2013 Free Agency: Players the New York Yankees Should Pursue and Avoid

The 2012 offseason is almost over and the season is getting close. The Yankees uncharacteristically have not signed any of the top free agents.

Aside from the trade for Michael Pineda, they seem content to stick with relatively the same team that they had in 2011. One reason could be that they are waiting for the next offseason to make a big splash in free agency.

Here is a look at 2013 free agents that the Yankees should be interested in and players that they shouldn't be.

Pursue: Matt Cain

One of the best young pitchers in baseball, who is on the San Fransisco Giants, will become a free agent in 2013. However his name is not Tim Lincecum.

Matt Cain will 28 years old when he hits the free agent market and the Yankees should be the first team to contact him. He has been consistently a solid pitcher since his rookie year in 2005.

He has been on a Giants team that does not give the most run support and not nearly as much run support as the Yankees can give him. This has been evident in his statistics. 

Cain has a career 3.35 ERA but has a losing record (69-73). In the past three seasons, Cain has had only a record of 39-30 with a 2.97 ERA.

Cain and the Yankees would both gain things from each other. The Yankees would get one of the best young starting pitchers in baseball. Cain would get the run support that could make him a 20 game winner.

The Yankees rotation would be one of the strongest in baseball with Sabathia, Cain, Pineda, Nova and either Hughes, Dellin Betances or Manny Banuelos.

Avoid: Zack Greinke

Before Zack Greinke was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers last year, he requested a trade from the Royals. There was speculation that the Yankees could possibly attempt to trade for him.

However the Yankees shot these rumors down by saying they do not have interest in Greinke.

Greinke has had an interesting career. He won the AL Cy Young award in 2009, but has been inconsistent.

The 2009 season showed his potential but his anxiety disorder should be enough to convince the Yankees to avoid Greinke. He has pitched in relatively small markets compared to New York. Greinke almost completely left baseball early in his career because of his mental illness.

He will most likely demand a large contract and it might not be worth the risk for the Yankees to take a shot on him with doubts on if he can handle the Big Apple.

Pursue: Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels has been a consistently quality starter his entire career.

However the most intriguing thing about Hamels for the Yankee is his postseason success. 

He won the 2008 World Series MVP award and has a career 3.09 ERA in the playoffs. The Yankees are a team that expects to be in the playoffs every season. Adding a quality starter who excels in the postseason should be a no-brainer for them.

Hamels has had an average record of 12-11 with an ERA of 3.39 per season. 

Avoid: Ervin Santana

Santana has a $13 million extension for 2013 that the Angels can buyout for $1 million. If Santana hits free agency, the Yankees should not be interested in Santana.

The Yankees should have their attention on locking up either Hamels or Cain.

Santana has been inconsistent throughout his career and unimpressive in the playoffs. In seven seasons, he has a career 4.22 ERA with his yearly record since 2007 being up and down. In 2007 he was 7-14, in 2008 he was 16-7, in 2009 he was 8-8, in 2010 he went 17-10 and last season he was 11-12.

The Yankees need pitchers with postseason success because their goal every season is to win the World Series. In three ALDS series', Santana has had a 5.68 ERA and in two ALCS series', he has had a 5.40 ERA.

The Yankees already have Sabathia, Nova and Pineda in their rotation long-term. They also have the "two B's," Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos, waiting to come up to the majors. The Yankees should attempt to sign Cain or Hamels while Santana should not even be a consideration.

Avoid: Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton recently had another relapse. He has been a star player in the league since getting a second chance and returning to baseball in 2007. He has averaged close to 25 home runs and 90 RBI's a season, with a .308 career batting average.

He also has postseason experience as he has been in the playoffs in 2010 and 2011 with the Texas Ranger.

However the Yankees should avoid Hamilton at all costs.

The Yankees are an older team with players like Alex Rodriguez (36), Derek Jeter (37) and Mark Teixeira (31). Hamilton is only 30 years old, but the Yankees should not lock up a player with a long-term deal that will have him on the team in the back end of his career. 

Hamilton is also injury-prone and could relapse at any time. He has only played in more than 135 games in a season once. Since 2009, Hamilton has averaged just 114 games per season. 

If Hamilton could have proved that he could avoid relapses and that that dark period in his life is over, then he may be worth the risk. However he has had relapses and they are too unpredictable to risk giving him a long-term deal.

I will admit the idea of Hamilton hitting at Yankee Stadium 81 times a year is intriguing. 

On the Fence: Nick Swisher

Since coming to New York, Swisher has shaken up the feeling around the Yankees and has become a fan favorite. He also has produced during the regular season and stayed healthy.

In his three seasons with the Yankees, he has hit .267, and averaged 27 home runs and 85 RBI's. Those are solid numbers and he has played a significant role in getting the Yankees to the playoffs the past three seasons.

However, what matters in New York is what you do after the regular season. Swisher has struggled in his career and with the Yankees in the playoffs.

This year could be his last chance to prove to the team that he can produce in the postseason. If the Yankees make the playoffs in 2012, Swisher will need to contribute more than he has in the past if he wants to stay with the Yankees.

Pursue: Delmon Young (if They Let Swisher Go)

Delmon Young has had a solid career so far and is still only 26 years old. If Nick Swisher struggles again in the playoffs the Yankees have to let him go. With Swisher gone, they will have an opening in the corner outfield and they should look to bring in Young.

Young is still young (no pun intended), and has a career .288 batting average. In 2010, he drove in 112 runs and had 21 home runs.

The Yankees got a front row seat to what Young can do in the playoffs in the 2011 ALDS. In the five games series, Young belted three homers and hit .316 (6-for-19).

Delmon Young has played in 15 career playoff games and has five home runs and six RBI's. Swisher has played in 38 career playoff games, yet he only has four home runs and six RBI's.

With Young, the Yankees will get a solid player who is relatively young and gives their lineup even more depth.