Freddy Garcia, surprise stalwart in the New York Yankees' 2011 rotation, will return in 2012. According to Mark Feinsand, Garcia has

signed a one-year deal worth between $4-5 million, more than tripling his $1.5 million base salary from last season. Garcia earned more than $3 million including incentives, going 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 25 starts.

This is an exceptionally good deal for the Yankees, considering that Garcia was worth roughly $10 million to them last season. More, actually; the value of a better-than-average starting pitcher is higher for a contending team than for a non-contending team.

Of course, the risk is that Garcia regresses to his 2010 ERA (4.64) rather than sticking to his 2011 mark (3.62). But even if that happens, the Yankees still get their $5 million worth, since they'll score so many runs that even a 4.64 starting pitcher will win about as many games as he loses.

It's been suggested that the Yankees' rotation is now set, with Garcia, CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova, and A.J. Burnett.

I'm not so sure. The Yankees went into 2011 with six starters -- those five, plus Bartolo Colon -- and I suspect they'll do the same in 2012. We just don't know whether they'll look for another Colon-like bargain, or spend what it takes to get one of the Grade A free agents out there.