I said it before this season, the Yankees might not make the playoffs again for 3 or 4 years.
They get no help from their farm system at all. They have to fish for these Vernon Wells, Kevin Youkolis, Lyle Overbay type retread players. They are paying big money to older, injury prone, declining players. MLB teams are getting smart and are locking up young studs so that they don't hit free agency. The yankees openly talk about reducing payroll. Even if they could sign a mega super star this team is old and has enough holes that they still aren't a playoff team.