New York Yankees: How Do They Approach the 2012 Offseason/Free Agency Period?

The 2011 season is coming closer to ending each week and each passing day.

This Wednesday will start the World Series, which will feature the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals.

Once the Fall Classic is over, teams will start to prepare for free agency and possible trades to rebuild and reload for the 2012 season.

For the Yankees, they have some question marks surrounding their team heading into the winter.

This will be the third time I've done a winter preview speculating as to what the Yankees need to do this winter.

Back in 2009, after the Yankees won the World Series, it looked like the Yankees might try to get Roy Halladay to bolster an already good rotation, but after he was dealt to the Phillies, the Yankees instead made a trade for Curtis Granderson.

Then in 2010, after the Yankees were eliminated in the ALCS by the Rangers, everyone thought the Yankees would land Cliff Lee in free agency, but he too went to the Phillies and their biggest moves were signing Russell Martin and Rafael Soriano.

Here we are now in 2011, wondering what the Yankees will do once the season officially ends and the World Series concludes.

What could be on the list for the Yankees this winter? Let's find out.

Re-Sign Brian Cashman

I've been very critical of the Yankees GM. But after this season, not so much.

Brian Cashman didn't deal away the top prospects, they didn't overspend for a pitcher after missing out on Cliff Lee, they pieced together the team and yet, they still won the division in 2011.

Cashman knows what he is doing when it comes to running the team.

He didn't make a knee-jerk reaction signing or trade when Lee went back to the Phillies.

He didn't overpay in a trade for Ubaldo Jimenez, who seemed like all hype.

And he didn't trade Jesus Montero for a rental player.

He thinks about the future, while putting out a contender that can win now at the same time.

And for that, he should continue to run the team and hopefully, a contract will be worked out soon so he can get back to shaping this team for 2012 and beyond.

Re-Sign CC Sabathia If He Opts Out

In all likelihood, CC Sabathia will opt out of his current contract with the Yankees.

But he has been very persistent in wanting to stay in New York. His family loves it there, and he does, too.

But most importantly, the Yankees know how much they need him in the rotation for 2012 and beyond.

We have heard reports of the Rangers being interested in signing Sabathia if he does opt out.

But the Yankees would never let Sabathia get that far.

They will be prepared to offer Sabathia the most money to stay, and odds are, he will be back in the Bronx with a nice new contract.

Lock Up Robinson Cano Long-Term

Robinson Cano has transformed into one of the best Yankee hitters in the lineup.

The Yankees have two team options on Cano, a $14 million option for 2012 and a $15 million option for 2013.

Not only should they be picked up, the Yankees need to give Cano a new deal.

Cano will turn 29 next year and is entering the prime stages of his career.

He's hit over 100 RBI in the past two seasons and could easily be the Yankees new No. 3 hitter in the lineup.

Cano has earned the pay raise, and the Yankees should lock him up this winter.

Lock Up Curtis Granderson Long-Term

The Yankees center fielder is in the running for the 2011 A.L. MVP Award after the season he had.

Not only does he hit home runs (41), but he led the league in runs scored (136) and RBI (119), stats that help teams win games more so than just home runs.

Granderson has easily become one of the most popular Yankees this past year because of his play with the bat and the glove.

And like Cano, Granderson deserves to be rewarded for his efforts.

Granderson is under contract for 2012 and has a $13 million team option for 2013.

He's only 30, and is still in the prime stages of his career. If anything, he could continue to get better playing in Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees traded away their future center fielder in Austin Jackson to get Granderson, so there is no prospect due up any time soon to play center.

I'd give Granderson at least a five-year extension to keep him in New York.

Sign Carlos Beltran

Last week, I did a story about the Yankees having to make a choice for right field.

Do they bring Nick Swisher back? I think they should either let him walk, or pick up his option and trade him.

And with the right-field spot open, I really think they should make a strong play to sign Carlos Beltran.

Beltran is no stranger to playing in New York after spending the last seven years in Queens with the Mets.

He's also a more clutch hitter and just overall better player than Swisher.

Plus, Beltran's ability to hit in the clutch in the postseason over Swisher's inability to do such could be a big factor in this.

Beltran wanted to come to the Yankees back in the winter of 2004.

Seven years later, they could still use his bat in the lineup.

Trade Nick Swisher for Roy Oswalt

The Yankees need starting pitching.

The Phillies need a temporary first baseman while Ryan Howard recovers from surgery of a torn Achilles.

The Yankees should pick up Nick Swisher's option, then trade him to the Phillies for Roy Oswalt.

Oswalt is getting towards the end of his career, but he can still pitch in big games.

Oswalt only started in 23 games for the Phillies in 2011, which could be alarming.

But, as one of my fellow writers on here mentioned to me today, we don't need Roy Oswalt to pitch against the Blue Jays in June. We need Roy Oswalt to pitch in October.

This type of trade makes a lot of sense for both sides.

Time to Trade Phil Hughes

This might sound like a crazy thing to suggest, but I think it needs to be done.

I think the Yankees need to look into dealing Phil Hughes this winter.

The 25-year old right-hander for the Yankees has been so up and down for them, he can't be relied on when the Yankees need him the most.

If he isn't on the disabled list, he's being bounced around from the rotation to the bullpen.

And while one game he'll look dominant, he'll lay an egg in the next game.

He's still young and has a lot of value left, and I think he can benefit from a fresh start somewhere else.

Whether they trade him for another starter or get prospects in return, exploring a trade of Hughes might be the best thing for him and the Yankees.

Get an Ace Back for Jesus Montero If They Trade Him

The Yankees' top prospect came up in September and showed everyone what he is capable of with the bat.

He played well enough to earn a spot on the postseason roster, but because Jorge Posada stepped up during the ALDS, Montero was regulated to bench duty.

With Russell Martin likely to be back in 2012 for the Yankees at catcher and Austin Romine to get the backup job, Montero still doesn't have a permanent position.

Plus, the Yankees have Gary Sanchez in the minors, and he's projected to be a star at catcher, too.

It makes many think that the Yankees could still make a deal including Montero to potentially get an ace-like pitcher in return.

Now, the Yankees have discussed dealing Montero for Roy Halladay in the past.

And they nearly traded Montero for Cliff Lee two summers ago.

Montero's name came up in discussions for Ubaldo Jimenez this summer, but I am really glad they didn't make that deal, especially when Colorado wouldn't give the Yankees Jimenez's medical reports.

If the Yankees were to trade their top hitting prospect, there are a few select pitchers I would accept in return.

Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers.

Felix Hernandez of the Mariners.

James Shields of the Rays.

Matt Cain of the Giants.

Yovani Gallardo of the Brewers.

That's it. If the Yankees are going to entertain trading their young hitter, they better get an ace in return for Montero.

Don't Overpay for an Aging DH Like David Ortiz

There is a good chance that Jorge Posada has played his last game with the Yankees and could retire after 2011.

If Posada does in fact retire, the Yankees need to figure out the DH spot for 2012.

We all heard that David Ortiz didn't rule out wanting to play for the Yankees. But he also did sound like he doesn't want to go back to the Red Sox.

Honestly, Ortiz wouldn't exactly bring flexibility to the lineup if the Yankees tried to sign him.

He can't play the field at all, and you would have to bench him if the Yankees needed to put Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira at the DH spot for a game or two.

Ortiz will get a contract somewhere next year to be a team's DH.

But I don't think it will be the Yankees. They should thank Ortiz for the nice words in the media, and pass up the opportunity to get him.

Monitor the Albert Pujols Situation This Winter

Do I think the Yankees are going to get Albert Pujols this winter? Not really.

If you were to ask me right now where Pujols ends up, I think it's back in St. Louis for the rest of his career. Mostly because I can't see him playing anywhere else aside from the Cardinals.

But, if the Cardinals do in fact win the 2011 World Series and Pujols has a monster series against Texas, that only drives up his price even more.

Is St. Louis willing to give Pujols $40 million per season to keep their best player?

If not, the Yankees should at least check in to see what he is asking for this winter.

They do have Mark Teixeira, who is not going anywhere anytime soon, especially with a no-trade clause.

But if the negotiations with the Cardinals go sour and he really does hit the open market and doesn't go back to St. Louis, it's anyone's game for Pujols.

And we know the Yankees have the money. Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner have talked about having a budget for this team, but really, who actually buys that? It is the Yankees, and they have the money if they really want Pujols.

But, he will be 32 next year, and you have to wonder if he will start to slow down and diminish in skill anytime soon.

Is it worth trying to get Pujols when you still have another six years of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira on the team?

That's a lot of money to have tied into three sluggers in their 30's.

The Yankees aren't the obvious landing spot for Pujols, but don't think for one second they won't show any interest whatsoever to see what will be going on in the Pujols situation this winter.

Start Grooming David Robertson to Be Mariano Rivera's Heir

Nobody knows how much longer Mariano Rivera will be pitching for the Yankees.

He'll turn 42 this winter and has one more year left on his current deal.

His skills have not diminished by any means, but if Rivera is looking at 2012 as potentially his final year, the Yankees need to prepare like it is.

Which means they need to start grooming David Robertson as the heir to Mariano and prepare him to be the team's next closer.

Joba Chamberlain is not the heir to Rivera. Neither is Rafael Soriano. It's David Robertson.

The Red Sox did it with Daniel Bard while Jonathan Papelbon was there, and next year, Bard will probably get the job, pending they don't shock the world and bring in a free-agent closer.

Robertson had a tremendous 2011 year, going 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 66.2 innings and striking out 100 batters and only allowed nine runs all year.

Robertson will be 27 next year and looks like he will only get better. It also looks like he's become a much smarter pitcher, and has leaned on Rivera for advice on how to be a better pitcher.

If Robertson picked Rivera's brain in the bullpen, good for him, it can only help his career.

When Soriano and Chamberlain both went on the disabled list, Robertson stepped up to be the setup man for the Yankees and emerged as a dominant reliever.

Robertson will the setup man again in 2012 for the Yankees. During that time, Joe Girardi and Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild need to get Robertson groomed and ready to take over the closer job when Rivera decides to hang the spikes up.