MLB Free Agents 2012: Ranking the New York Yankees' Top 15 Targets

Bowing out in the American League Division Series is simply unacceptable in the Bronx. 

In an effort to avoid another letdown next year, the Bombers will have to turn their attention to free agency. The market is weak in 2012, but the New York Yankees still have to be shoppers.  In fact, they will most likely overpay for incoming services. 

However, next year’s team needs to obtain the missing pieces to be the last team standing in October.

These are the top 15 free agents the Yankees must target this offseason.

15. David DeJesus (OF)

In an effort to strengthen the bench, outfielder David DeJesus could be a bargain for the club, since he is coming off an extremely disappointing year, batting .240 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 131 games in his lone season with Oakland. 

If the 32-year-old outfielder can put up numbers that resemble his tenure in Kansas City, he could be a welcome addition to a barren bench.

14. Joel Piñeiro (SP)

The old adage goes, “You can never have enough pitching,” and the Yankees definitely subscribe to this.  With that being said, the Bombers might give right-handed starter Joel Piñeiro some attention.

Piñeiro has endured some injury-ravaged and inconsistent seasons of late, and after leaving Anaheim, he is looking for a new home.  

Considering he finished 2011 in good health, he will certainly profit from this frail free-agent pitching pool.  It’s possible the Yankees could tender a one- or two-year deal if they can’t land their first choices on the market.

13. Bruce Chen (SP)

Now that you have seen the picture, I’ll wait until you stop laughing.  Are you done yet? 

So, with a weak free-agent market, especially in the pitching department, 34-year-old Bruce Chen is a realistic option for the Yanks.  While his career numbers are quite pedestrian (60-58, 4.52 ERA), Chen has put together back-to-back seasons with 12 wins for the Kansas City Royals, which is an accomplishment in itself.

Hey, the left-hander is a better alternative than watching Sergio Mitre bring up the rear in the rotation.

12.Michael Cuddyer (OF, IF)

If Nick Swisher takes his business elsewhere, Michael Cuddyer could play the role in right field with acclaim. 

The 32-year-old right fielder comes off his first All-Star season in Minnesota, where he is a fan favorite.  His .284 BA, 20 home runs, and 70 RBI are similar to Swisher’s stats, so the Yanks could replace one with the other if they chose to do so. 

Like “Swishalicious,” Cuddyer can play multiple positions including third, second, and first base.  Oh, and last year he was the first Twins’ position player since 1990 to take the pitcher's mound. 

If the Yankees can get Cuddyer’s signature, it becomes obvious they just adore right fielders that pitch on rare occasions.

11. Bartolo Colón (SP)

Apparently, “blood spinning” does a body good… well, only for four months, in Bartolo Colón’s case. 

After having a renaissance-like first half in 2011, he broke down and unraveled with an 0-4 record and 5.37 ERA in his last 10 starts.  The right-hander became a non-factor down the stretch and did not appear in the postseason. 

After seeing his second-half downfall and considering that he is 38 years old, it’s unlikely the Yankees will bring Colón back to the Bronx in 2012.  In spite of this, if the Yanks can’t get pitchers of the Wilson and Buehrle ilk, don’t be surprised if Colón waddles to the mound next year for New York.

10. Johnny Damon (OF)

With Eric Chavez leaning towards retirement and Andruw Jones testing free agency, the Yankees must bolster their bench.  So why not bring in a familiar face like Johnny Damon? 

While he wasn’t an everyday player last year in Tampa, Damon managed to hammer out a batting average of .261 along with 16 home runs and 73 RBI. 

It’s no secret he is obsessed with getting his 3,000th hit (currently, he has 2,723), so why not have him reach this milestone in New York? 

The Bombers can probably get him on the cheap, as Damon’s contract with the Tampa Bay Rays last year was for only $5.25 million. Besides, the fans adore him, and even at the age of 38 his idiosyncrasies still park some fannies in the seats.

9. Freddy García (SP)

If not for the dynamic duo of pitchers Bartolo Colon and Freddy García, the Yanks’ season would have been in major peril.  While one half of the geriatric two-some (Colon) fell apart down the stretch, García provided some big outings when the Yankees needed them most. 

García went 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 2011, and would make a perfect back-of-the-rotation starter for 2012. 

“The Chief” will probably crave more than his 2011 paycheck of $1.5 million, but there shouldn’t be any reason the front office wouldn’t up the ante to keep him in the Bronx.

8. Yu Darvish (SP)

The Far East continues to hypnotize the Yankees, but so far the attraction has delivered mixed results. 

While Hideki Matsui and Chien-Ming Wang were solid contributors, Hideki Irabu and Kei Igawa became punchlines.  Though Igawa holds the cherished record for most career wins in AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the big club will expect more if it takes a flyer on pitcher Yu Darvish. 

The 25-year-old right-hander has a career record of 93-38 with an ERA of 1.99.  This, however, is in the Nippon Professional Baseball League.  Not to take anything away from the Japanese baseball, as they have won the only two World Baseball Classic championships, but the professionals there can’t hold a candle to MLB. 

Though impressed with Darvish, the Yankees are hesitant to get involved with a total price tag (including a posting fee) of over $100 million.  Still, with the prospect of Sabathia and the question marks behind him, they might have no choice but to pull the trigger on Darvish.

7. Yoennis Céspedes (OF)

As fans, we are always intrigued by the “unknown prospect” like Sid Finch, Steve Nebraska, or Yoennis Céspedes.  Well, Céspedes is an actual person, but the mystery surrounding him is his biggest attraction. 

After an eccentric YouTube video displaying his skills hit the Internet, he became an overnight sensation on every general manager’s IPhone. 

In the 20-minute video, which opens with a Stars Wars-like introduction, the “26-year-old” centerfielder showcases his tremendous power and athletic ability.  Furthermore, his defection from Cuba permits him to shop for a new home in the big leagues. 

The Yankees are keen on big names, but they like big talent even more.  Céspedes could be the answer in right field if Swisher is walked to the city limits.

6. Roy Oswalt (SP)

It makes sense the Yankees should inquire about pitcher Roy Oswalt’s talents, seeing that he shares the same agent, Bob Garber, as free agent starting pitcher C.J. Wilson.  Oswalt's career record of 137-70 and a 3.23 ERA conjure up some interest as well.

In the last decade, Oswalt has been one of baseball’s top pitchers.

According to his agent, Oswalt “loves New York.”  The major concern with the 34-year-old right-hander is his durability. 

With multiple stretches on the disabled list the past few years, his pencil-thin frame is certainly not what it used to be.  If the Yankees can get past his irksome back problems, Oswalt could be a must-have. 

5. Grady Sizemore (OF)

In 2007, Cleveland Indians’ general manager Mark Shapiro told Sports Illustrated that Grady Sizemore was “without a doubt one of the greatest players of our generation.”  At the end of the 2011 season, Cleveland declined his option, granting him free agency. 

Talk about a fall from grace. 

The 29-year-old centerfielder is coming off three injury-plagued seasons, during which his numbers dipped to appalling lows.  If Sizemore can assure the Yanks he’s healthy, his addition in the outfield would be significant. 

His tremendous left-handed power would play well in New York.  Plus, the image of an outfield starring Granderson, Gardner, and Grady would have high-level defensive dexterity.

4. Edwin Jackson (SP)

Clearly, the Yankees’ top priority this winter is pitching, and Edwin Jackson might be part of the plan. 

The only problem appears to be that Jackson has a mild case of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

Being 28 years old and a pitcher with "great stuff" can sway general mangers to spend like drunken sailors.  Just ask Oliver Perez.  

Still, Jackson brings a “workhorse” reputation with him, as he averaged over 210 innings the past three years.  However, his career numbers (60-60 4.46 ERA) are disappointing, and his inconsistency finding the strike zone is a matter of trepidation. 

Scott Boras represents the young righty, so he’ll demand a long-term deal with oodles of money. Did I mention Oliver Perez? 

If the Yankees can sign Jackson for a somewhat modest and reasonable deal, perhaps it’s worth the gamble.

3. Carlos Beltrán (OF)

Carlos Beltrán’s first tour in Gotham was extremely productive, but is remembered for all the wrong reasons. 

Whether it was watching a breaking ball sail by him to conclude the 2006 National League Championship Series or taking up residency on the disabled list year after year, scathing headlines far too often accompanied Beltrán’s picture in the papers. 

If the Yanks decide to part ways with Nick Swisher, the 34-year-old Beltran fits the profile for right field. 

When he’s healthy, he is a solid contributor, but his injury history is likely to scare off a lot of teams.  A big push by the Yankees could finally put Beltrán in the pinstriped New York uniform he yearned to be in all along.

2. C.J. Wilson (SP)

What do C.J Wilson and political hopeful Herman Cain have in common?  Both are benefiting from the lack of talent around them. 

Since he is the premier pitching prospect on the market this offseason, Wilson will command a king’s ransom of riches.  The 30-year-old left-hander won’t be able to color-coordinate his glove and uniform if he signs in the Bronx, but his spot as the No. 2 starter is well within reach.  

Brian Cashman has awarded some dreadful contracts to pitchers in the past (e.g., Kei Igawa for five years and $20 million, Carl Pavano for four years and $39.95 million), but Wilson might just be one of the jewels if the Yanks can sign him. 

With that being said, it’s all about October in New York, and the red sirens might go off in the front office at the sight of Wilson’s merely mediocre postseason stats (1-5, 4.82 ERA). Yet with a record of 16-7 and a 2.94 ERA in 2011, Wilson might be too tantalizing to pass on.

1. Mark Buehrle (SP)

Outside of C.C. Sabathia, the Yankees’ pitching staff was anything but consistent.  That’s why left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle has to be at the top of their wish list. 

After twelve years in the Second City, Buehrle is testing the market for his probable last payday.  Though he doesn’t have overpowering stuff, his career ERA is under 4.00, and as a known “innings eater,” he could be exactly what the Bombers need. 

The 32-year-old will probably ask for at least a four- or five-year deal, which sounds a bit steep considering his age.  The Yankees, however, have been down this road before, signing pitcher A.J. Burnett to a five-year deal when he was 31.  If they can ink Buehrle, let’s hope the results are slightly better.