Mo and Soriano would also be off the books by then and Jeter would be the following year so they do have a lot of space opening up.

It's not about next year. They're trying to get the payroll to 189 by 2014.

Uhh Ummm (waiving hands here) what exactly are you predicting the starting rotation will be next year?

Did Pettite say that he was returning next year? Right now I see Sabathia, Nova, Hughes, and maybe Pineda if they successfully reattach his arm from the amputation.

The payroll cut is for 2014 - not next year.

There is an increased belief that Soriano will opt out after this season and go after a longer deal as a result of him being the full time closer this season for a winning club. If that is the case, it will open up a good amount of money to use for other purposes.

Well he wasn't wrong in the sense that there's one more season to work with.

I'm not sure how "good" of a start it is; I merely based it on those players who are on contract to be with the team next year.

I would love to see Kuroda back for 1 more year. Next year's rotation: CC, Kuroda, Nova, Hughes, Pineda, and have Banuelos, Phelps ready in the wings if needed..

The Yankees don't have a dominant pitcher in the rotation. Someone you can look forward to giving you a great outing. Sabathia is the closest there is, and it just seems like he labors in each of his outings.

I'll give you all of them except Banuelos. He's been hurt for nearly all of the first half of the season in the minors this year, and all of a sudden the Yankees are going to throw the dice on a young kid who still has yet to fully prove himself in AAA?