New York Yankees' 2013 Present Day Woes:

In terms of determining a specific agent or "scapegoat," for the Yankees' challenges this season, Yankees' ownership nor Brian Cashman had no way to forecast all long-term injuries (outside of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez) that have beset the Yankees, nor anticipate the severe regressions of CC Sabathia and Joba Chamberlain( though I think Chamberlain still has a lot to offer and might still be hampered with that oblique problem from early May because he had pitched well before that injury).
With that said, nonetheless, Yankees' ownership and management, even with a mediocre free agent class last off-season (BJ Upton and Josh Hamilton were the best available free agents each with their own respective question marks), were arguably too complacent and fell asleep at the wheel in not rectifying the loss of home run power (Swisher, Rodriguez, Ibanez, and Russell Martin) with dubious replacement choices. Specifically, Cashman's judgment should really be questioned in signing a one dimensional and injury prone DH in Travis Hafner who can't play the field. Hafner's inability to play defense has hampered Joe Girardi'ss managerial flexibility all season long. Cashman could have either resigned Raul Ibanez, who besides being a more proficient hitter than Hafner can also play a competent OF, or Cashman could have even signed Mike Napoli , who killed the Yankees with 2 hrs this past Sunday night (July 21st), and can play 1st base and even catch in a pinch or better yet sign Cody Ross, a fairly good right handed hitter with pop who can play both 1st base and OF. Also, Cashman should be faulted for signing Kevin Youkilis, whose recent history of back ailments and reduced productivity, should have sent of alarm bells. Instead, Yankees could have groomed Ronnie Mustellier during Spring Training to fill in at 3rd base for A-Rod, or perhaps signed better free agent alternatives compared to Youkilis, including Michael Young, and Jerry Hairston Jr. who was a key utility player for the Yankees back in the 2009 World Series Championship season. Also the decision to demote Brennan Boesch in early June to the minors was a foolhardy decision because Boesch produced offensively during limited playing time in April and May and then sustained a shoulder injury in the minors. At the very least, Boesch could have replaced Hafner and served as the left handed DH or helped spell Ichiro in RF.