Besides keeping their players that they had during the 2011 season, the Yankees have done absolutely nothing. Brian Cashman has been too conservative during the offseason and it's beginning to annoy Yankees fans. Before the 2011 offseason, Cashman said that he needed starting pitching. Christmas is on Sunday and Cashman has yet to do a single thing. All of the good pitchers that were on the market are now gone. During the Winter Meetings, C.J Wilson was signed to the Angels and Mark Buerhle was signed to the Marlins. The Yankees also missed their chance with John Danks who they could have traded for. He signed a 5 year, $65 Million deal with the White Sox. The Yankees chances of getting starting pitching are looking slim but there are still a few things that they could do in order to get pitching.

1. Trade for Gio Gonzalez: I know that this has been mentioned time and time again, but the Yankees and the A's both have something that the other team wants. The Yankees have offense and the A's have pitching, so it would make sense for the swap. If Cashman wants Gonzalez then he needs to make a good trade. A's GM Billy Beane said that he wanted Banuelos, Betances & Montero for Gonzalez but Cashman quickly said no. Cashman might want to think over who he would want to trade because Gio is not going to sit there forever. Betances would be okay to trade, along with some kids in the minors like Austin Romine, Adam Warren or David Phelps. Also they could throw in Eduardo Nunez if they get Nakajima (the kid  from Japan that the Yankees won the rights to negotiate a contract with). 

2. Trade for Cole Hamels: Cole Hamels becomes a free agent after the 2012 season and I think that he would fit nicely in the rotation if the Yankees could trade for him this year (plus, Hamels wants the big bucks). Hamels could fit in the rotation with CC, Nova, Garcia, & Burnett and it could go to being one of the best rotations out there in the AL if Nova can have a rookie year repeat, if Garcia can remain consistent and if (and this is a BIG if) Burnett can pitch well and not have a 5.00 ERA fr the whole season. Hamels is younger than some of the FA out there like his former teammate Roy Oswalt for instance. Cole also has better numbers than C.J Wilson which could make him a good #2 starter if the Yanks can pull off a trade. The Yankees again can give Nunez if they are able to sign Nakajima & Jesus Montero since the Phillies desperately need offense. All of their guys are getting old, let's face it and while Ryan Howard can hit the ball well he strikes out like twice a game. 

If Brian Cashman can't do one of the two things to get starting pitching, then the 2012 squad is going to look a lot like the 2011 squad during Spring Training (plus Jesus Montero which I don't mind at all.) But seriously Cashman, not doing much to help the Yankees especially during the Holiday season is not a very good gift. Can Gio Gonzalez be under the Yankees Christmas tree on Sunday?