There are a few questions in the New York Yankee lineup for 2011, but there are also many mainstays that have been in the mix for a while and will help guide this version of the Bronx Bombers.

The Yankees acquired quite an array of veterans during the off-season that will all try to make the roster during Spring Training during the month of March. Those off-season signees are:

OF/DH Andruw Jones (
RHP Rafael Soriano (Atlanta)
RHP Freddy Garcia (
RHP Bartolo Colon
INF Eric Chavez
RHP Mark Prior
C     Russell Martin

The starting pitching rotation has questions at the No. 4 and No. 5 slots. As of the beginning of Spring Training, Ivan Nova is the #4 and Sergio Mitre is the #5 starter. With the retirement of longtime left-handed hurler Andy Petitte, the Steinbrenner's knew that they had to bring in more than one player to replace Petitte as a player and locker room figure. Acquiring pitchers like Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon and Mark Prior will hopefully take some of those worries away for newly signed pitching coach Larry Rothschild, who spent recent seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

Rotation:
1- C.C. Sabathia
2- Phil Hughes
3- A.J. Burnett
4- Freddy Garcia (or Ivan Nova)
5- Sergio Mitre

The Yankee bullpen is really where the question lies. Mariano Rivera is still the Yankees closer, entering his 17th season in the big leagues. He does have a new setup man in Rafael Soriano that was signed from Atlanta. Demaso Marte gives them a left hand in the bullpen. RHP Joba Chamberlain has become a fixture in the Yankee pen the past few seasons. They also will probably have the options of using RHPs Bartolo Colon and Mark Prior to give them some veteran arms.

Starting lineup:
C    Russell Martin
1B  Mark Texeira
2B Robinson Cano
3B Alex Rodriguez
SS Derek Jeter
LF Brett Gardner
CF Curtis Granderson
RF Nick Swisher
DH Jorge Posada

As it appears, the Yankees have what it takes to win the American League East, on paper that is, but will their pitching hold up to what they can be capable of? Time will only tell. There are 28 days (March 31) until Opening Day for the Yankees when they host the Detroit Tigers the first weekend of the regular season.

STAY TUNED FOR A PREVIEW OF THE TAMPA BAY RAYS...