2012 MLB Free Agents: New York Yankees Must Avoid Pitchers Not Worth Their Money

Another MLB offseason is upon us, which means another winter where the New York Yankees are dissatisfied with their pitching staff and are not above overpaying to fix it.

The lead of an article by Pete Caldera on NorthJersey.com sums up the Yankees spending habits.

“Given reservations about C.J. Wilson as a top-end starter, Roy Oswalt's durability questions and the wide market for veteran lefty Mark Buehrle, the Yankees can't be ruled out of an aggressive play for Yu Darvish.”

Yankee fans pray that their team wins the World Series, knowing that falling short means a spending binge similar to a kid in a candy store after allowance.

New York is never struggling to find money to spend, but a weak free agency pitching market will force them to overpay or come up empty-handed. Instead of trying to work with what they’ve got, the Yankees will definitely throw some cash at a pitcher who probably doesn’t deserve it.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman had this to say about the potential of signing Yu Darvish, a Japanese prospect.

"We haven't had a successful Japanese pitcher. It doesn't mean we won't have one."

It sounds like Cashman knows there’s no limit to the amount he will spend regardless of the payroll the Yankees already have. With slim pickings at pitcher, the Yankees reportedly already contacted C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt, according to Blaine Blontz of Calltothepen.com.

Last season, the Yankees starters proved inconsistent, which Cashman seems to believe was the most costly factor in the Yankees “early” exit.

However, the Yankees could try and trust their pitching for a change, rather than putting intense pressure on each throw. Knowing one bad outing could cost a pitcher his starting spot will definitely cause some errant throws from the mound.

The Yankees short-leash approach will not work, but they’ll undoubtedly keep at it.