate his workload. Through the end of July, he was 7-2 with a 3.58 ERA and was finally starting to pitch more effectively. But then manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman began to put an innings and pitch limit on him. In his last nine starts, he never threw over 100 pitches and only pitched into the sixth inning. His ERA ballooned to 4.75 that season and that was the end of Joba Chamberlain as a starting pitcher.

The Yankees never learned their lesson with Joba, as Hughes’ effectiveness as a pitcher waned when they tried to coddle him. And many of the Yankees’ recent former top pitching prospects like Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances have gotten hurt or have pitched so ineffectively as starters that they have been relegated to relief duty.

Heck, look at the Nationals and how well their team has done since the 2012 playoffs after shutting down Stephen Strasburg. It’s understandable that teams do not want to force their young arms too hard as fledgelings, but their conservative handling of pitchers can often hurt them anyway.

If the Yankees are going to get back to being World Series contenders, they need to be less conservative with any future young arm that climbs his way through the minors. Otherwise, they’ll just be another huge waste of talent like Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.

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This week’s acquisition of outfielders Brennan Boesch and Ben Francisco, recently released from their respective squads, means only one thing concerning the New York Yankees‘ attempts to improve their roster: They continue to be content with picking from the scrap heap rather than trusting  their young upcoming prospects. 

In the offseason, starting catcher Russell Martin and starting right-fielder Nick Swisher, along with important bench pieces in Eric Chavez and Raul Ibanez all left to free agency. Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and Curtis Granderson have all suffered injuries and will be out for at least a month and a half (In A-Rod’s case, perhaps the entire year). 

With no ML starting catcher, no regular CF (Brett Gardner will switch from LF to the 8 spot for Grandy), and half the infield gone, the Yankees are in dire straits, and have done a very poor job to replace them.

With Teixeira and Rodriguez out, former Red Sox nemesis Kevin Youkilis looks to carry the load at 1B and 3B along with Eduardo Nunez and returning Yankee Juan Rivera. Rivera, Matt Diaz, and the recently signed Boesch and Ben Francisco will compete for the fourth outfielder spot. The catching duties will be apparently shared between Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart.

I don’t think I have to pull up any numbers to make it clear that all these guys are mediocre at best. Even Youkilis struggled in 2012 with both Sox squads, hitting .235 with a 99 OPS+, both career lows. Injury plagued for the last couple of years, he could still be a good pickup if healthy

But the fact is, the Yankees could have simply brought some youth up to help deal with these injuries rather than waste what little money they allowed themselves to spend this past winter. 

Keith Law’s 2013 edition of his annual Top 100 prospects has four Yankees prospects on it. Catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielders Mason Williams, Tyler Austin and Slade Heathcott could have helped the Yankees in their situation if they were ready, but they all seem to be another year or two or perhaps three away. 

As a result, the Yankees should look for help from less touted players, preferably right-handed to off-set the likes of Ichiro, Granderson, and Hafner. There are a few players in Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre that can easily fill the empty spots on the Yankees’ major league roster in the Bronx until those injured can return. 

Of course, the favorite to help fill in the holes the Yankees have is Eduardo Nunez, a lazy choice at best. His 88 OPS+ is not nearly enough to make up for his atrocious, Chuck Knoblauchian defense. He is not the answer at third base with both Teixeira and A-Rod out. 

One guy that can fill some holes in both the OF and 3B is Ronnier Mustelier, a 28-year-old Cuban defector with just 150 games and 595 at-bats under his belt. However, he has impressed with the bat, putting up an impressive .324/.378/.488/.859 line with 18 HR, 96 RBI and 19 stolen bases in those games climbing up the system.

Despite being mediocre or average at best with the glove, Mustelier can still play both 3B and LF, so Brett Gardner can take over CF with Ichiro in right. Mustelier‘s hitting skills are too solid to ignore, and he more than deserves to come up with the big league club in April, especially over Nunez.

A guy who deserves a chance to become the Yankees’ fourth outfielder is Melky Mesa. Yes, that’s right. Another Melky. He is just 26 years old and broke out in 2012 at Double-A and Triple-A, hitting 23 HR, slugging .480, stealing 22 bags, and putting up an .805 OPS. What you also get with him, however, is a long swing causing a lot of strikeouts and not a lot of walks. Still, he’s still a very good option as a fourth OF and should win the job over the likes of Matt Diaz, Juan Rivera, Boesch or Francisco.

Another OF option is Zolio Almonte, 23. He hit 21 HR in 2012 at Trenton and could find his way to the big leagues if he continues to improve. He has played all three OF positions regularly, primarily right, but should have no problem if asked to play left at Yankee Stadium, as difficult as it surprisingly is. Like Mesa, however, he strikes out a lot and walks very sparingly. 

If Nunez is not the answer (most likely) at utility infielder, another kid may be a better option. Corban Joseph, just 24 years old, could eventually find himself as the starting second baseman for the New York Yankees if Robinson Cano leaves after this year. Joseph has only played second in recent years but improved with the bat in 2012

If he ever (that is, EVER) gets healthy, a potential dark horse option for the infield eventually could be David Adams. He has been plagued by injuries for much of his professional career, which caused a potential Yankee trade for Cliff Lee in 2010 to be killed. 

Lastly, and most unlikely is the catcher’s spot. The job looks as if it will be shared by Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart, two seriously flawed and poor at best MLB players. Both have absolutely no business starting for the New York Yankees. They’re both backups at ABSOLUTE BEST. 

The best option the Yankees have right now at catcher may be another minor leaguer, 24-year-old Austin Romine. He was limited last year due to back problems, and so far hasn’t fully developed his hitting skills. But between him, Cervelli and Stewart, Romine may be the best option defensively, so it makes sense after dealing with Jorge Posada starting for over 14 years.

Sadly, it’s likely that these guys won’t be able to get a chance to help the club, as the Yankees continue to go with the scrap heap to fill their holes. Worked out sometimes and sometimes not. They basically replaced Johnny Damon with the likes of Randy Winn and Austin Kearns in 2010. Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon somehow managed to replace Andy Pettitte’s production in 2011. Andruw Jones, Raul Ibanez, and Eric Chavez did well as bench pieces last two years. 

But now should be the time for that to end, with the core players of this team aging and getting ready for the end of their careers (Mariano Rivera). The Yankees can’t plug their leaky holes with old vets anymore. There needs to be a youth movement in the organization, eventually centering around the likes of Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams and Tyler Austin.

But with those three two years away, less touted guys need to step in and help. Who knows? Ivan Nova did well in 2011 and David Phelps looks to make his mark now. There could be guys just like them waiting for their chance, but the Yanks need to give it to them. 

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Ichiro Suzuki is the greatest Japanese baseball player to ever play in the United States.

Before we get into this, let’s take a brief look at some of the storylines for the New York Yankees going into 2013.

Year by year, sports writers have written the Yankees off but somehow they keep making the playoffs. 

This season due to age, injuries and an older rotation, it’s easier than ever to write the Yankees off going into 2013.  

Beloved pitcher Mariano Rivera—probably the greatest player ever at his position—is in the sunset of his career and will retire at season’s end.

This will inevitably be followed by the retirement of an even more iconic Yankee legend—Derek Jeter.  

However, as is perpetually the case with most storied franchises in American sports, there are still plenty of reasons to tune into the Yankees this year.  

One of the primary ones is the chance to watch Ichiro play the next two years of his career in the media frenzy that is New York City.  

The 39-year-old has a .322 lifetime batting average, 308 doubles, 80 triples, 452 stolen bases and 2,606 hits in only 8,085 career at-bats.  He was also an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 10 consecutive seasons (2001-10), won three Silver Sluggers and was both the Rookie of the Year and American League Most Valuable Player in his rookie season.

Not only that, but he’s made the transition to playing in the Bronx look effortless and seems to relish the fact that he plays in such a media-hungry environment.

But what’s most impressive of all of Ichiro’s accomplishments in his 12-year major league career is the fact that he will most likely accomplish something in 14 years that have taken most players in baseball a quarter of a century of play to achieve.

So when you tune into the Yankees this season, remember that not only are you watching history in the making, but you are also witnessing the greatest Japanese baseball player ever walk into the record books faster than anyone who has ever played the game. 

Special Thanks: I appreciate the insight and dedicate this article to my friend Bryan Valvana who for years has been a die hard Yankee fan that won’t shut up!

Follow @GaryOusdahl

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The infield shift is one of the most effective yet frustrating strategies used in sports. 

Originally used by Cleveland Indians Manager Lou Boudreau to halt Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams, the infield shift has given baseball fans fits.

It has done this because the infield shift is a self-licking ice cream cone, surviving only because of men’s pride. 

But perhaps New York Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira can unleash a trend to crush the Boudreau shift. 

During a fun, lighthearted interview with MLB.com writer Bryan Hoch last spring, Teixeira said he might try bunting a try to achieve this end.

From Hoch:

[Teixeira] did talk a lot last spring about wanting to bunt, saying he’d like to plant it in opponent’s minds to keep defenses more honest.

Of course Yankees’ fans know Teixeira’s tough talk did not translate to action in 2012. As explained by Hoch, Teixeira later he had “just been having some fun with the media. He said that he never intended to bunt, and doesn’t believe he’s bunted in a game since he was 11 years old.”

Teixeira elaborated:

I tried [hitting the other way]. I tried it at the end of last year, I tried it at the beginning of this year. It didn’t work. Most really good players that are consistent, they don’t change things in the middle of their career. That just doesn’t really make lot of sense.

Now, I know Teixeira is a strapping player entering his 11th season of MLB service.

And I know it is tough to teach an old dog tricks sometimes.

But perhaps Teixeira should reconsider his stance. 

After all, how “in your face” would it be to watch Teixeira start planting baseballs down an unmanned third base line to crush the shift?

Kapow! Take that opposing manager. Fans watching Teixeira leg out a free of charge hit go ape crap. 

As one of many fans that have wanted to fire things at the television, when watching pull-hitters club gutless grounders into a great wall of leather, Teixeira bunting balls into open pasture may be a refreshing change of pace. 

Done enough times, it may plant that seed in the back of MLB manager’s minds not to order their third basemen to leave their post.

Perhaps Teixeira’s charge could inspire other pull-hitters like David Ortiz, Jose Bautista, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Hamilton to give bunting a shot.

Of course many baseball fans may read this and say, “Not a shot in hell.”

But how many times have fans walked out the ballpark, wondering what could have been if only one of these guys swallowed their pride and took what the defense gave them?

Put another way, how many fans have seen pull-hitters fall prey to this “gotcha” tactic and yell, “bunt the freaking baseball!”

It has happened many times throughout baseball history. And realistically, the “Boudreau Shift” will continue well into the future.

However, it would be nice to see an uptick in slugger’s willing to lay one down for the team (especially when struggling).

Perhaps Teixeira could be the one to shatter this status quo. 

Mongoose Morisette is a featured baseball writer for B/r. He is also the founder of the Basebook Baseball Social Network. 

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New York Yankees prospect Tyler Austin was not a well-known player at the start of the 2012 season.

But in less than one year, Austin has steadily risen through the Yankees’ ranks to become the No. 3 prospect in the organization.

Still just 22, this 6’2”, 200-pound Georgia native is a speedy athlete with steadfast lumber and an above-average arm.

In 110 minor league games last year, Austin batted .322 (133-for-413) with 17 home runs and 80 RBIs. The right-hander also garnered 36 doubles, six triples and 23 stolen bases.

Austin’s OBP/SLG/OPS was a very respectable .400/.559/.960.

Now entering the 2013 campaign, this 2012 Futures Game selection has been invited to spring training (per Kurt Aschermann of the Rockdale Citizen).

This is a pretty neat development, considering Austin is not on the Yankees’ 40-man roster.  

But what makes Austin so impressive is not so much the fact he was not selected until the 13th round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft.

It is more how this young man carries himself that may eventually thrust him into fan favorite status in the Bronx and beyond.

From Austin’s recent interview with MilB.com writer Danny Wild, this guy looks like a quiet, humble and hard-working player who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the Yankees succeed.

Austin also seems very coachable; and he does not hide his “kid in a candy store” mindset (when talking about being able to play ball with current Yankees’ stars).

And whether it means playing catcher, manning third base, or roaming the outfield, Austin also appears willing to deploy wherever Yankees manager Joe Girardi tells him to go.

This is refreshing to see, especially in an era where many athletes seem to have become so specialized.

More impressive, Austin is a resilient person who has beaten cancer. He has also bounced back from a scary incident of being hit square in the head during the 2012 Future’s Game.

While Austin will probably begin 2013 for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, Yankees’ fans should track this guy’s progress closely—maybe even snag a rookie card or two.

Because Austin seems like a special ballplayer that comes along only so often.

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The New York Yankees off-season has been a quiet one due to ownership implementing a new frugal stance.

Instead of story-lines about signing the biggest free agents, Yankee fans were relegated to watching the realities of missing the 2013 postseason grow by the day.

So as a result, fans, the media, and bloggers alike have been provided with plenty of things to grumble about.

And for the first time in almost two decades, the paved regular-season road to October that the Yankees build during the off-season is no longer a smooth ride.

But in reality, not all hope is lost yet; and here are three reasons why.

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Just a month and change remains before the thrilling kickoff to spring training 2013.

As the thump and thwack and crunch of cleats scurry through our imaginations, questions remain regarding what the everyday lineup for the New York Yankees will look like this campaign.

One thing fans do know, however, is that Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki and Robinson Cano will be swinging at the top of the Yankees order come April.

For Yankees fans, this fact fosters mixed feelings. These feelings really come to light when fans consider that both Jeter and Ichiro lead an aging Yankees fleet, and also how Cano has not yet signed an extension.  

Blend this uncertainty with star outfielder and leadoff specialist Michael Bourn still lingering on the free-agent market, and many Yankees fans have cause for concern.  

But through this tunnel of uncertainty lies an exciting silver lining: The Pinstripes have the opportunity to bust team record books wide open this season.

Should Jeter, Ichiro and Cano each earn 200 hits this year, then this trifecta would be the first in Yankees’ history to achieve that feat.

Per MLB.com, it would also make this the 12th set of major league teammates since 1900 to do it—the fourth in the post-World War II era. 

Only the 1929 Philadelphia Phillies and 1937 Detroit Tigers have had four hitters on the same team to get 200 hits in one season.

Now, in an era of cynicism, it is easy to point to Jeter’s and Ichiro’s ages and say there is not a shot in hell this will happen. To those who support this thinking, saying “Maybe if Jeter and Ichiro were younger…”—you certainly pose a solid argument.

But it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Jeter, Ichiro and Cano achieve 200 hits in 2013 when fans ponder the following points.

While Jeter, Ichiro and Cano are not spring chickens, this outfit has shown incredible durability, especially of late. For example, last year these three men missed a total of four regular-season games—combined.

And while Ichiro is 39 and coming off a down year in 2012, he still raked in 178 hits in 162 ball games.

Perhaps a full year in pinstripes, surrounded with much better talent ( more than the Seattle Mariners) will help Ichiro get those 22 big hits required for 200.

Jeter will turn 39 this June. He is fresh from a terrific year in which he batted .316 with a nearly career-high 216 hits (he had 219 hits in 1999). Jeter also had 15 home runs and 58 RBI to his credit.

Jeter is coming off a tough ankle injury that occurred during last postseason, and some wonder if he will fully recover.

However, as per Howie Rumberg of the Associated Press, Jeter will be ready for Opening Day, and he said the following:

I feel good. It was tough first five, six weeks where you sit on your couch with your feet elevated, but now I feel as though I’m moving around pretty good. I think I’m right where I need to be.

This leaves Cano, who is in the final year of his current contract.

Cano, 30, is coming off a solid 2012, in which he batted .313 with 196 hits, 33 homers and 94 RBI in 161 regular-season games.

Barring injury or shocking trade, fans can bet Cano will be extra-motivated to have a monster year so he can get a huge payday (wherever he lands the following season).

Adding beef to this argument is the fact Jeter, Ichiro and Cano have all shared 200-hit campaigns with teammates in the past.

Jeter paired with Bernie Williams to do this in 1999 and again with Cano in 2009. Ichiro paired with Bret Boone in 2001 to do the same (per MLB.com).

The only other teammates in Yankees’ history to pair for 200 hits apiece are Earle Combs and Lou Gehrig (1927), Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio (1936/37), and Alfonso Soriano and Bernie Williams (2002).

This is some pretty impressive company.   

Even if two of three of the aforesaid got 200 hits each, they would join just 66 other pairs of big league players since 1900 to do this (also per MLB.com).

Now, realistically speaking, will it take a perfect storm for Jeter, Ichiro and Cano to become the first trio in Yankees’ history to bust the 200-hit record? Yes. To do this, these men will have to stay healthy, and they will have to slam the accelerator from the get-go and stay on it all season.  

This may sound far-fetched to the cynic.

But for three guys who have had unworldly careers already, this would make for one memorable nugget to add to resumes already overloaded with achievements.  

Even cooler, I could not imagine a better experience (besides winning the World Series) than to be a fan that gets to watch Jeter and Ichiro approach the ends of their careers in style.

For this thought alone, it is worth watching Yankees baseball in 2013. 

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The American League East is the most competitive division in baseball. From this division, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles made the playoffs last October. The Tampa Bay Rays came up just short in their playoff push, but have competed for the division crown in each of the past five seasons. With the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox improving their rosters dramatically this offseason, there’s an argument that any of these five teams can win the division this season. 

The Yankees enter the 2013 MLB season with a bunch of question marks. Amazingly, it’s not just their pitching that should make them worried. It’s the bottom of the lineup. Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson taking up the first five spots in the lineup is still an elite top of the order. After that, it gets ugly rather quickly. 

Their biggest offseason acquisition, Kevin Youkilis, is expected to bat sixth. Sure, everyone remembers Youk’s abysmal start to last season with the Red Sox that got him traded. However, people don’t realize that he wasn’t much better with the Chicago White Sox. His batting average improved by three points (.236 from .233 as a member of the Red Sox) during his time in Chicago. His on-base percentage last season was .336 (.346 with the White Sox), which was by far Youk’s worst output in his career. Let’s also not forget that he hasn’t played more than 125 games in a season since 2009. 

Infielder Eduardo Nunez, rookie catcher Austin Romine and left fielder Brett Gardner are the final three spots in the lineup. Nunez and Gardner are good for steals, but those three guys will not intimidate pitchers at all. And Nunez is the Yankees designated hitter! I don’t think the Yanks will be able to win the AL East this season with a bottom of the lineup as inexperienced and offensively limited as this one. 

So what should the Yankees do? The smart and obvious answer is to acquire Michael Morse from the Washington Nationals.

After signing Adam LaRoche to a two-year deal, the Nationals have a logjam of position players. They have LaRoche as their starting first baseman, along with Bryce Harper, Denard Span and Jason Werth roaming the outfield. This means that they have no room for Morse in the lineup. 

Morse is a great fit for the Yankees for several reasons. One of them is because of his weak glove. Teams love Morse’s bat, but they will shy away because of his fielding. Morse is not a strong outfielder, as proven by his advanced defensive stats. 

However, he would be a huge improvement over Nunez as the Yankees designated hitter. The past three seasons, Morse has accumulated 1,194 at-bats for the Nationals. His .296 batting average, .516 slugging percentage and .861 on-base plus slugging percentage would give the Yankees a huge boost in their lineup. This guy has a plethora of natural power, and he would give the Yankees another offensive threat that they really could use. 

Another reason why Morse makes sense for the Yankees is his contract. As evidenced by their lack of spending this offseason, the Yankees have made it a priority to be under the luxury tax by the start of next season. Morse is a free agent after the 2013 season, so he would actually would not hurt the Yankees’ monetary restrictions.

Now, how can the Yankees acquire Morse? The Nationals lineup and starting rotation is loaded, so they won’t have any interest there. But, their bullpen is lacking left-handed relievers. The Nationals lost three of them this offseason, including late-inning lefty Sean Burnett and long reliever Tom Gorzelanny. In fact, the only lefty reliever they currently have on their roster is Zach Duke. Not the guy I would want to face left-handed batters in tight situations.

The Yankees have two lefties in their bullpen, Boone Logan and Clay Rapada. Now, I doubt the Nationals would accept either of these guys straight up for Morse in a trade. But, if the Yankees add a middle-tier prospect, I think the Nationals pull the trigger. Washington will not re-sign Morse after this season, so why not get value for him that will help the team in the short-term and long-term? 

Trading for Morse is the type of move that could enhance the Yankees’ playoff hopes significantly. It helps the bottom of the Yankees order and it gives them a legitimate designated hitter. He can even play first base whenever Mark Teixeira needs a day off. All I know is, Morse is probably the lowest valued impact bat that the Yankees can acquire. But that bat would make the Yankees the favorites in the AL East again. 

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New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson is in a very interesting situation going into the 2013 season.  

Granderson, who will be turning 32 in March, will most certainly be looking for a huge payday when he reaches free agency in 2014.  

Sure, the Yankees could hold on to him and potentially contend for another pennant in 2013, but they could also trade him before free agency hits and get valuable prospects in return.  

Though he has had issues hitting for average, one thing is for sure, he does not lack in power and production, averaging 42 home runs per year over the last two seasons.

It seems for every reason to keep Granderson, there’s another argument to trade him away.

Let’s take a look at four reasons the Yankees should consider dealing him before he hits the open market.  

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Recently, ESPN writer David Schoenfield wrote a detailed feature about the New York Yankees and their success in spite of old age.

Rebuking doomsayers, Schoenfield time-traveled 18 seasons (to when Jack McDowell wore pinstripes) to show why it would be unwise to count the Yankees out in 2013.

Absorbing the chart Schoenfield provides in his feature, he makes a valid argument. After all, it is tough to argue with a 1,731-1,163 team record and an average plus-148 run differential since 1995.

What is debatable however (and not mentioned in Schoenfield’s work) is that this present Yankees ball club fields one of the oldest Yankees teams in the past 18 years.

Frankly, Yankees fans accused of grumbling have every right to grumble. As the recent signings of Ichiro Suzuki and Kevin Youkilis can attest, it seems the Yankees look like a team one year away from a monster overhaul.

Double-strength aspirin in the medicine cabinet—could there something deeper going in the Yankees front office?

More specifically, is Brian Cashman and Co. simply buying time until the Yankees’ core of home-grown prospects is ready for the show? Or is pinstripe’s brass hoarding a bomber load of cash to make a few huge free-agent landings in 2014?

With the Yankees, answering these questions is always a challenge. Perhaps a hybrid of events is occurring here.

But should the Yankees be looking to enter splash mode, this slideshow will highlight seven in-their-prime free agents that might be available come 2014. 

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