MLB 30 Teams Preseason Preview: New York Yankees

This is a new series of blogs I am going to be doing throughout Spring Training to look ahead for the beginning of the season. I will look at each team’s offseason additions and departures, projected rotations and lineups, and discuss where I think they will end in the standings at the end of the year. Let’s begin in the American League East and with the New York Yankees.

The Yankees are coming off a disappointing season in the 2020 shortened 60 game season last year. Now, many fans won’t call getting into the playoffs for the 4th straight year (haven’t missed the playoffs since 2016). But for the Evil Empire to go another year without winning a World Series has to piss off the fan base. Especially after signing Gerrit Cole to a $300 million plus deal, that has to piss off the players, executives and fans. Not to mention the way they were eliminated. But let’s look ahead and predict how 2021 season will go for the Yanks.

I think the biggest acquisition New York had to do was bring back DJ Lemahieu. That is hands down, the obvious here, because they simply couldn’t afford to let DJ walk and sign with anyone else. I say this because Lemahieu was there best hitter by far. Not just last season, but ever since he signed with New York. He’s been better than Stanton and Judge combined, just by the simple fact that Lemahieu, unlike Judge and Stanton, isn’t always on the injured list and he actually plays everyday. But regardless, do the moves the Yankees made, make them better than they were last year? No, I don’t think so. The biggest question for the Yankees, is their starting rotation. I believe the addition of Jameson Taillon from Pittsburg cancels out the departure of Masahiro Tanaka, but what else do they have? Yankees have to rely upon their young arms, but are they ready?

Projected Starting Rotation

Yankees look like, on paper, they have depth. But I can’t say I agree. Let me explain. Other than Cole, there are a couple of for sure names to be penciled into the rotation, but they are not for sure things. First, with Jameson Taillon; as much as I hate the Yankees, there is no other pitcher on another team besides the Dodgers, that I am rooting for more than Jameson Taillon. Why? The dude has battled, legit for his dreams. He had to have Tommy John Surgery twice in his career now, and several years ago he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and nearly got his dreams taken away from him. I’m glad he kicked cancer’s ass, and I can’t wait to see him kick ass on the mound, unfortunately for Yankees. Kluber on the other hand, has only pitched 36 innings in the last 2 years. Yes, bringing Kluber in, was a lower risk – high reward type of move. But, you can’t put a lot of confidence into Kluber giving you a healthy 2021, when he’s been plagued by injuries the last 2-4 years. Montgomery, is someone who the Yankees have used out of the bullpen and as a spot starter. I don’t expect him to be a starter the entire year, as he has never done that before. This will be a lot of pressure on him. Lastly, young top pitching prospect Deivi García. This is someone a lot of people are high on, and I am as well. Hopefully, they take the training wheels off, and let the dude go out every fifth day and show why he’s a top pitching prospect. I do believe that the rotation is the weakness of the Yankees, but let’s see if they pull it together. Oh, and one more thing, fuck Domingo German.

Projected Line-Up

As I mentioned above, in the additions section, retaining DJ Lemahieu was very imperative for New York. So, I’m going to touch on 3 other names. The first two go hand-in-hand with one another, they are Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Yes, these two are two of the most feared hitters for pitchers to face. But, in order to be feared, you have to be on the field and being productive. Both Stanton and Judge, have dealt with their share of injuries and they have to find a way to stay healthy. I don’t know how much longer the Yankees can go with plugging in random guys to make up for injured Stanton and Judge. Lastly, Gary Sanchez. He was God awful last year, so awful in fact that he lost his job to back up catcher Kyle Higashioka. Gary is in a tough situation, because he’s shown that he can make up for his lack of defense, by being a good power catcher who happens to strike out A LOT. But last year, he showed that he wanted to fix his defense but him paying too much attention to his defense affected his offense. In my opinion, Gary isn’t a big league catcher. He’s a DH, and Yankees should look into trading him because in New York he’s blocked at DH with Giancarlo there and the Yankees can’t trade Giancarlo because of his atrocious contract. I think this year, is Gary’s last shot to show he is capable of being a big league catcher, who is average defensively and good to great offensively.

2021 PECOTA AL East Projections

Again like last year, every one is predicting the Yankees will take the AL East. I don’t agree though. I believe the Rays will somehow, someway find a way to once again “shock the world” and finish in 1st place. Yankees on the other hand, I believe will fall short, as Judge and Stanton once again spend plenty of time on the injured list which will hurt the team. I do see the Yankees making the playoffs though, as one of the two wild card teams. So, my final prediction; Yankees will finish in 2nd place in the AL East, but still make the playoffs as probably the 1st wild card team.