Yanks could get creative at Winter Meetings
http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/158739030/
Club has some needs, but unlikely to sign high-priced free agents
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | @BryanHoch |
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Club needs
Starting pitcher: The Yankees have legitimate health concerns in their
rotation, as Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia and Eovaldi all
spent time on the disabled list last season, while Ivan Nova was ineffective
in his return from Tommy John surgery. If Tanaka is healthy, they look at him
as a bona fide ace, but some backup would be nice. The Yanks are monitoring
free agents, including Wei-Yin Chen.
"They're like race horses; they can go down at any time, and normally they do,
" Cashman has said of starting pitchers. "Any chance you have a way to
improve upon that, you really have to focus on it if you can. It's easier said
than done."
Bullpen: With the duo of Dellin Betances and Justin Wilson setting up closer
Miller, this projects as a position of strength for the 2016 Yankees, though
Cashman has said that he would like to build upon it.
"Bullpen is the area that's one of our areas of strength," Cashman said.
"But if an opportunity comes along and it's another bullpen piece, so be it.
If it makes sense in our world, then we'll become aggressive on it."
Second base: All of the starting positions appear locked in except for second
base, where the Yankees project to field a platoon of Dustin Ackley and
Rob Refsnyder, with Ackley starting against right-handed pitching and the
rookie Refsnyder getting nods against lefties. Cashman has said that if he
were to upgrade, it would be in terms of defense, viewing Ackley and
Refsnyder as "offensive-minded" players.
Who they can trade if necessary
Gardner: The Yankees would be happy to have Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury
patrolling two-thirds of their outfield on Opening Day, but Gardner is one of
their few players with legitimate trade value. He slumped in the second half,
which new hitting coach Alan Cockrell believed was due to lingering injuries,
and is signed through age 35 at $39 million more over the next three years.
Miller: The left-hander answered all of the questions in the closer's role,
securing 36 saves in 38 opportunities, but the Yankees have a safety net of
sorts because they believe Betances could step into the closer's role without
issue. Miller is still due $28 million through 2018.
Nova: Even though the Yankees need starting pitching, they have let teams know
that Nova is available, though they do not intend to sell low on him. He has
one season remaining before free agency and the Yankees could just as easily
keep him for rotation depth.
Top prospects
Per MLBPipeline.com, the Yankees' top 10 prospects are, in order, outfielder
Aaron Judge, infielder Jorge Mateo, right-hander James Kaprielian, Refsnyder,
catcher Gary Sanchez, third baseman Eric Jagielo, left-hander Ian Clarkin,
left-hander Jacob Lindgren, infielder Tyler Wade and right-hander Rookie
Davis.
Judge and Kaprielian could make their big league debuts in 2016, while Sanchez
is the favorite to serve as Brian McCann's backup. Cashman has mentioned
Jagielo as a candidate to help support Chase Headley at third base.