New York Yankees

After finishing in second place last season and not adding another world championship to their collection, the popular thought was that the Yankees would reload over the offseason. All signs pointed toward yes during their pursuit of Cliff Lee, but as it turns out, money really ISN’T everything to some people.

The New York Yankees franchise has boasted some of the greatest players of all time. Players like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth and Thurman Munson have been clad in pinstripes and left their mark on our nation's pastime.

Creating a list of the top defensive studs who called the Bronx their home is far from an easy task. This team has such a rich history that the list could incorporate over 100 players, and that might not even be enough. 

It happens every year.

Minor league players, sometimes as young as 18, are hyped up to be the "next big thing" in baseball. 

As fans and fantasy baseball participants, we either watch these young talents blow up and become stars or unfortunately bear witness to them being thrown into the fire.

The news for the Yankees this offseason has been generally negative. Missing out on Cliff Lee, the Derek Jeter contract debacle and Andy Pettitte retiring. Add a peppering of has-been players, and the Yankee Universe isn't looking as rock-solid as it has in the past.  

There are a few questions, both big and small, for the Yankees heading into spring training. 

Begin Slideshow

The New York Yankees recently signed 37-year-old Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract. The former 2005 Cy Young Award winner, Colon has not pitched since 2009, but is determined to make a comeback in the Bronx.

Obviously, this was not what the Yankees were looking for when they set out to find free agent pitching help (see Lee, Cliff). 

Colon, however, is not the only player in the MLB this year who's better days have passed by him. With that, here are the 20 most washed up players in baseball for the 2011 season.

He's young, athletic, has a cannon for an arm and makes the game look easy. He has one of the sweetest-looking swings in the game and is as sure-handed a defender as they come.

It's time to show Robinson Cano some love.

For the past several years, Cano has been cementing himself as one of the elite second basemen in the league. Cano sports a lifetime .309/.347/.489 slash line in six seasons in the major leagues.

With the retirement of Andy Pettitte, the New York Yankees' fabled "Core Four" is now a "Core Three," which isn't nearly as catchy.

The Yankees locked up shortstop Derek Jeter for another four years and closer Mariano Rivera for another two, but Jorge Posada, who will serve as the team's primary DH this season as the Yankees move him away from full-time catching duties, is likely entering his final season with the team.

By this time next year, the Yankees could be down to a "Core Two" of Rivera and Jeter.

This slideshow is going to run through the top 10 pitchers the Yankees should be looking at right now.  You will see, though, that some of these guys could be long shots.  The Yankees do need to look at some pitchers right now because of the absence of Andy Pettitte, who officially announced his retirement last Friday.  This creates a huge void, as the team needs someone outside CC who could become a surefire ace.

Begin Slideshow

Via Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:

This just in: the Red Sox have signed Alfredo Aceves to a Major League deal.

This stings.

Via Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram:

[Michael Young] is willing to be traded to eight teams, according to a source: St. Louis, Minnesota, Houston, Colorado, San Diego, the New York Yankees and both teams in Los Angeles.