By John Manuel
January 4, 2012



Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2011.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Jesus Montero, c 2. Manny Banuelos, lhp 3. Dellin Betances, rhp 4. Gary Sanchez, c 5. Mason Williams, of 6. Dante Bichette, 3b 7. Ravel Santana, of 8. Austin Romine, c 9. J.R. Murphy, c/3b 10. Slade Heathcott, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Jesus Montero Best Power Hitter Jesus Montero Best Strike Zone Discipline Ramon Flores Fastest Baserunner Mason Williams Best Athlete Mason Williams Best Fastball Dellin Betances Best Curveball Dellin Betances Best Slider Mark Montgomery Best Changup Manny Banuelos Best Control Nik Turley Best Defensive Catcher Austin Romine Best Defensive Infielder Cito Culver Best Infield Arm Cito Culver Best Defensive OF Mason Williams Best Outfield Arm Ravel Santana

PROJECTED 2015 LINEUP

Catcher Austin Romine First Base Mark Teixeira Second Base Robinson Cano Third Base Alex Rodriguez Shortstop Eduardo Nunez Left Field Brett Gardner Center Field Mason Williams Right Field Curtis Granderson Designated Hitter Jesus Montero No. 1 Starter CC Sabathia No. 2 Starter Manny Banuelos No. 3 Starter Ivan Nova No. 4 Starter Dellin Betances No. 5 Starter Phil Hughes Closer David Robertson

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2011 Org 2002 Drew Henson, 3b Out of baseball 2003 Jose Contreras, rhp Phillies 2004 Dioner Navarro, c Dodgers 2005 Eric Duncan, 3b Cardinals 2006 Phil Hughes, rhp Yankees 2007 Phil Hughes, rhp Yankees 2008 Joba Chamberlain, rhp Yankees 2009 Austin Jackson, of Tigers 2010 Jesus Montero, c Yankees 2011 Jesus Montero, c Yankees

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2011 Org 2002 Brandon Weeden, rhp (2nd round) Out of baseball 2003 Eric Duncan, 3B Cardinals 2004 Phil Hughes, RHP Yankees 2005 C.J. Henry, SS Yankees 2006 Ian Kennedy, RHP Diamondbacks 2007 Andrew Brackman, RHP Reds 2008 Gerrit Cole, RHP Pirates 2009 Slade Heathcott, OF Yankees 2010 Cito Culver, SS Yankees 2011 Dante Bichette, OF Yankees

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Hideki Irabu, 1997 $8,500,000 Jose Contreras, 2002 $6,000,000 Andrew Brackman, 2007 $3,350,000 Gary Sanchez, 2009 $3,000,000 Wily Mo Pena, 1999 $2,440,000

YANKEES LINKS

Yankees Team Page Yankees Top 10 Scouting Reports Last Year's Yankees Top 10 Prospects 2011 Draft: Yankees (Basic Database) 2011 Draft: Yankees (Advanced Database) 2011 Draft Report Cards: New York Yankees Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2012 Prospect Handbook

Since becoming general manager of the Yankees in 1998, Brian Cashman has overseen a franchise that has missed the playoffs only once while winning 100 games six times and earning four World Series championships. Yet it's impossible to evaluate Cashman's tenure or the team's success without acknowledging its financial advantages.

New York ranked second in major league payroll in 1998 and first every season since, spending $2.4 billion on players. It had $200 million-plus payrolls for the last seven consecutive seasons. When the Yankees don't sign a big-name free agent such as Cliff Lee—who spurned them for the Phillies last offseason—it's considered an upset.

New York's finances make it possible for it to owe 10 players a total of $167 million for 2012, from Curtis Granderson at $10 million to Alex Rodriguez at $29 million. But even the Yankees need low-cost players to supplement those eight-figure big leaguers. Minor league guru Mark Newman, pro scouting director Billy Eppler and scouting director Damon Oppenheimer have done their part to provide supplemental talent.

In 2011, New York's best rookies were products of its Latin American program. Ivan Nova's 16 wins led all big league rookies, while Eduardo Nunez started a total of 81 games at four different positions. Top prospect Jesus Montero made a quick impact in September and positioned himself for a full-time role in 2012 as a DH and part-time catcher.

The big league roster included key pro scouting pickups Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in the rotation and Cory Wade in the bullpen. Oppenheimer draftees Brett Gardner, Ian Kennedy (with the Diamondbacks after being used in a December 2009 trade for Granderson) and David Robertson enjoyed all-star-caliber seasons. The latter two are part of a productive 2006 Yankees draft class that has sent 10 players to the majors.

New York has more on the way, starting with Montero, righthander Dellin Betances (another 2006 draftee) and Mexican lefty Manny Banuelos. Montero might not catch for many organizations, but he still might for the Yankees, who look more for offense from their backstops. With few attractive pitching options on the free-agent market, New York could turn to Banuelos or Betances in 2012.

They both reached Scranton/Wilkes-Barre toward the end of the 2011 season, becoming part of a Triple-A rotation that got 120 starts from homegrown pitchers. At the other end of the spectrum, Yankees affiliates won championships in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast and short-season New York-Penn leagues.

It wasn't all great news for New York on the player-development front. Righthander Andrew Brackman, a 2007 first-round pick who collected nearly $6 million on the big league deal he signed without reaching the majors, didn't have his $2.2 million option for 2012 picked up after a terrible season. He contemplated quitting baseball and has gone 15-29, 5.11 as a pro.

Outside of Banuelos, the Yankees continue to struggle to develop lefties. Even with the success at the lower levels, the system's domestic clubs struggled to reach .500.

But on Cashman's watch, New York has been the majors' most consistent winner and produced its share of homegrown talent. As the GM begins a new three-year contract, it's easy to say that he has earned it.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)

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