Burning Fantasy Baseball Questions: New York Yankees

February 7, 2012 @ 11:35:51

By Tim Heaney
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

KFFL answers important fantasy baseball questions for each Major League Baseball team as spring training approaches. What must fantasy baseball players know about the New York Yankees?

What do the Pinstripes offer Michael Pineda?

Burnett: a worthy No. 5?

Besides the slimming effect? Lord Zola's Roundtable assessed the cross-country move. Pineda has the dominance to overcome a tougher division, but the rate of aerial shots against the 23-year-old stands out with his new home park, the 161st and River NASA launch station.

Expect mixed SP3 numbers. Buy his K/9. Brace for corrections elsewhere. His new digs might scare off your opponents enough that he could actually come at a bargain price, but blind optimism bred from "Last Year's Results" syndrome will make him a less desirable pursuit in many rooms.

How will the fifth-starter battle shake out?

In camp, Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett and Freddy Garcia will battle to occupy the caboose that caps the CC Sabathia-Hiroki Kuroda-Michael Pineda-Ivan Nova train. With the run support that can benefit a Yankees rotation member, the three-car race deserves examination.

Hughes put on some pounds following his 18-win 2010 and experienced a painful statistical ballooning last year. Thanks in part to his innings increase, his four-seamer's velo dropped; its path has been rather straight throughout his disappointing career. His bullpen experience might sway New York's decision at some point. However, if he can make the most of his slenderer physique and, perhaps, employ his cutter as effectively as he did during his bullpen-heavy '09, he'll earn another chance to start.

Though Burnett was coddled with extra rest during his late-season rotation performance, he seemed to figure out his approach. Consistency, however, must blend with his infrequent brilliance. His albatross of a contract could force the Yanks to stick with him in the starting five just to extract something useful from him, but Burnett's blowup history will weigh heavily on the organization's decision, regardless of how optimistic they sound about him.

Garcia presents the safest option but won't repeat his 2011. The 35-year-old yields too many flies and can't power past hitters. He'd gobble frames, though, regardless of how ugly they are; that's worth something in cavernous roto circles.

Among this trio, Hughes holds the most attractive ceiling, which justifies a mixed league late-rounds stab. Burnett and Garcia, even if they win spots, should be reserved for mixed scrapheap picks and AL-only filler.

Of course, the April No. 5 doesn't deserve a season-long fantasy commitment. Two future quintet cogs, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances, will have to wait to stake their claim until the summer barring a superlative spring. If and when one of them takes over the spot, he'd be worth an immediate deep mixed pickup.

AL East Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays	AL Central Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins	AL West Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers
NL East Atlanta Braves Miami Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals	NL Central Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals	NL West Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants

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Tim Heaney

Since the Boston University alum joined KFFL in 2006, his work has been featured by USA Today/Sports Weekly and Yahoo! Sports, among numerous publications.

Tim competes in Tout Wars and LABR and appears every Wednesday on 1570 AM WNST in Baltimore, as well as frequently on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Follow him on Twitter.

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