Originally Posted 2/10/08
Series of Team Overviews for 2008; New York Yankees
When big name players become available via free agency or possible trades the New York Yankees are automatically in the thick of it. Even if there is no truth to the rumors, the Yankees still become involved because that will inevitably drive the price up for all the other teams to retain their talent or in some cases what comes back in trades. It's a ploy that seems to have started with long-time Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and passed down to his two sons Hank and Hal who have recently taken over the reigns on the billion dollar franchise.
The voice of reason for the Yanks, who is sometimes pushed into the Steinbrenner shadows is General Manager, Brian Cashman. It is Cashman who in the off-season persisted that the Yankees not push the envelope and trade for and sign star pitcher Johan Santana. For Cashman that meant taxing the future too much. For the Yankees, who are expected to win a title every year, it's a tough call to make one way or the other but after running the payroll to $218MM in 2007 (a new all-time high) it does seem wise to hold onto all the Yankees young talent providing great flexibility with the payroll. After all, if the current roster doesn't get it done then trades will be made by the July 31st deadline or in the off-season when players like C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira become available.
So as we head into 2008, the final season of baseball in the house that Ruth built, Yankee Stadium, the team will look to embark on yet again another playoff season but this time without the likeable and long-time Yankee Manager, Joe Torre. Torre who felt spun by the Yanks off-season offer turned down the Yanks and signed with the Dodgers. New York then reached out to another Joe and signed former Yankee and Torre protege, Joe Girardi.
Returning for Girardi among many others will be what many think is baseball's best natural talent today, 3b Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez who opted out of his contract with the Yanks in the off-season to test the waters with then agent Scott Boras came crawling back to the New York powerhouse knowing no better deal could be had elsewhere. So, here we are, months later and it really feels like these two needed each other, Rodriguez and the Yanks are the perfect match and will keep being a huge draw once moved into the new ballpark in 2009.
Although Rodriguez (Arod) is baseball's highest paid player, it is captain and four-time World Series Champion, SS Derek Jeter that leads the team. Other great Yankee veterans include catcher Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera (both resigned this off-season). There is also other home-grown talent with 2b Robinson Cano (who just signed an extension), outfielder Melky Cabrera, starter Chien-Ming Wang and one of the many steroid stories this off-season with pitcher Andy Pettitte. Recent Yankee call-ups include the three young pitching stars, Joba Chamberlain, Philip Hughes and Ian Kennedy. All three were coveted in trade talks and all three should open the season on the Yankees roster. All of the above players coupled with past free agent signings and veterans acquired in trades like Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui, Mike Mussina, Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi and you have one of the scariest and strongest teams in all of baseball, not to mention the most expensive.
With this roster and payroll, no less than a playoff appearance will be acceptable and in the dangerous American League, nothing is for certain. The Yankees have another great team sharing the East with them in their arch-rival, the Boston Red Sox plus the Detroit Tigers, Anaheim Angels, Seattle Mariners and the team that knocked them out last season, the Cleveland Indians to compete against. But if the Yankee starters can improve on their struggles from 2007 and continue to score as many runs as they have in the past then this team will be very hard to beat.
I will say that by not landing pitcher Johan Santana, the Yanks may be lacking a true #1 starter. Thus, they will need to receive solid seasons from Wang, Pettitte and hope that Mussina reverts back to two seasons ago and not his 2007 numbers. If this doesn't happen then the Yankees will have to be more reliant on Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy, which could hurt them in their fight to win the East or Wild Card.
The final pieces of the Yanks include players on the bench like infielders Morgan Ensberg, Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betemit and relievers Kyle Farnsworth, Latroy Hawkins and Brian Bruney.
Projected Lineup:
1. Johnny Damon, LF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3b
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robinson Cano, 2b
8. Jason Giambi, 1b
9. Melky Cabrera, CF
Final Five:
1. Fantasy Value: Let's just say when your Major League roster costs more than $200mm you're gonna have a lot of fantasy baseball value. Let's start with Arod, who is the #1 player on most lists, then you have one of the top shortstops in Jeter and second baseman in Cano. Damon, Matsui and Abreu are all considered top OF options and even Melky Cabrera batting in the nine hole could produce. At catcher, the Yanks have another top performer in Posada. On the pitching side you have one of the greatest closers of all time with Mariano Rivera and then starters that always win games with Wang and Pettitte. Not to mention the young arms that will attract attention on draft day in Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy.
2. Most likely to be traded: I'm sure the Yankees would love to trade Giambi but his contract will make that very difficult so expect him to play out the final year of his contract in New York which leaves young starters Hughes and Kennedy plus some great minor league talent as the most likely tradeable commodities with the Yanks.
3. Breakout player in 2008: We were already given a taste late last season when some of the Yankees young talent got called up but we haven't seen the least of it yet. Expect big things this year from all three pitchers, Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy (in that order).
4. Farm Top Five: This system is loaded and we're starting to see the best of the best coming up already (see above) but the top on my list (excluding Hughes as he is no longer rookie eligible) includes Chamberlain, Kennedy, another pitcher Humberto Sanchez and outfielders Jose Tabata and Austin Jackson.
5. 2008 Record Prediction: 95-67, 2nd in AL East, Wild Card
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