The New York Yankees are a great baseball franchise, but right now, their business is slightly failing as far as attracting viewers. Though the Yankees are in third place and just three games away from first place in the A.L. East, fans aren't watching. Brian Costa of The Wall Stree Journal phrased the question perfectly, "Do the Yankees need a team loaded with big-name stars?" 

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees biggest stars aside from C.C. Sabathia, haven't played this season as they are recovering from offseason surgeries. The Yankees are somehow managing to survive the competition despite not having their usually star loaded lineup. Mark Teixeira just returned to the lineup, while Curtis Granderson and Kevin Youkilis can't remain healthy to help the Yankee offense. 

As a result, YES Network ratings have dropped 38 percent, along with stadium attendance down six percent from last season. Costa's question is important because it may force the Yankees to handle upcoming player acquisitions differently. The Yankees are going from big spenders to farm system developers. They have had bad luck in the free agent market over the past decade. The organization has seen the likes of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, Kei Igawa and A-Rod get paid big bucks and fail in their respective ways. 

However, it's these big money guys who have attracted Yankee fans throughout the years. Cue in Kanye West, I am not saying Yankee fans are gold diggers, but they don't like messing with a broke organization. With no Jeter in the lineup, it's almost like the fans don't have much to look forward too despite the team being in competition. 

Costa also points out, maybe the fans are just used to watching the Yankees? New York hasn't won a World Series since 2009, but they are a playoff candidates every single year. You would expect fans to want to see as much of Mariano Rivera in the last year of his career, but that hasn't attracted fans either. 

In 2014, the Yankees will try to lower their payroll, but will they have to go after the expensive free agents instead? This offseason, guys like Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Sin Soo-Choo, Brian McCann and James Shields will be big names in the market. The Yankees could need a centerfielder if Granderson doesn't return. After looking at their lineup this year, the Yankees will need a catcher. Of course, the team is always willing to sign starting pitching.

Will the Yankees new gameplan go out the window as they look to attract fans? The Steinbrenners and Brian Cashman have a lot to think about.