New York Yankees: Bold Predictions for Their Current Rotation

The way it stands now, the New York Yankees starting rotation for 2012 looks like this:

1. CC Sabathia

2. Ivan Nova

3. A.J. Burnett

4. Phil Hughes

5. Freddy Garcia

While the order of the rotation is debatable, the fact that the Yankees need more help isn't.

The Yanks got lucky last season with help from Garcia and Bartolo Colon, but don't expect lightning to strike twice.

New York might end up with another starter before the season starts, but there is no evidence as such and with an undoubtedly overpriced market for free agents, they may do nothing.

So here's a breakdown of the Yankees rotation and how each of these starters will fare in 2012.

CC Sabathia: 22-5, 2.91 ERA

I'll admit without hesitation that I was one of the people who believed Sabathia didn't deserve a huge extension filled with more money and more years.

His heavy frame made it impossible for me to believe he could last the entirety of a longer contract.

Instead, the big lefty basically only tacked a year onto his current deal so I was able to live with that.

With the animosity aside, Sabathia will come out in 2012 with something to prove. That is, to prove he is worth the money he's getting and the extra year as well.

He has been the ace of this staff since the first day he walked into the clubhouse and he will continue that in 2012.

Let's just hope Joe Girardi doesn't get in his way like he did in 2011 with that ridiculous six-man rotation that destroyed Sabathia's hope of winning 20 games.

Just let him pitch, Joe!

Ivan Nova: 15-6, 3.46 ERA

After a tremendous first season in pinstripes, Ivan Nova is primed to have an even better season in 2012.

It'll be tough to repeat such an incredible rookie season for Nova, but I feel he'll have similar numbers with a slightly lower ERA.

Nova still has to prove that he can consistently put up the numbers he did in 2011 but he certainly has shown the promise he can do so.

I'll still credit him with 15 wins, which would be one fewer than last year. I also gave him two more loss than in 2011 because I feel teams will have a better idea how to hit the young righty.

He may have a rough start because of that, but I think he'll be able to adjust to hitters having a better scouting report of him.

All that being said, Nova will lower his ERA about 25 points which would be a welcomed improvement for him.

After another strong showing in 2012, Nova will be ready to win 20 games in 2013.

A.J. Burnett: 14-8, 4.09 ERA

Predicting A.J. Burnett's season in 2012 might be harder than predicting the weather, but I think we'll see a vast improvement from last season.

That shouldn't be too hard considering the horrid season he had in 2011.

I expect Burnett to pick up a few more wins, while lowering his ERA by a full run and suffering three fewer losses.

I would chalk up his newfound "success" to gaining confidence after a strong playoff showing in 2011 after what was a hopeless regular season.

Burnett is always a wild card when he's on the mound, but I expect him to be more consistent next year.

I still feel he has the ability to win 15 games in any season with his stuff, so don't be surprised if he does exactly that.

In the same breath, don't be surprised if the exact opposite happens.

Frustrating, but hey, that's A.J.!

Phil Hughes: 1-4, 5.79 ERA

Such a few amount of starts, I know. But that's because I have no faith in Phil Hughes the starting pitcher.

Hughes was just about as bad and inconsistent as A.J. Burnett was last season—problem is Burnett still has better stuff.

I don't have enough confidence in Hughes to predict a better outcome just yet, so that's the best I can do.

Hughes will end up being a big part of the Yankees' success in 2012, from the bullpen.

After a terrible start to the season, the Yanks will end the Phil Hughes experiment and remove him from the rotation in place of another starter they receive from a trade or one of the young arms they have in the minors.

Either way, Hughes will start the season in the rotation and end it in the bullpen.

Put up another one in the loss column for Yankees' highly touted pitching prospects. Somewhere, Brian Taylor is smiling.

Freddy Garcia: 13-9, 4.19 ERA

To say Freddy Garcia can't have another solid season would be underestimating him.

He's shown throughout his career that he has a consistent ability to win games and if not, at least keep his team in them.

Garcia should be a solid contributor next season for the Bombers, but don't expect him to match his 2011 output.

I have Garcia getting one more win than last season but that'll be a result of being on such a great offensive team like the Bronx Bombers.

His ERA will go up from the solid 3.62 he posted last season, but I still think you'd take 13 wins and a 4.19 ERA from your fifth starter any day of the week.

Yankees Will Look to Trade Market for Starter

One way or the other, the Yankees must improve their rotation next season.

The free-agent market is slim with a very high price that I don't think the Bombers will pay.

So that leaves a trade being the only way they can improve their rotation. I wouldn't even begin to speculate who will be available because you can never tell until close to the deadline, based upon which teams are already out of it.

New York will have to piece it together for the first half with the hope of two things:

1. They can keep themselves within striking distance of a playoff spot.

2. They can land a top-flight starter in order to put them over the top and into the playoffs.

In place of Hughes, the Yankees will have to bring up one of their young arms to fill in until they can figure out an alternative.

If the Yanks can't land that starter next season, I don't see the playoffs in their future for 2012. If they do, they'll be World Series contenders.

What a difference a pitcher can make!