MLB Free Agents 2012: Should the New York Yankees Look To Sign Mark Buehrle?

Free agency in baseball already began this past week.

We've had barely any movement from teams in the four days players have been available.

The New York Yankees haven't been as quiet though.

They made their boldest splash by retaining their ace starter in CC Sabathia with a five-year, $122 million extension.

But with the Yankees' need for pitching this winter, we know Yankees GM Brian Cashman is far from done. Cashman knows the Yankees only got as far as they could because they didn't have the depth in the rotation.

And let's face it: Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett aren't exactly names that make me feel confident about the rotation in 2012.

Now sure, they could always re-sign Freddy Garcia, but really, is that the answer to bolster a rotation looking for a championship?

Quite frankly, no.

The Yankees need to make a bold move this winter.

Now, I've said all along that the Yankees will likely have to make a trade if they want to make a dramatic improvement to the rotation. But, there are a few options the Yankees could look into on the market for a starter.

The best option, I think for them, is Chicago White Sox left-handed starter Mark Buehrle.

Buehrle will be a free agent for the first time in his career after spending 12 years with Chicago, posting a career 161-119 record with them.

He was 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 31 starts for the White Sox last season and with the choices on the market, Buehrle may be the most reliable one for the Yankees.

According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, going after Buehrle makes a lot of sense for the Yankees and they could definitely be interested in him.

I think if the Yankees wanted to sign one pitcher off the free-agent market, then it should be Buehrle.

Last year, the Yankees nearly landed then-31-year-old Cliff Lee and would have had to pay him at least $25 million over seven years.

The Yankees would not have to pay the 32-year-old Buehrle that much money over that many years to land him. A three-year deal I think would definitely do the trick, but it would depend on how much Buehrle is looking for per season.

Now, of course, comes the question of Buehrle even wanting to play in New York.

Again, according to Feinsand, Jeff Berry, Buehrle's agent, said that Buehrle would definitely be all right with playing in New York because it would give him a chance to win.

Ah ha! Winning. That's what the Yankees can offer Buehrle that maybe say, the Miami Marlins cannot in 2012 (for now at least.)

Adding Buehrle to a rotation with Sabathia and Ivan Nova and given the lineup the Yankees will have most definitely makes the Yankees a contender in the American League again.

When the Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers in five games in the 2011 American League Division Series, the one thing I felt was missing from the series was Andy Pettitte. What Pettitte brought to the Yankees was a ton of big-game experience and durability that the Yankees never replaced when he retired.

Adding Buehrle might finally be that replacement the Yankees need in the rotation.

He's only 32, he'll throw 200 innings, he works extremely quickly—which tends to work in a pitcher's favor—and he has playoff experience.

Oh, and he also has the July 23, 2009 perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on his resume too.

I'm not in favor of signing C.J. Wilson nor I am in favor of pursuing Edwin Jackson, and with his back issues, I think the Yankees should and will pass on Roy Oswalt.

And I don't think the Yankees will end up with Yu Darvish, either.

That leaves Buehrle, who I do think the Yankees should sign this winter.

If Cashman is true to his word and wants to add pitching, then he needs to deliver this winter and not settle for Garcia or Colon, again.

Adding Buehrle would be a bold and big move for the Yankees this winter.

Will the Yankees do it though?

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.