39-year old lefty starting pitcher Andy Pettitte is looking sharp in the minors for the Yankees. He has started 2 games in A-ball so far and he is 0-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a 0.57 WHIP. Pettitte has only given up 4 hits without walking any batters in his first 7 innings in the minors, while also whiffing 5 batters as he is looking good. He has now pitched in 489 games (479 starts) in his major league career so far and he is 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. When the Yankees deem Pettitte ready, he will likely bump either Phil Hughes or Freddy Garcia out of the starting rotation.

The Yankees have a quartet of rookies that could help them at some point in 2012. Here is a look at them:

Manny Banuelos: 21-year old lefty starting pitcher Manny Banuelos comes into this season as the Yankees’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 27 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 6-7 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He has now pitched in 80 games (64 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 19-17 with a 3.02 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The Yankees have resisted dealing Banuelos, so they must really like him a lot.

Dellin Betances: 24-year old righty starting pitcher Dellin Betances comes into this season as the Yankees’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. Betances pitched in 2 games (1 start) for the Yankees last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 2.63 WHIP. He also pitched in 25 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-9 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Betances has now pitched in 91 games (90 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 24-23 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He could help the Yankees at some point in 2012.

Austin Romine: 23-year old righty swinging catcher Austin Romine comes into this season as the Yankees’ #7 prospect according to Baseball America. Romine played in 9 games for the Yankees last year and he was 3 for 19 (.158 avg, .358 OPS) with 2 runs scored. He also played in 89 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 98 of 351 (.279 avg, .710 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 6 homers, 48 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Romine has now played in 427 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 465 of 1,657 (.281 avg, .748 OPS) with 234 runs scored, 39 homers, 239 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Romine is now the Yankees’ #3 catcher, so he could help them at some point in 2012 if something happens to Russell Martin or Francisco Cervelli.

Brandon Laird: 24-year old righty swinging 3B Brandon Laird comes into this season as the Yankees’ #17 prospect according to Baseball America. Laird played in 11 games for the Yankees last year and he was 4 for 21 (.190 avg, .482 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers and 1 RBI. He also played in 123 games in AAA-ball last year in which he was 120 of 462 (.260 avg, .710 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 16 homers and 69 RBIs. Laird has now played in 552 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 570 of 2,066 (.276 avg, .791 OPS) with 288 runs scored, 85 homers, 361 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Laird could help the Yankees at some point in 2012, if they suffer some injuries in the infield.

The Yankees have lost 23-year old righty reliever Daniel Burawa indefinitely due to a tear in his rib cage. Burawa pitched in 39 games (0 starts) in A-ball for the Yankees last year and he was 5-4 with 5 saves, a 3.64 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He has now pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 5-4 with 5 saves, a 3.96 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The Yankees won’t rush Burawa back as he’s likely to start the 2012 season in AA-ball.

The Yankees have designated 25-year old righty reliever Ryan Pope for assignment. Pope pitched in 40 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball this year and he was 2-3 with 6 saves, a 5.12 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He pitched in 144 games (63 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he was 21-28 with 23 saves, a 4.34 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. This is no loss for the Yankees as Pope didn’t figure in their plans for the future.

UPDATE: (9/7/2011) - Ryan Pope has accepted an outright assignment to AAA.

The Yankees have released 33-year old righty reliever Buddy Carlyle and 27-year old lefty starting pitcher Greg Smith. Carlyle pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Yankees earlier this year and he was 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He also pitched in 27 games (2 starts) in AAA-ball for the Yankees this year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 3.98 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Greg Smith pitched in 13 games (10 starts) in AAA-ball for the Yankees this year and he was 3-3 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. Smith was quickly signed to a minor league deal by the Red Sox who are starting him out in AAA.