FAIR EXTENSIONS FOR CANO AND GRANDERSON

With the Yankees 2012 payroll at about $175 million, they still need to re-sign two marquee players, Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano, to contract extensions before they hit free agency after the 2013 season. The problem is that they need to keep the payroll at or below $189 million from 2014-2016 to avoid heavy luxury tax fees. However, there is a way in which they can re-sign Granderson and Cano and keep a trimmed payroll.

Granderson is set to make $10 million in 2012 and, assuming he has another year like last year, he will want more money.  His batting average was only .262, but he hit 41 home runs and led the American League in RBI and Runs scored. The Yankees should offer him a deal for five years at about $16 million per year, a $6 million raise from his 2012 salary. This brings the payroll up to $181 million.

Cano, who is a bit more valuable than Granderson based on his numbers, is set to make $14 million in 2012, and will also definitely want more money. He hit .302 with 28 home runs and 118 RBI, one behind Granderson, in 2011. My offer to Cano would be for eight years at $21 million per year. This deal would be almost identical to the one Matt Kemp signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this offseason.

Assuming both players agree, the payroll would jump to $188 million, which would leave them with only $1 million to spend. This would force them to let right fielder Nick Swisher walk when his contract ends after 2012. If they let Swisher go, they will free up $10.25 million and bring the payroll to $177.75 million.

Also, if Mariano Rivera retires after 2012, as he has said he may do, and Rafael Soriano activates his opt out clause, that will free up another $26  million, $15 million for Rivera and $11 million for Soriano.

BREAKOUT PLAYERS 2012: AL EAST

Although the American League East is known mostly for high-priced talent, 3 of the 5 teams have at least one prospect who has superstar potential and could make their mark in 2012. These prospects may be part of the reason why these teams have not made much noise on the free agent or trade markets. Here are 5 players in each AL East team who could have breakout years in 2012.


Baltimore Orioles, RP Jim Johnson: Though Johnson may be a little older than the average breakout  player, he really took off in 2011, and may become the Orioles' closer in 2012. In 2010, Johnson had a respectable ERA of 3.42, but opposing batters hit .296 against him. In 2011, he pitched to a 2.67 ERA and the opposition hit just .238. His WHIP was down from a high 1.41, to a very good 1.11.

Toronto Blue Jays, 3B Brett Lawrie: This one is obvious. The soon-to-be 22-year-old hit .293 with 9 home runs and 25 RBI in 43 games for Toronto in 2011. He seems like the type of player who could be a consistent 30-30 threat for years to come. It wouldn't be crazy to think that he could be an All Star as early as 2012.


Boston Red Sox, RP Mark Melancon: The former Yankees prospect did very well in the second half of 2011, as he posted an ERA of 2.43 and recorded 14 of his 20 saves for the Houston Astros. Now a member of the Red Sox, Melancon will most likely be a setup man because the NL West is not as star-studded as the AL East. Also, there is less pressure on a setup man as there is on a closer, and it is a good way to ease Melancon into the job of ultimately becoming the Red Sox Closer.


Tampa Bay Rays, SP Matt Moore: After a combined 12-3 season in Double-A and Triple-A, the hard-throwing lefty pitched only 9.1 innings for the Rays in September, but they still decided to start him in game 1 of the ALDS against Texas. Moore pitched 10 innings in the playoffs and allowed only 1 earned run. During the offseason, the Rays signed Moore to a 5-year, $14 million extension, which is a huge risk to take on a player who has only started 4 big league games, but if he pitches at all like he did in 2011, it'll be considered a bargain.

New York Yankees, C/DH Jesus Montero: For the last few years Jesus Montero has been considered by many to be one of baseball's elite prospects. He got called up in September, when he hit .328 with 4 home runs. He played so well in September that he has almost definitely locked up the Yankees' DH job, if he's not traded for a top pitcher.

   

MOST REALISTIC OPTIONS FOR YANKEES

The Yankees have made it pretty clear that they are okay with not making a big splash on the free agent or trade market, but it doesn't mean they won't do anything. The Yankees could really use a lefty reliever and a right handed power hitter. They also need at least one more good starter. Here are 5 more likely targets for the Yankees:

1. RP Mike Gonzalez: With Pedro Feliciano out for 2012, the Yankees need a lefty reliever to go along with Boone Logan. Mike Gonzalez' name that has been thrown around by the Yankees. Gonzalez posted a 4.39 ERA last season, but he improved mightily in the second half. His ERA was 2.86 and his batting average against was 1.71. This move makes sense as a lefty reliever is desperately needed against the Red Sox, and Gonzalez has done extremely well against the Sox lefty hitters. Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, and David Ortiz are a combined 3-23 lifetime against Gonzalez with 0 home runs.

2. SP Hiroki Kuroda: The Dodgers righty from Japan is as consistent as it gets. Though he went 13-16 in 2011, his ERA was 3.06.  The problem was that until recently he hasn't been open to anything but Los Angeles or a return to Japan. The Yankees had shown interest in the 37 year old at the 2011 trade deadline, and may try to make a run at him now.

3. SP John Danks: The White Sox, who have a surplus of starting pitching, seem to be willing to deal Danks and the Yankees are rumored to be interested in the lefty. Though Danks definitely had a disappointing year in 2011, he has good stuff. I would offer Eduardo Nunez and David Phelps.

4. SP Yu Darvish: The prized Japanese righty may be the only potential big splash the Yankees make this offseason. Darvish set a career high in strikeouts and his 1.44 ERA was just below half the Japanese league ERA. He won't come cheap though, as it may cost the Yankees a $50 million posting fee and another $50 million to sign him.

5. OF Yoenis Cespedes: The powerful Cuban outfielder who hit 33 home runs last season is said to want north of $50 million, but Foxsports is saying that the Yankees are among the most interested teams, along with Detroit and Miami