Will 2012 be the turning point in recent Yankees history, the year where the heroes of teams that have reached the postseason in 17 of the last 18 seasons fade into the past and force the franchise to forge a new identity?



Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera have been the two constants in New York, both making their major league debuts when the club started its playoff run in 1995. The two future first-ballot Hall of Famers have aged gracefully, maintaining high levels of play while remaining remarkably durable—until this past season.



Rivera tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in May while shagging balls during batting practice in Kansas City, costing him the rest of the season. Jeter fared better, leading the majors in hits for the second time and moved into 11th place on the all-time list. But he fractured his left ankle while trying to make a defensive play during the American League Championship Series, and the Tigers went on to sweep a listless Yankees club that looked very old.



While Jeter's career doesn't figure to be over, there's reason to wonder how well a 38-year-old shortstop will recover from such an injury. The same is true of Rivera, a pending free agent who'll be 43 when he tries to come back in 2013.



At best, Eduardo Nunez would be a short-term replacement for Jeter. Rafael Soriano filled in capably for Rivera, though he exercised the opt-out clause in his contract this offseason. The farm system isn't in position to provide any immediate help, as many of the Yankees' top prospects took a step backwards.



That was especially true of Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances, who entered the year as New York's best pitching prospects. Banuelos blew out his elbow and required Tommy John surgery, while Betances was bumped down to Double-A and is no longer counted on by the organization.



Yankees pitching took two more hits when big leaguer Michael Pineda missed the entire season with a shoulder tear and 20-year-old Jose Campos worked just 25 innings before being shut down with elbow issues. Both were acquired from the Mariners in January for New York's previous No. 1 prospect, Jesus Montero.



Recent top draft picks Cito Culver (2010) and Dante Bichette (2011) also floundered, but other position prospects flourished while playing together in Class A. Outfielders Mason Williams, Slade Heathcott and Tyler Austin and catcher Gary Sanchez need more time to develop, but all are candidates to become the first homegrown Yankees to crack the big league lineup on a consistent basis since Brett Gardner in 2008.



Owner Hal Steinbrenner has said he doesn't want to exceed the $189 million luxury-tax threshold in 2013, but that will be difficult. New York spent roughly $210 million on payroll in 2012, and it carries unenviable contracts for declining players such as Alex Rodriguez ($114 million through 2017) and Mark Teixeira ($93 million through 2016). Its top player, Robinson Cano, is a year away from free agency.



The Yankees have signed and developed young core players in recent years, but they traded Austin Jackson and Montero. The end of the 2012 season made it clear that a new nucleus will have to be developed, and soon.

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Mason Williams, of

2. Slade Heathcott, of

3. Gary Sanchez, c

4. Tyler Austin, of

5. Jose Campos, rhp

6. Brett Marshall, rhp

7. Angelo Gumbs, 2b

8. Manny Banuelos, lhp

9. Ty Hensley, rhp

10. Rafael De Paula, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Tyler Austin

Best Power Hitter Gary Sanchez

Best Strike Zone Discipline Taylor Dugas

Fastest Baserunner Mason Williams

Best Athlete Mason Williams

Best Fastball Jose Ramirez

Best Curveball Bryan Mitchell

Best Slider Mark Montgomery

Best Changeup Brett Marshall

Best Control Caleb Cotham

Best Defensive Catcher Austin Romine

Best Defensive Infielder Cito Culver

Best Infield Arm Cito Culver

Best Defensive OF Mason Williams

Best Outfield Arm Slade Heathcott

PROJECTED 2016 LINEUP

Catcher Gary Sanchez

First Base Tyler Austin

Second Base Angelo Gumbs

Third Base Robinson Cano

Shortstop Eduardo Nunez

Left Field Curtis Granderson

Center Field Mason Williams

Right Field Slade Heathcott

Designated Hitter Mark Teixeira

No. 1 Starter C.C. Sabathia

No. 2 Starter Phil Hughes

No. 3 Starter Ivan Nova

No. 4 Starter Jose Campos

No. 5 Starter Brett Marshall

Closer David Robertson

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

2003 Jose Contreras, rhp Phillies

2004 Dioner Navarro, c Reds

2005 Eric Duncan, 3b Royals

2006 Phil Hughes, rhp Yankees

2007 Phil Hughes, rhp Yankees

2008 Joba Chamberlain, rhp Yankees

2009 Austin Jackson, of Tigers

2010 Jesus Montero, c Mariners

2011 Jesus Montero, c Mariners

2012 Jesus Montero, c Mariners

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

2003 Eric Duncan, 3B Royals

2004 Phil Hughes, RHP Yankees

2005 C.J. Henry, SS Out of baseball

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 (1st rd supp.) Yankees

2012 Ty Hensley, RHP 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