Over on Baseball Prospectus.com, Kevin Goldstein runs down the seasons of top Yankee pitching prospects. Some excerpted highlights:
Andrew Brackman: . . . key to his breakout was more consistent mechanics . . the 92-96 mph heat suddenly showed up every time out . . . breaking ball now a big power breaker that gives him a second plus pitch.
Dellin Bentances: 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds . . . stuff is even better (than 6′ 10″ Brackman), with 1-2 mph more on his fastball, an equally solid curveball and even better command.
Manny Banuelos: 19 . . . at Double-A this year, had a 2.51 ERA, struck out 85 in 64 2/3 innings . . . his velocity went from the low 90s to consistently sitting at 92-95 mph, while his curveball became a more consistent offering with sharp break and his changeup remained the plus pitch it always has been.
The Yankees had a lot of pitching prospects make big jumps, but none to elite status. Still, they are plenty deep, which means they should be able to fill out the backend of the rotarion as well as make trades when needed.
[1] One would hope that without the overbearing demand for immediate results after the transitioning of ownership to a new generation, these guys would have much more realistic expectations to develop inside the organization and through their first few years on the major league level; the only reason to make a trade being a need to fill a hole left by a catastrophic occurrence involving a starter or to obtain a virtually can't-lose option like Cliff Lee.
One thing I can't stand is the constant misrepresentation of the failure to obtain Lee; as if the Yankees failed to do enough and got outmaneuvered by the Mariners. First, the Yanks were dealing from a position of strength in that at the time, they wanted Lee for insurance purposes (the need came weeks after the trade deadline); secondly they were willing to trade their best prospect, who was and continued to be far more productive than the option the Rangers chose. So, unless the Yanks wanted to unnecessarily chop off a limb to acquire one they didn't need, it was not really their fault that the Rangers chose a lesser trade option. But haters will see and believe what they want to, so whatever.