New York Yankees

The story line on Yankee phenom, Jesus Montero, has been that he is a can’t miss major league hitter.  Before the 2010 season, he was listed by Baseball America as the No. 4 overall prospect in all of baseball.

But the down side to his story was that he might never be a major league catcher. 

Since 1995, the New York Yankees have been in the playoffs every year except one—2008.

As a result, the current generation of Yankee fans is spoiled. We, who are Yankee fans have lived the past 16 years watching players such as Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neil, Tino Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia, etc.

With the last two spots of the starting rotation still vacant, many wonder if top-pitching prospects Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances will be considered for the job. According to Cashman, that would be a no.

“Betances and Banuelos aren’t earning spots in the rotation out of spring training,” Cashman told the New York Daily News, “They’re going to get their first taste of big-league camp, then they’re going to get slotted into Trenton. They have no chance to make this team.”

For once Brian, I actually agree with you.

Earlier this spring, New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman insisted that Manny Banuelos, who won't turn 20 years old for another few days, had "no chance" to make the major league team out of spring training. 

Previously The Fantasy Fix reviewed and gave projections for the 2011 Yankees rotation. Now its time to dive in and analyze the Pinstripes positional players.

Mixed League Rotisserie Auction Values in Parentheses

CATCHER: Russell Martin ($7)

Yankees stud prospect Manny Banuelos may be just 19 years old, but his pitching arsenal already resembles that of a 10-year MLB veteran. Add to that a presence on the mound that screams “I belong here,” and the teenager has all the tools for superstardom.

The path to the major leagues for Jesus Montero, not to mention Austin Romine, just got a lot easier.

I've found, in my two-plus decades of baseball fandom, that the key to spring training coverage is to arm yourself with a ruthless filter.

The quicker you understand that 70 percent of news that comes out of camp is utter crap, the better off you'll be.

This isn't meant to be a dig on the beat writers on the scene—they're doing their job properly by and large, reporting on the minutiae of the day-to-day activities of each camp.

Ted Simmons ranks among the better offensive catchers in baseball history. Simmons appeared in 1,770 games as a catcher and in 40 games as an outfielder. He was the designated hitter 276 times and pinch-hit 216 times.

Over 21 seasons, Simmons hit .285, with a .348 on-base average and a .437 slugging average. If Simmons had been a solid defensive catcher, he would be in the Hall of Fame.

Gary Carter (lifetime .262/.335/.439) had some solid offensive seasons, but he also had some poor ones.

The New York Yankees are often accused of buying success. In fact, when other teams spend big money on star players, the Yankees' name will often be invoked.

However, the late George Steinbrenner and his New York Yankees don't get enough credit for the players who have come up through the farm system.