MLB Free Agents 2012: 10 New York Yankees Who Must Go

Oh my, how things change—or should I say never change? The Bronx Bombers had the best lineup in baseball going into the playoffs and they have been shutdown by the likes of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. 

Pitching and defense wins championships and many questioned whether or not these Yankees had the goods to win it all; but most "experts" had the Yankees barely breaking a sweat against the Tigers in the ALDS.

Now down 2-1 heading into Game 4, if the Yankees were to not come back and lose their series, this offseason would begin and the names of who should get out of town would begin.

Let me tell you right now the Yankees look dead in the water though they might come back and reach the World Series, but let's start the talk right now of who should go.

Nick Swisher

Nick Swisher was once the worst player in the American League with the Chicago White Sox (2008) hitting .219. That just happened to be the worst average among any starter in the league.

He had a solid year last season but hit just .260 this season, and his power is starting to drop even in a hitter's ball park.

Turning 31 in November and being a free agent in 2012 should bring some cause for concern. However, he has a $10.25 million club option and a $1 million buyout.

With a few outfielders in the farm system, and with a few on the bench, the Yankees could certainly make a change. Oh, and I almost forgot that the Yanks have a boatload of money to spend if need be.

Jorge Posada

Starting just 11 games this season was the first time the future Hall of Famer did not see his near 400 at-bats. 

Posada is no longer a catcher and is a full-time designated hitter. One of the Yankee greats the past decade, it would be near-impossible to not see him back wearing the pinstripes next year, but can the Yankees roll the dice now that he is 40?

The old man can still rake in the postseason, but won't his body begin to break down? It might be important to make a decision on his future since he is a free agent next season. Is he worthy re-signing or is there a better possibility out there?

His $13.1 million contract this season would have to take a huge paycut in order to stay on the team. Posada may be one of the few guys hitting at the moment, but I really cannot see him as the starter next season despite being a Yankee his whole career. 

Russell Martin

Is it a good thing when your starting catcher hits .237? He is hitting just .111 through three games in the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, and if things do not start to change quickly, there is a great chance that the soon-to-be free agent is not back in the Bronx. 

Plus, with Jesus Montero being the future and already producing like an All-Star, the chances of Martin coming back are slim to none.

AJ Burnett

I have been the biggest fan of AJ Burnett for the past few years, but I have been disappointed time after time. He has always been awful with he Yankees and despite pitching well down the stretch, he has to go as soon as possible.

Making $16.5 million from 2009-2013 makes him one of the most overrated, overpaid pitchers in the game.

Pitching in Game 4 could be the downfall for Burnett. He may throw three or four scoreless innings, and then he has that one awful inning where he loses all his command. Posting a terrible 5.15 ERA with arguably the greatest infield ever assembled just shows how much AJ struggled this season.

Throwing 190.1 innings and allowing 190 hits is nothing to brag home about, and though he is still on contract with the team I would not bring him back. They might as well practically get an entirely new pitching staff.

This rotation is not the answer and it is amazing they won that many games with just CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova throwing gems. Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia were solid when they took the mound, which was not enough to be considered anything better than legit four and five starters.

Bottom line: Burnett is not the answer, and if the Bronx Bombers decide to continue to blow leads, then they will continue to see their hearts broken.

Bartolo Colon

If 6'0" and 265 pounds is really the 38-year-old's accurate and correct size, then I would like to know what they are drinking because there is no way he is shy of three bones. 

Colon was red hot in the early parts of the season, but he could not stay healthy or consistent down the stretch. His struggles were so awful that he did not even make the ALDS playoff roster against the Detroit Tigers. 

If you are not good enough to play when it matters most, there is a great chance you will not be coming back next season—especially if your contract expires.

Freddy Garcia

Another old veteran is getting up there in age and has pitched over 2,000 innings in his career. Plus at 35 years old, how much velocity can Garcia get out of his four-seamer?

He already been known as a simple cutter, curve, change type of pitcher, and if he makes a mistake, an opposing slugger will flat out take him yard every time.

Garcia is another soon-to-be free agent in the offseason, and though his pitching performance in Game 2 was solid, he is not a must-have come 2012.

This staff needs to get younger and more dynamic—not old and oft-injured.

Rafael Soriano

Earning himself a three-year, $35 million contract coming off a season where he saved 45 ball games on a 1.73 ERA for the Tampa Bay Rays, talk about a huge bust of a signing in the offseason.

This season for the Yankees, he was used primarily as a set-up man for Mariano Rivera, but he struggled miserably posting a 4.12 ERA, while allowing 33 hits in 39.1 innings.

Though he is on contract for another two years, I would not be pumped about keeping the formerly lights-out closer.

Scott Proctor

Scott Proctor is a free agent in 2012, and posting a 7.14 ERA this past season is not a good case for get re-signed.

The Yankees bullpen was fourth in baseball with a 3.12 team ERA, but that had absolutely nothing to do with 33-year-old veteran.

Joba Chamberlain

Joba once had a lot of promise and upside, but managers and general managers can get fired over potential. Joba "The Hut" strained the flexor in his throwing elbow and has since been an albatross for this team. 

Now, I still like this kid and think he can be a positive, important player for the Yankees, but sometime you just have to cut your losses and move on. He has combined for just 100.1 innings the last two years, and you never know what you are going to get out of a player after he comes off Tommy John surgery.

He has since attempted playing catch and said he felt no discomfort, though I would not bank on having him in pinstripes next season. If he does come back and returns healthy that is one thing, but how long can he stay healthy before he suffers another injury? 

This Yankees team had a rash of injuries this season and still nearly won 100 games; if they want to remain competitive and win the AL East next season, they may want to think twice before re-signing the soon-to-be arbitration-eligible player.

Phil Hughes

Phil Hughes is yet another pitcher on this playoff roster that has to go right now. He has done nothing of notice this season and is really irrelevant.

Injuries and the inability to have command on the mound has led to his demise. His 5.79 ERA this year is not making a statement by any means, and now being put on the Yankees' arbitration gives them a great opportunity to drop him like a bad habit.