Almost Certainly gone: Scott Proctor, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Austin Romine or Francisco Cervelli, Greg Golson, Chris Dickerson, Jorge Posada.
I don't think I need to tell you why Proctor wont be on the 40 man next year, but if you havent seen hes washed up and I would seriously doubt that he will get anything but a minor league deal from anybody. Colon and Garcia have both been really good for the Yankees this year and while its possible the Yankees will keep one of them I seriously doubt the Yankees will keep either one. Garcia is a type B free agent and he could do what Javy Vazquez did for the Yankees last year and just decline arbitration as a formality, but he is the most likely to be retained but they only would if they have completely lost faith in Hughes or Burnett. Romine wasn't supposed to even be on the 40 man but with the injury to Cervelli he has come up after playing almost the entire season in AA Trenton and as the scouting report said his glove is ready and his bat isn't. One of these two is likely to be traded and its more likely going to be Cervelli for the obvious reason that he has been playing significantly in the last three seasons and could definitely be a good starting catcher for a lot of teams. On top of that The Yankees have tried to trade him twice, once to the dodgers and then in July to the pirates. If the Yankees are so not confident in Montero behind the plate that they carry three catchers next season Romine will likely be dealt. Posada isn't coming back, I hope he retires but he might be able to find a job backing up for the Astros or something. Dickerson and Golson are both on the 40 man and with Justin Maxwell who is on the 60 day DL they are out of options and will likely sign with a team that could actually use them. Dickerson has the best shot of making the club as a Lefty 5th outfielder, but I somewhat doubt that the Yankees will carry 5 outfielders after going almost all year with barely needing four.
Could lose their spot: Aaron Laffey, Reggie Corona, Kevin Whelan, Colin Curtis, Raul Valdes
Let me start off by saying that Laffey's case is less likely a losing your spot case and more like a might actually keep his spot, due to his being a lefty and decent pitching this year. He could end up making the club next season or put in AAA if they sign a $4 Million LOOGY. Lefty depth is good and Laffey could provide good depth. The same goes for Valdes. I really don't know what to think for Kevin Whelan because he's been excellent in AAA and he had two appearances back in July, but he isn't with the Club now and that doesn't make any sense to me because I would much rather see Whelan take some innings rather than Proctor. However if the Yankees were going to kick him off the 40 man wouldn't they have done it by now? Even if he was hurt they could just put him on the DL, but he hasn't done anything since the minor league season ended, its just kind of weird.Corona hasn't been healthy all year and hes not likely to get picked up in the Rule 5 so there is a good chance that the Yankees take his 40 man spot away. The reason why Colin Curtis has a 40 man spot is because he's a left handed bat but he's been hurt all year and while I doubt he will lose his spot I also didn't think Kevin Russo would lose his. Both Dickerson and Maxwell are better in the field and hitters than Curtis but they are both out of options and would likely sign with a major league team.
The Yankees have five players that are Rule 5 draft eligible and therefore need to be added to the 40 man roster to be protected. Jeremy Bleich, David Adams, D.J. Mitchell, David Phelps and Pat Venditte are all Rule 5 eligible and all but Adams are pitchers. The advantage that the Yankees have is that only Mitchell and Phelps are in AAA and would have any shot at sticking with a club, therefore they will be the only two added to the 40 man.
David Adams was the piece that broke the Cliff Lee deal and his injury stopped that trade and he still isn't healthy so he is not likely to be selected. The guy is very talented but has only played 68 games in the last two years. Jeremy Bleich is a Lefty Starter who hasn't stayed healthy and has a 4.79 ERA in AA so no chance he is selected. Pat Venditte is the notorious Switch pitcher and honestly I think he will get selected but I doubt that he will stick with a club after Spring training or he wont last the full year on the 25 man. The guy has had a decent year in AA, but it is AA and I dont even know if the Yankees would bump him up to AAA in 2012. However even if he makes a club and stays, he isnt a good enough prospect for the Yankees to really care about.
D.J. Mitchell and David Phelps have both had good years at AAA Scranton and Phelps would be on the 40-man if the club hadn't decided to sign Brian Gordon to make a pair of starts instead. Mitchell isnt given a lot of credit but he has actually had the best year of any AAA Scranton Starter in terms of ERA, but his FIP was 3.96 compared to his 3.18 ERA and batters are hitting .263 off him. He may end up being a reliever long term but somebody would definitely pick him up if hes left unprotected and the Yankees will have to add him to the 40 man, but he could be packaged with Romine for a Trade. David Phelps is going to get added and he will likely be the guy the Yankees call if a starter goes down, which as the Red Sox found out is always a possibility. Phelps numbers are good and they probably would be better if he hadn't gotten hurt, but he will be looking to get a lot of innings under his belt next season. One of Mitchell or Phelps is likely to be traded because if they aren't the Scranton Yankees will have 6 starters so somebody's either going to get traded, moved to the bullpen or start the season on the real Yankees and these two and Noesi are the most likely.
Also if Utility man Kevin Russo is not added back then he could be picked but honestly I doubt the Yankees care enough to add him or else they would not have taken him off.
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