WHY THE "YANKEES CAN'T DEVELOP HOMEGROWN TALENT" ARGUMENT IS BOGUS

This is something that has gotten me fed me up for years, and because I've been given the opportunity to write for BYB, I can express my displeasures. Whether it's people I've talked to in person or on the Internet, who happen to not be Yankee fans, I've been told for the longest time that the Yankees cannot develop their own talent. This narrative must come to an end at once. People need to do their homework regarding this issue, and it's obvious.

First, take a look at all the homegrown talent that will be on the Yankees' major league roster next season...

Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, Ivan Nova, Jesus Montero, David Robertson, Hector Noesi, Eduardo Nunez, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain.That's 11 right there (10 if you exclude Joba, who'll probably be back by mid-June. Read WHY JOBA WILL BE A FORCE TO BE A FORCE TO RECON WITH. But that total is still very impressive for a team that "buys" all its players. And of course that list doesn't include Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Bernie Williams, who hasn't played since 2006, all of which were homegrown.

Let's not forget some of the homegrown talent the Yankees have had to trade away to get talent from other teams over the recent years. Take a look...
First Javier Vazquez trade- Dec. 2003: Yankees traded Nick Johnson, Juan Rivera, and Randy Choate to Montreal Expos.

Alex Rodriguez trade- Feb. 2004: Yankees traded Alfonso Soriano and player to be named later (Joaquin Arias) to Texas Rangers.

Jonathan Albaladejo trade- Dec. 2007: Yankees traded Tyler Clippard to Washington Nationals.
(In Photo: Xavier Nady)
Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte trade- July 2008: Yankees traded Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen, and Jeff Karstans to Pittsburgh Pirates.

Second Javier Vazquez trade (includes Boone Logan)- Dec. 2009: Yankees traded Melky Cabrera, Arodys Vizcaino, and Michael Dunn to Atlanta Braves.

Curtis Granderson trade- Dec. 2009: Yankees traded Ian Kennedy to Arizona Diamondbacks, Austin Jackson and Phil Coke to Detroit Tigers.

You know, it's not just the homegrown talent that is currently in the majors that counts. It's also the potential gold in the minors. Take a look at just some of the talent down on the farm for the Yankees...

AAA:C. Austin Romine
3B/1B. Brandon Laird
SP. Manny Banuelos
SP. Dellin Betances
SP. Adam Warren
SP. David Phelps

AA:(In Photo: Corban Joseph)
2B. Corban Joseph
RP. Chase Whitley
RP. Pat Venditte

A/A-:
C. Gary Sanchez
C. JR Murphy(In Photo: Slade Heathcott)
OF. Slade Heathcott
SP. Brett Marshall
SP. Jose Ramirez

Short Season/Gulf Coast League:(In Photo: Isaias Tejada)
C. Isaias Tejada
OF. Mason Williams
OF. Ravel Santana
SS. Cito Culver
3B. Dante Bichette Jr
3B/1B. Tyler Austin
2B/SS. Claudio Custodio
SP. Bryan Mitchell
RP. Mark Montgomery

Of course it's not a guarantee that everyone, or even any, of these prospects reach their full potential. But it is clear that the Yankees do have a farm system chalked full of talent, to go along with the homegrown talent already in the Bigs. Yes, I know the Yankees "buy" a lot of their players, but that doesn't mean their farm system is thin. Heck, even Baseball America had their farm system ranked number five last March, and with none of that talent being traded away (thus far), I expect the Yankees farm to be right near the top once again in 2012.




--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer




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