the Yankees come off what was arguably their most trying season since the early 1990s, and enter 2014 with almost as many questions as they had last season:
Can Derek Jeter come back, and entering his age 40 season, can he still be effective?
Is CC Sabathia the ace he once was, or has he regressed to the point of no return?
Can Mark teixeira return to his former All-Star ways?
Will A-Rod even play in 2014?
Who besides Sabathia is even in the rotation?
Can David Robertson take over from the legend?
There are many more questions to be answered, but the view from this day says even with their large payroll, they have an uphill climb to get back on top in an ultra-competitive AL East.
Likely to leave as free agents:
Curtis Granderson
Travis Hafner
Phil Hughes
Joba Chamberlain
Kevin Youkilis
Mark Reynolds
Jayson Nix
Other free agents:
Robinson Cano
Hiroki Kuroda
Here's their roster as of today, with the needs:
C - Cervelli/Stewart/Romine: abysmal. Just a few years ago the Yanks were lousy with top catching prospects, and now they arguably have the worst catching situation in the league. Cervelli returns from his PED suspension a suspect, and Stewart and Romine just are not MLB caliber at this moment. An upgrade here is needed (McCann?)
1B - Teixeira -- missed all but 15 games of the 2013 season, and has also regressed into a sub-.250ish hitter with a declining SLG%. Even with a .240 BA, if he hits 30 HRs and drives in 100, it's just what the doctor ordered.
2B - Cano -- is a free agent, and the Yanks will do whatever it takes (within reason) to keep him. But if he leaves, look out!
3B - ARod? -- will likely be suspended for at least a good portion of the 2014 season, and at age 38 is a far cry from his MVP days. Still, even a mediocre ARod is better than the alternatives.
SS - Jeter -- missed almost the entire season, and turns 40 in June. But in 2012 he led the AL in hits, so if he's healthy, is that what Yankee fans should expect? How many 40-year olds are expected to get 200+ hits? Judging from what we're hearing from Yankee execs, they seem to expect that.
LF - A. Soriano -- was a godsend upon his return, hitting 17 HRs with 58 RBIs in his 56 Yankee games. But at age 38, a season with 50 HRs and 150 RBIs should not be expected.
CF - Gardner -- had a decent overall season, but what happened to the speed? Dropped from an AL leading 49 SBs in 2011 to just 24 in 2013.
RF - Ichiro -- a shell of his former self, Ichiro now totes a 75 OPS+ with declines across the board. Would be better suited as a backup, so expect the Yanks to fill this need through FA (Beltran? N. Cruz?)
DH - V. Wells -- pulled a fast one on Yankee fans with his hot April, but quickly became the V. Wells we all know and loathe. Another obvious spot for a replacement.
Bench -- needs a complete overhaul.
SP1 - Sabathia -- ugh. Career worst ERA, WHIP, HRA, H/9, WAR. No matter the excuse (gained weight, lost weight, velocity decline, etc.) it is imperative he return to glory, but will he get there again at age 34?
SP2 - Kuroda -- said he wants to return to Japan, and if he does, would be disastrous for the team. Had a miserable 2nd half, so maybe they let him walk anyway. Still, at age 40, the Yanks need to find a SP2 somewhere (Lincecum? Garza? Tanaka?)
SP3 - Nova -- had a surprising season, but still better suited to being an SP4 or SP5.
SP4 - Pineda -- is he ready to return? Questions abound. Better suited to be gravy then cemented in the rotation.
SP5 - Phelps?? - better suited to be a long reliever/spot starter.
CL - Robertson -- very capable, but who then is the setup man?
Setup - -???
BP3 - Logan
BP4, 5 -- ???? No one was very good besides Robertson & the retired Mo. An overhaul of the pen is necessary.
Will Cashman strike paydirt like the Red Sox did with their overhaul, or will they return to giving mid-30 somethings albatrosses of contracts that hamstring them?
Can Derek Jeter come back, and entering his age 40 season, can he still be effective?
Is CC Sabathia the ace he once was, or has he regressed to the point of no return?
Can Mark teixeira return to his former All-Star ways?
Will A-Rod even play in 2014?
Who besides Sabathia is even in the rotation?
Can David Robertson take over from the legend?
There are many more questions to be answered, but the view from this day says even with their large payroll, they have an uphill climb to get back on top in an ultra-competitive AL East.
Likely to leave as free agents:
Curtis Granderson
Travis Hafner
Phil Hughes
Joba Chamberlain
Kevin Youkilis
Mark Reynolds
Jayson Nix
Other free agents:
Robinson Cano
Hiroki Kuroda
Here's their roster as of today, with the needs:
C - Cervelli/Stewart/Romine: abysmal. Just a few years ago the Yanks were lousy with top catching prospects, and now they arguably have the worst catching situation in the league. Cervelli returns from his PED suspension a suspect, and Stewart and Romine just are not MLB caliber at this moment. An upgrade here is needed (McCann?)
1B - Teixeira -- missed all but 15 games of the 2013 season, and has also regressed into a sub-.250ish hitter with a declining SLG%. Even with a .240 BA, if he hits 30 HRs and drives in 100, it's just what the doctor ordered.
2B - Cano -- is a free agent, and the Yanks will do whatever it takes (within reason) to keep him. But if he leaves, look out!
3B - ARod? -- will likely be suspended for at least a good portion of the 2014 season, and at age 38 is a far cry from his MVP days. Still, even a mediocre ARod is better than the alternatives.
SS - Jeter -- missed almost the entire season, and turns 40 in June. But in 2012 he led the AL in hits, so if he's healthy, is that what Yankee fans should expect? How many 40-year olds are expected to get 200+ hits? Judging from what we're hearing from Yankee execs, they seem to expect that.
LF - A. Soriano -- was a godsend upon his return, hitting 17 HRs with 58 RBIs in his 56 Yankee games. But at age 38, a season with 50 HRs and 150 RBIs should not be expected.
CF - Gardner -- had a decent overall season, but what happened to the speed? Dropped from an AL leading 49 SBs in 2011 to just 24 in 2013.
RF - Ichiro -- a shell of his former self, Ichiro now totes a 75 OPS+ with declines across the board. Would be better suited as a backup, so expect the Yanks to fill this need through FA (Beltran? N. Cruz?)
DH - V. Wells -- pulled a fast one on Yankee fans with his hot April, but quickly became the V. Wells we all know and loathe. Another obvious spot for a replacement.
Bench -- needs a complete overhaul.
SP1 - Sabathia -- ugh. Career worst ERA, WHIP, HRA, H/9, WAR. No matter the excuse (gained weight, lost weight, velocity decline, etc.) it is imperative he return to glory, but will he get there again at age 34?
SP2 - Kuroda -- said he wants to return to Japan, and if he does, would be disastrous for the team. Had a miserable 2nd half, so maybe they let him walk anyway. Still, at age 40, the Yanks need to find a SP2 somewhere (Lincecum? Garza? Tanaka?)
SP3 - Nova -- had a surprising season, but still better suited to being an SP4 or SP5.
SP4 - Pineda -- is he ready to return? Questions abound. Better suited to be gravy then cemented in the rotation.
SP5 - Phelps?? - better suited to be a long reliever/spot starter.
CL - Robertson -- very capable, but who then is the setup man?
Setup - -???
BP3 - Logan
BP4, 5 -- ???? No one was very good besides Robertson & the retired Mo. An overhaul of the pen is necessary.
Will Cashman strike paydirt like the Red Sox did with their overhaul, or will they return to giving mid-30 somethings albatrosses of contracts that hamstring them?
Comment