In other words, there is not a lot of attractive options now. So do the Yankees try to plug with what they have plus add an innings-eating free agent such as Kevin Millwood or a reclamation project such as Brad Penny and wait for the trade deadline. Remember that three high-end starters — Lee, Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren — were moved last July. One reason the Yankees feel good about the immediate future is that they are blessed with a strong farm system, specifically in starting pitching at the Double- and Triple-A levels. Can that help them weather an early storm and improve in July?

“They have some internal candidates to look at,” an NL personnel man said. “Whether they see how they perform or use them as currency in season, they are rich in that area. Right now, Brian Cashman’s got a good team, even more money than usual because they didn’t sign Lee, and very good prospects. Next time a big prize becomes available, I expect the Yankees will be front and center.”

Who will that midseason prize be? It is as tough to see now as Lee, Oswalt and Haren becoming available at this time last year. Could Seattle change its mind on Hernandez? Could the Cardinals need to clear out money for free-agent-to-be Albert Pujols and deal Chris Carpenter? Heck, maybe Johan Santana gets healthy and new Mets GM Sandy Alderson decides that the two years at $55 million guaranteed beyond the 2011 campaign need to be removed.

First, let’s dispose of the latter two. The Cardinals are a perennial contender, and with the Reds losing Aaron Harang and the Brew crew acquiring Grienke things figure to be tight in the NL Central again next year. I can’t see the Cards dealing off Carpenter even if they had a stud in the minors waiting to take his place, and they don’t. Lance Lynn had an uninspiring 2010 campaign in AAA and Shelby Miller is 19 years old and played in A-Ball last year. You’d have to give them MLB ready pitching in return, and that’s tough to do for a 37 year old rental. Johan Santana is coming off shoulder surgery, has been losing velocity for years, and the Yanks and Mets will N-E-V-E-R make a trade of that significance, ever.  Seattle could find themselves in the cellar again next season, they appear to be building from within and have done little to improve upon the games worst offense last year. But all indications are they have no intentions whatsoever of dealing King Felix, now or in the future. There’s no question the Yanks will have the payroll flexibility and trade chips to be players for anyone in the game who becomes available, but Joel’s three suggestions all seem highly unlikely to me.

The next thing to do is look at next year free agent list for potential trade targets. But the problem is next year’s class is similar to this year’s version, minus a Cliff Lee. Here’s the list:

Starting pitchers
Mark Buehrle (33)
Chris Carpenter (37) – $15MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Aaron Cook (33) – $11MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Kyle Davies (28)
Ryan Dempster (35) – $14MM player option
Zach Duke (29) – mutual option
Jon Garland (32) – vesting option
Aaron Harang (34) – mutual option
Rich Harden (30)
Livan Hernandez (37)
Edwin Jackson (28)
Kenshin Kawakami (37)
Scott Kazmir (28) – $13.5MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Hiroki Kuroda (37)
Paul Maholm (30) – $9.75MM club option with a $750K buyout
Jason Marquis (33)
Gil Meche (33)
Sergio Mitre (31)
Scott Olsen (28) – $4MM club option
Roy Oswalt (34) – $16MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Vicente Padilla (34)
Oliver Perez (30)
Joel Pineiro (33)
Wandy Rodriguez (33)
C.C. Sabathia (31) – may opt out of remaining four years, $92MM
Carlos Silva (33) – $12MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Javier Vazquez (35)
Adam Wainwright (30) – $10MM vesting option for ’12, $12MM for ’13
Tim Wakefield (45)
Chien-Ming Wang (32)
C.J. Wilson (31)

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As you can see, there’s no clear head of the class to target if that team falls out of the pennant race. You could say Roy Oswalt is the best pitcher available, but does anyone actually believe the Phillies are going to be in sell mode next July? As things stand today, it would appear that when Brian Cashman preaches “patience” it applies to players like Hector Noesi, Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman. We may be an injury or two away from seeing just how patient Yankee fans are willing to be.