Bold Predictions for Each of New York Yankees Top-10 Prospects in 2012

While the New York Yankees have struggled to improve their weaknesses at starting pitcher, they have maintained the strong farm system that has been developed over the past few seasons.

If their lack of success in the trade market continues, the Yanks might find themselves depending on some of their young, up-and-comers in 2012.

Some will make it to the majors to help the big-league club, while others will look to rise through the ranks en route to the big show.

Here are some bold (and not so bold) predictions for the Bombers' top-10 prospects in 2012.

Jesus Montero

1. 2012 Statistics: 30 HR, 103 RBI, .313 AVG, .407 OBP

2. Jesus Montero is one of the best young players in baseball with a very bright future. He began to prove his hype at the plate in a short, 18-game showing in 2011.

With a shot at a full season in 2012, Montero will prove he was worth holding on to and not trading away for just any starting pitcher. When the regular season is all said and done, Montero will end up as the unanimous Rookie of the Year.

3. Alex Rodriguez will once again prove unreliable and will spend a lot of time on the disabled list, leaving the future of his health in doubt. This will further increase Montero's value on the team offensively and will make him impossible to trade for whatever deal may come across Brian Cashman's desk.

Eduardo Nunez

1. At some point during the season, Eduardo Nunez will be thrust into an extremely important role when either Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, or both, go down to injury.

2. In what will be the boldest prediction I make in this entire piece, Nunez will see a vast improvement in his defense with more time in the field.

3. Nunez will improve on his .265 average and raise it all the way up to .300. Along with a now solid glove, Nunez will become of vital necessity to the Yanks and won't be trade bait for New York. He will be either the shortstop or third baseman of the future for years to come.

4. 2012 Statistics: 10 HR, 57 RBI, .303 AVG, 30 SB

Austin Romine

1. Austin Romine hasn't been known for his offense like the other top catching prospects the Yankees have, so that would make him a perfect candidate for the reserve catcher role.

Romine will make the team out of spring training as one of three catchers the Yanks carry on their roster. Montero will find himself trying to find another position to play after proving unreliable behind the plate.

2. Although he's great defensively, Romine will always be overshadowed by other top prospects such as Montero and Sanchez. That being said, Romine will become expendable because of the bright future the Yanks have behind the plate.

Romine will finish the 2012 season with a different organization and see limited playing time. He will be packaged, along with Manny Banuelos, for another starting pitcher.

3. 2012 Statistics: 3 HR, 29 RBI, .261 AVG

Hector Noesi

1. Hector Noesi will have a chance to make the Yankees' starting rotation out of spring training and will do so, beating out Freddy Garcia for the fifth slot in the Yanks' rotation.

2. The leash will be short and Noesi will flounder, sending him to the sixth inning/long reliever role out of the Yanks' bullpen. He will flourish there, and ultimately, Noesi will become an important part of New York's bullpen for the next few seasons.

3. 2012 Statistics: 8-12, 4.12 ERA.

Dellin Betances

1. Dellin Betances will not be with the Yankees after spring training and instead, will start the season in Triple-A.

2. After lighting it up in the minors, Betances will be slotted into the Yankees' rotation, whether it's because of injury or ineffectiveness with one of the Bombers' current starters.

He will remain in the rotation until the end of the regular season or until he reaches his innings limit. Betances will be primed to be a regular in the Yanks' rotation come 2013.

3. 2012 Statistics: 8-3, 3.27 ERA in 13 starts

Brandon Laird

1. Brandon Laird will have a chance to make the Yanks big-league club out of spring training in 2012.

2. He will fail to make the roster and will start the season in Triple-A seeing as how he will be outdone by the Yanks' other utility infielder, Nunez. Laird will remain as an emergency call-up if the Yanks need a replacement and at best, will be a utility infielder the next few seasons.

3. 2012 Statistics: 4 HR, 16 RBI, .253 AVG

Manny Banuelos

1. Like Betances, Manny Banuelos will try out for a spot on the Yankees' 25-man roster to start the season, but instead, will begin 2012 in Triple-A.

2. Banuelos will be packaged in a deal for a starting pitcher during the season. It might not be the Felix Hernandez the Yanks are looking for, but if they want that kind of quality in return, Banuelos will have to be packaged with more.

3. 2012 Triple-A Statistics: 10-3, 2.20 ERA

Gary Sanchez

1. After a stellar season offensively in 2011, Gary Sanchez will begin the 2012 campaign one level higher, in Double-A.

From there, he will continue to have a strong showing in all aspects of the game and will be moved up to Triple-A near the end of the year. That could instantly make Sanchez a candidate to join the big-league club in 2013 as a reserve at some point during the season.

2. Sanchez will raise his average 50 points from the lackluster .256 it was in Single-A last season. This will instantly make Sanchez one of the best young, up-and-coming catchers in all of Major League Baseball.

Other than that other guy they already have, of course.

3. 2012 Double- and Triple-A Statistics: 22 HR, 63 RBI, .306 AVG

Slade Heathcott

1. Slade Heathcott will begin the 2012 season one level up from last year in Double-A.

2. Heathcott will struggle in Double-A, ultimately putting up worse numbers than he did in 2011. It will stunt his progression and will stop him from moving up any further.

3. 2012 Double-A Statistics: 5 HR, 21 RBI, .243 AVG

Mason Williams

1. Mason Williams is one of the best prospects in the Yankees' farm system right now. He will begin the 2012 season in Single-A, where he showed he could certainly hang in 2011. After lighting it up there to start 2012, Williams will be moved up to Double-A.

He will finish the season ready for Triple-A.

2. After an incredible showing during the 2012 season, Williams will find himself with a chance to make the big-league club out of spring training in 2013 after the departure of soon-to-be free agent Nick Swisher.

3. 2012 Double-A Statistics: 5 HR, 39 RBI, .337 AVG, 31 SB