New York

There were conflicting reports this weekend that the New York Yankees were actually discussing whether or not they should bring in one-time Boston Red Sox villain and now free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez.

It was first reported on Thursday night, December 23, by YES Network’s Jack Curry that the Yankees were internally debating if they should sign Ramirez.

On Sunday, December 26, George A. King III of the New York Post reported that the Yankees do not have interest in Ramirez.

Every team is looking for the next breakout prospect that can join the team in the middle of the year and provide a spark to their lineup. Fantasy owners also look for these prospects who can lead their team to a championship.

Looking at this year's prospects, there appear to be a few players who can follow in the footsteps of Buster Posey and have an immediate impact for their Major League club.

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Future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez is still a free agent as of right now. He is going to be looking to find another team for the 2011 season, and the New York Yankees could be the right home for the 38-year-old slugger.

His hitting would benefit almost any team, and it's rumored that the Yankees could be after him.

Here are some reasons why Ramirez could or couldn't end up with the Yankees.

For the past two seasons, Derek Jeter has been leading off for the New York Yankees after spending many years in the two-hole.

At the beginning of 2009, Joe Girardi explained that Jeter was a "more pure" lead-off man than Johnny Damon. Speculation has it that it was also because Jeter frequently hits into double-plays.

Many Mets fans are expecting this to be a long season. However, there is one way that Mets management can make the year a lot more interesting: Hire former Montana Tech football coach Bob Green.

Yes, Bob Green has no experience coaching baseball. However, he would be perfectly fine as a bench coach.

Most readers have no idea as to why this suggestion would even make sense. I direct you to the video below.

Mickey Mantle matured on Aug. 14, 1960. The New York Yankees were embroiled in a tense pennant race with the defending American League champion Chicago White Sox and the upstart young Baltimore Orioles.

The Washington Senators were in Yankee Stadium for a doubleheader. The Yankees were in first place, but when the games had been completed, they were a third-place team.

The New York Yankees relied on the right arm of Luis Vizcaino as their bridge to Mariano Rivera in 2007.

The Yankees acquired him in the deal that also brought along Randy Johnson for a short amount of time. Then they sent Vizcaino on his way and chose not to re-sign him when his contract expired.

Vizcaino's road in the Major Leagues was crazy afterwards. He signed with the Colorado Rockies only to be traded early on to the Chicago Cubs, who would release him in the same season.

The Yankees have been doing a lot of waiting this offseason. They waited for Cliff Lee to choose his team. They waited for Derek Jeter to accept their offer. Then they stayed put a while too long and lost out on Zach Greinke. Now they await a decision from Andy Pettitte as to whether or not he will pitch in 2011. 

He who hesitates is lost. Or, in my experience, he who sleeps in misses the bus.

The Yankees were looking good. The assumed front-runners to nab Cliff Lee, the Yankees somehow lost him to a late arrival to the party, the Philadelphia Phillies. Apparently, Lee decided on Philly because of the "fans and a great atmosphere" and also hinted that it may have been what his wife wanted.

Reliever Pedro Feliciano is staying put in New York, but he will be sporting a different uniform.

The life-long Met is leaving Queens to bring his talents to the Yankees. 

Feliciano is a 34-year-old lefty who inked an $8 million, two-year contract with an option for a third, to come over to the Bronx. Fans get the reassurance that GM Brian Cashman is doing his job, as this is a huge boost to counterpart Boone Logan in the bullpen.