NY Yankees: Handicapping Yankees' 2013 WS Odds at the Start of the Season

For the New York Yankees, the 2013 season is currently looking grim.

Only three players from the 2012 Opening Day lineup are back on the same day in 2013—Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner and CC Sabathia.

Granted, baseball is a business, and that's just the nature of the business. Change comes year after year.

With that being said, a change like that between 2012 and 2013 is particularly extraordinary.

We all know how the Yankees are losing all their power from last year and making efforts to get younger. It's been a storyline all spring.

The question is, how exactly does this different roster affect New York’s chances of winning the World Series?

According to Bovada, the Yankees have a 20-1 chance at winning the World Series.

I can honestly say that I don’t really disagree with these odds.

Considering their age and the rising talent in the American League East, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the Yankees may not win the division.

Right now, pitching is manager Joe Girardi’s biggest strength.

However, Hiroki Kuroda, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte are all in the 38-and-older club.

This isn’t a club you want three of your top five pitchers to be in. Midway through the year, it will be interesting to see exactly how much is left in the tank for these veterans.

With all the work the Blue Jays did in the offseason, the rising talent of the Orioles and Joe Maddon’s ability to make a run with his team every year, it will be extremely hard for New York in 2013.

With these factors, plus the injuries and decline of Alex Rodriguez, New York’s odds at the World Series aren’t very good.

In fact, for Opening Day 2013, 20-1 odds may even be a little generous.