New York Yankees: Predicting the 10 Most Valuable Players in 2012

Similar to their predecessors, the 2012 New York Yankees approach the regular season with confidence and star players at many positions.

But which individuals will be most valuable to the Bombers?

There's no sure-fire way to quantify this.

Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is important. Each player's presence in the clubhouse, selflessness on the field and potential health issues are also important.

All things considered, here is how they rank.

10. Brett Gardner

Although Brett Gardner was streaky at the plate in 2011, he was a consistently dominant left fielder. The job is his once again following a defensive year that was worthy of a Fielding Bible Award.

Expect a return to his 2010 on-base percentage of .383 and 50-plus stolen bases. He tallied 49 a year ago despite getting off to a slow start.

There are no glaring health concerns surrounding Gardner as he begins his age-28 campaign.

9. Michael Pineda

Michael Pineda is developing the repertoire of an MLB ace.

He hasn't yet perfected his changeup, but the New York Yankees can be confident that he will continue keeping runners off the bases. Such is the result of attacking the strike zone while preventing hitters from making solid contact.

Pineda's ceiling is as high as anyone's.

However, counting on him to reach his full potential in his second year would be wishful thinking. He will eventually settle in as the team's No. 3 starting pitcher in 2012.

8. Derek Jeter

I know what the numbers say—Derek Jeter is barely an average shortstop in the autumn of his career. He was worth only 0.7 WAR in 2011, according to baseball-reference.com.

Yet, David Robertson, Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher were all snubbed so that I could squeeze him into this top 10.

Why?!

His lead-by-example work ethic and calmness in the face of adversity.

Other franchises slip in the standings because of dysfunction in the clubhouse or lackadaisical effort during games.

Not the New York Yankees. Not with Derek Jeter setting the tone.

Beyond his intangibles, Jeter's value to the 2012 Yankees is helped by his generally clean injury history and the incompetence of backup shortstop Eduardo Nunez.

7. Ivan Nova

The New York Yankees can trust Ivan Nova a bit more than Michael Pineda.

Nova has a few dozen extra innings of MLB experience and all of it came in pinstripes. We know he can handle the pressure of a big stage.

There won't be any restrictions on Nova's innings in 2012. What a relief!

Manager Joe Girardi yanked him far too often last season with leads and less than 100 pitches thrown. He has the opportunity to make a huge impact as a 25-year-old.

6. Russell Martin

Like Yankees captain Derek Jeter, starting catcher Russell Martin is poorly represented by his statistics.

Ignore his pedestrian triple slash of .237 batting average/.324 on-base percentage/.408 slugging percentage.

In a nutshell, he is a superb defender in the prime of his career with good power and speed for his position.

He has an additional responsibility with the New York Yankees as a buffer between the recently-retired Jorge Posada and highly-touted prospect Gary Sanchez.

Martin was the underlying reason for the surprise effectiveness of the pitching staff in 2011. His ability to manage his batterymates will make him valuable once again.

5. Mariano Rivera

All indications are that Mariano Rivera will close at an All-Star level in 2012, even with the distraction of his potential retirement.

Few players are as perfect in their roles as Rivera is in the ninth inning. That much has been made obvious during his awesome playoff performances.

Alas, there is only so much of an impact that any reliever can make over the course of a season. Several New York Yankees will be more responsible for actually getting the club into October.

4. Curtis Granderson

Curtis Granderson was the fourth-most valuable player in the entire American League in 2011.

Unfortunately, he is due for a slight regression.

Age won't be the reason for it. There's nothing particularly ominous about celebrating a 31st birthday. However, common sense suggests that he won't be a top-five slugger for a second straight season.

Still, expect outstanding production from the "Grandyman" in terms of extra-base hits and stolen bases.

3. Mark Teixeira

Infuriating defensive shifts contained Mark Teixeira to a .835 OPS last season, his lowest since 2003. He experienced a significant drop in WAR and a decline in popularity.

But like all upper-echelon players, he is willing to adjust, according to MLB.com.

I'm giving Teixeira more love than most analysts entering 2012 because I don't take his light-tower power, smooth glove work and good health for granted.

Beyond those givens, I have confidence that he will compile a hit total akin to 2009, when he was runner-up for AL MVP.

His new approach will be to hit—or bunt—the ball where the fielders ain't.

2. Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano has finally pulled away from all other "elite" MLB second baseman.

His quick wrists and dazzling defensive plays put him a class above Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, Brandon Phillips and the rest.

He is exponentially better than any middle infielder in the New York Yankees organization, which is why he ought to be considered its most valuable position player.

Cano is impatient at the plate and far from perfect. It's refreshing, though, to have somebody that's a lock for 25 HR, 100 RBI, 100 R and a .300 BA.

1. CC Sabathia

The mood in New York Yankees camp wouldn't be nearly as cheery without CC Sabathia. They cannot contend without him.

Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda lack experience. Freddy Garcia and Hiroki Kuroda are wearing down from too much of it. Phil Hughes has a lot to prove after a mediocre 2011.

The perennial American League Cy Young Award candidate, Sabathia is the only Yankees starting pitcher who fans have no reason to doubt.

He will lead the Bombers to a berth in the newly-expanded playoffs, provided that he eats more innings and less Captain Crunch.