The New York Yankees are coming off a 2016 season in which they went 84-78 and were nine games out of first place. If they expect to improve on this dismissal season, then they’ll need to address their roster by upgrading it.
The Yankees are coming off a season that had many more downs than it had ups, and more negatives than positives. New York had numerous problems with their roster, health and contributions from their veterans.
New York Yankees Need to Address Their Roster
When things aren’t going well for an organization, it’s easy to spot the glaring problems, while it’s just as easy to notice the bright spots. For instance, the Yankees have a deep farm system, whereas their major league roster was beginning to age.
The Bronx Bombers began to address their aging roster during the 2016 season. Starting by forcing Alex Rodriguez unceremoniously out the door. Granted Rodriguez wasn’t the most popular figure in MLB, and he has his share of faults, but that doesn’t diminish the contributions this one-time Hall of Famer made when he was with the Yankees. Which included putting the Yankees on his shoulders and carrying them through the 2009 postseason, and then helping them win their 27th World Series Title.
First baseman Mark Teixeira won’t be in Pinstripes next year either. Teixeira announced his retirement during the 2016 season, but unlike Rodriguez, the five-time Gold Glove winner was allowed to finish the season with New York despite struggling more than the 41-year-old Rodriguez. Even though Teixeira has barely played in a full season for years, his production will be hard to replace. That responsibility as of now falls on Greg Bird who missed the entire 2016 season with an injury.
The Yankees brought up a couple of their prized prospects this past off-season, which included catching phenom Gary Sanchez, as well as power-hitter Aaron Judge. To make room for both of them, the Yankees traded away their most productive hitter in Carlos Beltran to the Texas Rangers.
Trading Beltran allowed manager Joe Girardi to play the rookie Judge in right field, while Sanchez and fellow catcher Brian McCann platoon at the DH spot (another reason Rodriguez was forced out). The Yankees still have a lot of maneuvering to be done during the off-season if they plan on having their top prospects as a part of the major league roster next season.
In return for Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Beltran, the Yankees acquired a handful of top 100 prospects in the likes of Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres, and Justus Sheffield, all of which will play a part in whatever success the Yankees have or don’t have.
Five Things the Yankees Must Do
1.) Improve Starting Pitching
Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka (14-4, 3.07) could certainly benefit from having another quality starter behind him in the rotation. This season Tanaka had Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia follow him in the rotation, both of whom present there own set of problems. Pineda (6-12, 4.82) was inconsistent at best, and became hard to rely on. As far as 36-year-old Sabathia, he had his good outings, as well as his poor outings. Sabathia did finish the season with a 9-12 record with a 3.91 ERA. The Yankees will need better arms than that to fill the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation.
They need dependable arms, ones with more experience, as well as a proven ability that surpasses those of Adam Warren, Luis Cessa, Chad Green, or Bryan Mitchell. Unfortunately for the Yankees, free agency is pretty thin, but recent rumors have suggested that the Yankees could use some of their top prospects in hopes of trading for a top line starter like Chris Sale or even Jose Quintana.
2.) Trade Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury
The Yankees would like to unload some of their contracts, especially the ones in the outfield. Ellsbury’s contract is the one that stands out the most, but it’s highly unlikely that any team would be willing to take that contract on. Mainly because of his injury history, along with his lack of production. Gardner would make the most sense to be traded, because he makes far less money, and a case can be made he’s even a better player than Ellsbury.
The reason the Yankees are inclined to trade their outfielders is because of how deep they are in their minor league system. With the young Frazier on his way up to the big leagues, and Aaron Judge being a mainstay, a trade would open up room in the outfield, while at the same time bringing them a pitcher in return.
3.) Add Some Relievers
After the Yankees “fire sale” at the August trade deadline when they traded away Chapman and Miller, it left them only Dellin Betances. The free agent market for a big name closer does contain some talent. Including Aroldis Chapman, Mark Melancon or Kenley Jansen.
4.) Figure Out Position Battles Early
The Yankees don’t want to start the 2017 season off with a number of position battles still going on by the end of training camp, making your lineup that much more complicated. Besides, there are a few position battles to be worked out, including Tyler Austin vs Bird at first base. Aaron Judge vs Aaron Hicks in right field, and McCann vs other hitters at the DH spot.
5.) Decide Who Platoons With Brian McCann at DH
Sanchez, the rookie phenom, spent a lot of time in the DH spot by the end of the season. But for Sanchez, next season will see him spend most of his time behind the plate, leaving the DH duties to McCann. The Yankees could look to add a free agent with a righty bat to face lefties.
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