The big question is, “Are the Yankees serious about wanting to make a run at a World Championship this season?”. If they do, retreads like Freddie Garcia, Mark Prior and Fatolo Colon aren’t going to get them there. Right now it’s the Red Sox division to win, and frankly there are too many good teams in the AL right now who are more likely wild card candidates than the Yankees.

Before you jump on me about that last statement re: the wild card, stop and think about it. The AL East is hands down the toughest division in baseball right now, and come the stretch run that’s mostly divisional based, the teams are all going to beat up on one another while a team like the A’s, Twins, Rangers or White Sox will have a much easier path to the 95 or so wins needed to capture the wild card this year.

Honestly Yankee fans, who would you rather play the last six weeks of the season? Cleveland, Kansas City, Seattle, the Angels? or the Rays, O’s and Jays? Therein lies the problem with the Yankees thusfar apathetic stand about their starting rotation being “good enough”.

If I were Cashman would I trade either Banuelos or Betances for Edwin Jackson? How badly do I want to win it all? Mark Buerhle likely will be available too, as will Joe Blanton and I’m sure one or two other proven starters before the trade deadline as wannabe teams hopes start to fade. Prospects are just that after all… prospects. They haven’t proven anything yet at the big league level and can wash out just like Chamberlain and many top rated “can’t miss” prospects have before him.

Yankee fan, do you remember “can’t miss” prospect Brian Taylor? Case closed!

You want to give up Banuelos or Betances for Edwin Jackson?

You do realize there wasn’t a damn thing available this offseason, right? You realize the Yankees tried to sign Lee to an ENORMOUS contract, right? You’re just being funny? Oh, whew. Okay.

As a Red Sox fan, I wish you were right, but I think the Yanks are better run now than at any time in recent history.

I am a young guy, but I lived through a lot of “King George’s” Yankees. Freddy Garcia in his current condition would have been the ACE on most of the Yankees teams throughout the 80s and early 90s. Steinbrenner was always signing terrible over the hill pitchers or neglecting pitching completely. I think Jimmy Key in ’93 was the first decent starter in my lifetime- and he was the only above average starter on that team.

The Yankees had terrible pitching for a long time, years without even 1 decent starter. Compared to those times they have a wealth of pitching. The team was great in ’94 ( sorry to remind everyone of that lost season) again with Key the only decent starter.

In World Series era to present: in 1996- Pettitte was pretty good, almost everyone else was just around average. 3 regular starters had ERAs over 4.68, and Mendoza started 11 games at 6.74. 1997-Cone& Pettite, others below average w/ 4th starter 5.65. 98- was pretty good, 99- Cone very good, El Duque pretty good, everyone else average. 2000- Clemens, Pettite pretty good, El Duque average, everyone else terrible( 6.91,5.81!). Mussina came in 2001- so they had the guy who won the Cy Young along with the guy who was better and should have won, Pettitte was good, other guys slightly below average. When Wells came back in 2002 they had 6 above average starters. When Clemens and Mussina are 4th and 5th best starters, that’s a deep staff. 2003- Very Good 1-4, 5th sucked bad. 2004-2008: no more than 2 decent starters per season. 2008-Mussina only bright spot. 2009- CC, 3 slightly above average dudes, and a 5th by committee. Wang and Mitre started 9 games a piece with 9.64 and 6.79 ERAs.

So, in recent memory the Yankees have only really had a deep 5 man rotation ( with a 5th man or committee that was near average) in 2002. They had 4 really good starters in 2003, maybe 2009 and 1999. Most of those years, including WS winning seasons they either had 2-3 good starters and a couple below average ones or 1 good starter and everyone else just decent, if that. They didn’t even have a 5th starter in 2009 ( WS).

Freddie’s a warm weather pitcher who never can get up for exhibition games or second division opponents, something that needs to be factored in when making the final roster cuts. If Freddie still has enough gas left in the tank to consistently provide quality starts against division rivals Tampa Bay and Boston, then he should make the cut. If though management just doesn’t see it, then it’s time for Freddie to hit the road, Jack!

Hell, the Yankees won’t even give Millwood a major league contract, and unlike Fatolo and Freddie is still a better proven innings eating veteran starter.

Cashman is a liar too; a few weeks ago he said that there aren’t any proven veteran starters out there to be had, but that’s simply not true. The White Sox for one would part with Edwin Jackson for a top pitching prospect and a mid-level pitching prospect, as the White Sox could then simply move Chris Sale into the starting rotation. Hank and Hal though apparently don’t want Jackson’s $8.5M contract and would rather go on the cheap.

You can’t convince me either the Phillies wouldn’t jump at the chance to trade Joe Blanton and his equally big contract (although he has 2 more years on his deal whereas Jackson only has one), for the right package of prospects either.

We saw Freddie’s remaining ceiling last season, and he ran out of gas in mid-August. Humber on the other hand still has a high ceiling.