MLB Free Agents 2012: 10 Reasons New York Yankees Should Do Nothing in Offseason

The New York Yankees have tried several different ways to make a move this offseason to improve their team, namely the starting rotation, but everything has fallen flat.

Don't expect them to take a chance on Yu Darvish or Edwin Jackson either.

It seems the well is dry for the Bronx Bombers and they're better off doing what they normally don't do but might be on the verge of doing two offseasons in a row; nothing.

AL East Hasn't Improved

As we wake up today, it's perfectly clear that the American League East hasn't done anything to improve itself this season.

The Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays have all seemingly done nothing to make themselves better and that should put the Yankees' fears of falling behind at ease.

Unless you consider Bobby Valentine an upgrade over Terry Francona. Yeah, I thought so.

Despite all their problems, the Yanks still won the division and with nothing changing around them going into next season, it isn't out of the realm of possibility they can do it again.

Throw in the fact that things should even out between them and Boston in 2012, and the end result could be the same with the Yanks being crowned AL East champs once again.

Nothing Worth Trading Prospects for

If Gio Gonzalez and John Danks are all the Yankees can trade for using their top prospects, thanks, but no thanks.

Especially since both teams have asked for an insane price for each starter, hoping Brian Cashman will be desperate, close his eyes and pull the trigger.

Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane was looking for either Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos, as well as Jesus Montero and Mason Williams for Gonzalez alone. But a trade like that won't happen as Cash has been increasingly careful with his farm system since coming to New York

That being said, with no King Felix-type talent, there is no sense in the Yanks letting go of any of their top prospects until a better deal comes along.

Free-Agent Market Too Pricey

We all knew this would happen as soon as the clock struck midnight on the beginning of the free agency period in Major League Baseball.

With too few options at too high a price, the Yankees decided to play it smart and not take any more chances on another A.J. Burnett.

Darvish and Jackson are the most notable names left, but even that lacks promise. Jackson is highly unpredictable on the mound, while Darvish has yet to prove he can pitch in the big leagues.

Both will be way too expensive for the Bombers to feel comfortable with, leaving the last remaining free agents untouchable.

No More Offense Needed

Besides needing a little youth in their lineup, the Yankees will be just fine in 2012 if they do absolutely nothing to improve their offense.

Talk of bringing in Cuban stars Jorge Soler and Yoenis Cespedes have been rampantly speculated, but even those moves don't seem necessary.

I don't doubt Cespedes has talent, but much like Darvish, he is no certainty to work out in the major leagues. Soler is still a few years away from being major league ready and would be an addition to an already deep farm system.

The Bronx Bombers lived up to their name in 2011, finishing at the top of almost every category offensively and with the usual suspects returning in 2012, no additions should be necessary for them to succeed.

Cash Can Flip the Script

If Cashman can manage to wait it out for a starting pitcher, he might be able to find another GM looking desperately to dump a more formidable pitcher during the season. Instead of the Yankees being a target to be taken advantage of, the tables could be turned.

That's not to say the Yanks won't have to give up their top prospects, but the quality of available talent could be significantly better for the same price or less than they'd have to pay for the mediocre talent available now.

The San Francisco Giants, for example, might be more inclined to trade upcoming free agent Matt Cain if they can't afford him as a result of re-signing Tim Lincecum.

Cashman already offered the Giants a pretty good package for Cain this offseason, but if the Giants are up against the wall and need to unload him, the same package that wasn't good enough in November might seal the deal in July.

Yankees Can Be Successful and Develop Prospects at the Same Time

Not many teams can afford to develop young players in the midst of the season without sacrificing a possible playoff run.

But not the Yankees.

With deep pockets, the Yanks have so much talent on their roster, they can cover the struggles of a young starter trying to find his way in the majors.

Betances and Banuelos, for example, could be the answer the Yanks are looking for in their starting rotation. Although both might not be fully ready until 2013, both could get a shot at some point this season in the majors.

The experience would be valuable and you never know when you will find lightning in a bottle (see Ivan Nova). The Yanks won't have to sacrifice much with their ability to drive in runs, erasing the mistakes of whatever starter is pitching.

If they can overcome the bad seasons of Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett in 2011, they can overcome a couple of rookies trying to get their feet wet in 2012.

Homegrown Talent Can Lead to Dynasty

The Yankees rise to a superpower in the 1990s was a result of their homegrown players developing into a core they could build around.

Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera were all integral parts in the Bombers' success and eventual dynasty of the 90s, being the center of some of the great teams in MLB history.

It feels like the Yanks have something special brewing in their farm system that could bloom into a familiar situation and it's an approach that Brian Cashman should consider for the future of the franchise.

No matter when New York has won championships, you can always point to lifelong Yankees being at the heart of it.

Tons of Bad Contracts

A-Rod, Burnett, Rafael Soriano and Pedro Feliciano. What do they all have in common: Bad contracts.

The Yankees seem to be chuck-full of them and can't afford to waste any more money and years on uncertainties which is the cause of their ultra-conservative approach this offseason. If they continue to spend recklessly like they have before, they'll be making less moves than the New York Mets.

Combined, those four players I listed take up roughly $61 million on the Yanks' payroll, which is tough to swallow for even the biggest of spenders like New York.

Please, no more.

Yankees Can Do Nothing and Still Win World Series

What was the biggest problem for the Yanks in the 2011 ALDS against the Detroit Tigers?

Above all else, it was situational hitting. The Yankees simply could not get a big hit in a big spot if their lives depended on it.

With Ivan Nova emerging as a No. 2 starter, the Bombers already have a solid one-two punch when combined with CC Sabathia which can be enough to propel them to playoff success. Toss in Burnett who answered the bell last season in Game 4, and the Yanks could have enough to get the job done.

Besides, is this rotation any worse than the one that got them the 2009 World Series win over the Philadelphia Phillies?

Nope. And that was with Burnett as the Yanks No. 2 guy. Nova looks like an upgrade after last season and not even the pitching-filled Phillies could get past the first round. Sometimes in the MLB Postseason, it's the big hits that make the difference.

All that being said, it isn't a stretch to say the Yankees have the pieces to put a World Series run together as long as everything falls into place like it did in '09.

Don't Do Something Just to Do Something

I can honestly say that I won't go into doomsday mode if the Yankees do nothing. Nor will I blame Cashman for doing nothing because quite frankly, there wasn't much to do.

I know it might be hard to see now, but the Bombers have enough talent on this team to get the job done with what they have already. After all, it did get them to the playoffs in 2011 and a game away from the ALCS.

As is the case with most World Series teams, things have got to bounce their way once in awhile in between New York helping themselves.

Should the situation arise where the Yanks have a chance to make a deal during the season, they should take it as long as it's for a viable starter at a reasonable price.

Cashman said it best this offseason and I think this holds true:

"I'm not going to do something just to do something," Cashman said. "That is what you do this time of year. I'm going to do something that is only a benefit for the short or long-term or both. What helps me to be in that position is the talent we currently have and the talent we have coming."

Couldn't have said it better myself.