Against all odds, the kids survived a blustery winter.

Because Johan Santana is a New York Met, a full platoon of youthful Yankee pitchers report to camp Thursday — many of them towing large question marks with their luggage.

Here's one answer right off the bat. Joba Chamberlain "will not start for six months for us, I can promise you that," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "Because of where he's at in his development stage, he's not prepared for (a full season as a starter)."

So, Chamberlain might open the year as a reliever — at least temporarily quelling the raging faction that wants him locking down the eighth inning. Or he might reprise his role as Mariano Rivera's main setup man late in the season.

"We don't know yet," Cashman said. "All these things will work their way out in spring training."

But it'll take all summer to learn whether it was wise strategy to keep the likes of Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Jeff Marquez out of a deal that could have netted Santana from Minnesota.

It wasn't that long ago that Jorge Posada pined in print for Santana, citing the Yanks' deep need for a true ace. For that reason, one AL scout said the Yankees "almost have to make Chamberlain a starter.

"Andy Pettitte is John Maine. He's not a true front-line guy anymore," said the scout. As for Chien-Ming Wang, who won 19 games for the second straight year but faded badly in the postseason, "I don't think he's an ace."

Chamberlain eventually might fit that bill.

"If he were a two-pitch pony, you'd consider him more as a reliever," said Joe Kerrigan, who served as Yankees bullpen coach the past two seasons. "But I've seen his other pitches."

With his 98-mph fastball and 88-mph slider, Chamberlain also has an above-average curveball, and observers say his change-up is on the verge of being a devastating weapon.

Though he warned that "it's dangerous to ever feel comfortable," Cashman believes that "we're going to run out a lot of guys with a lot of ability.

"I didn't think there was much quality on the market, and the price tag on what was available was so expensive that it forced you to look from within," Cashman said. He'd rather go with a high-ceiling youngster "than commit to overpay for someone who you're just not crazy about."

Playing his hand from 2007, Cashman has presented new manager Joe Girardi a front three rotation of Pettitte, Wang and Hughes. With Chamberlain at No. 4, that leaves Kennedy, 23, and Mike Mussina, 39, to battle for the final spot.

Last year, Mussina's 5.15 ERA was the highest of his career. After a horrendous late-season stretch, he lost his spot in the rotation to Kennedy, who went 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts before a stiff back ended his season.

During a taxing 2007, the Yankees used 28 pitchers — the most in the AL. Nine pitchers made their major league debuts with the Yanks last year, and 14 pitchers started at least one game.

Remember Matt DeSalvo? Sean Henn? Darrell Rasner?

"We believe (our depth) is a lot stronger going into `08 than it was in `07," Cashman said, citing Marquez, Jeff Karstens, Alan Horne, Chase Wright and even Kei Igawa. "A lot of those guys are good, fresh young arms with high ceilings."

Speaking of ceilings, there will be an innings limit on Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy. Still, Kerrigan likes the idea of testing the youngsters instead of trading them.

"Two of the three (Chamberlain and Hughes) have a chance to be dominating pitchers," Kerrigan said. "And Kennedy has a chance to be a good No. 3."

Perhaps the Yanks' biggest risk is relying on Kyle Farnsworth to get big, late-inning outs. Without a situational left-hander, Girardi also might depend on three virtually untested right-handers — Ross Ohlendorf (power sinker), Jonathan Albaldejo and Jose Veras (electric fastball) — to get to Rivera. Holdovers Edwar Ramirez and Brian Bruney also could see significant innings.

Luis Vizcaino (77 appearances) is gone, and newcomer LaTroy Hawkins is not viewed as a late-game option.

"I don't think anyone questions the talent," Cashman said of a staff that comes with a warning label. "But there's a lot of youth in there, and you've got to expect some room for growth."