Yankees Going with Current Pitching for Now Going into 2011

After losing out in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes to the Philadelphia Phillies and not trusting Zack Greinke's psyche enough to trade for him, the Yankees seem as though they will head into Spring Training this February with the current pitchers on their roster. GM Brian Cashman does not see anyone on the current trade or free agent market that would be worth bringing aboard to bolster his team's starting rotation depth.

Cashman is prepared to go into the season with CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, AJ Burnett and two newcomers, probably rookies, to the full-time rotation, many of whom have never pitched above the Triple-A level.

Yes Yankees fans, notice that short list did not include Andy Pettitte. Cashman is operating under the assumption that Andy Pettitte, back home in Deer, Park, Texas, following an excellent season cut short by a groin injury, will not be returning for a 17th major league season.

Cashman acknowledged his team could use a major league ready starter as well as another arm in the bullpen but seemed pessimistic about the chances of getting one before Opening Day.

"Could I go out and get a starter? Yes, I could. But there's just not much out there," Cashman said. "I have March, April, May, June and July, really, to come up with someone."

Cashman also ruled out, although not absolutely, the possibility the Yankees might include catching prospect Jesus Montero in a trade for a front-line starter now that the Yankees have signed Russell Martin to assume every-day catching duties. "There's just nobody out there I would consider trading Montero for," Cashman said.

Asked if that included Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, Cashman said, "That ain't happening."

So heading into spring training, Cashman said the Yankees would try to select two starters from a young crop that includes Ivan Nova, who is virtually assured a spot in the 2011 rotation, as well as right-handers Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances, Adam Warren, Hector Noesi and left-hander Manny Banuelos.

Of the six, only Nova has pitched at the major league level, appearing in 10 games the second half of last season (seven starts), and compiling a 1-2 record and 4.50 ERA, but displaying enough stuff and poise that the Yankees are counting on him to fill one of the starting spots.

None of the others has pitched at a higher level than Double-A, and Banuelos and Betances, who had Tommy John surgery in 2009, spent last season in Class A ball.

"We have 10 prospects starting from Double-A on up that our organization can choose from," Cashman said.

Cashman declined to say whether he was interested in free agent right-hander Freddy Garcia. According to a report, the Yankees asked for the medicals on the 35-year-old Garcia, who was 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA for the White Sox in 2010. "We ask for the medical records on every free agent," Cashman said.

The Yankees need Pettitte to return, otherwise they risk having a rotation that was once deemed a strength become a potential weakness. Pettitte has stuff left in the tank at 39 and the Yankees will need him to be their number two starter once again this season.

I don't think Phil Hughes is quite ready to be the number two starter because, let's face it, we don't exactly know if he can repeat this past season's 18 win performance. Let's hope the Yankees rotation doesn't become the old Milwaukee Braves adage "Spahn, Sain and pray for rain." If Andy Pettitte returns, the chances of that saying coming to life aren't very high, but if he doesn't, I'm a little nervous of what the Yankees rotation may be able to accomplish as a whole.