Editorial: If The Yankees Simply Handle Business, They’ll Be Fine

As I sit here in my home, watching the ninth and final inning of Ken Burns’ perfect documentary, Baseball, I begin to think about how different things are compared to when the original series was completed. Bob Costas is on my television, talking about the Red Sox, and their 1986 choke job to the New York Mets of all teams. I then read more about the signings of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, the rumors about Cole Hamels, and Jon Lester and now, Jeff Samardzija. I’m starting to believe that every sexy name in free agency or whom might be available via trade, is going to be tied to the Red Sox, regardless of how realistic it may be. 

More from Yankees News

• Yankees sign Carlos Rodón after Scott Boras staredown to fill out special 2023 rotation
• Red Sox DFAing Derek Jeter-inspired piece of Mookie Betts trade gives Yankees fans joy
• Yankees sign 2021 breakout reliever after awful 2022, elbow surgery
• Gary Sánchez’s agent blames Yankees for 2022 struggles in dark twist
• Yankees News: Latest on Carlos Rodón, Blue Jays and Red Sox diverge

I read posts from our readers on our Yanks Go Yard Facebook page, our Twitter account and our articles. The Yankees fan base is insistent that the team do something and do something five minutes ago. The fans so want to believe there is a contract offer on the table for Max Scherzer, however my preference is Jon Lester. Some of the writers on our staff want Chase Headley to return, while others are over it. Hell, I even have a writer who is a year older than I am, that HATES the Hot Stove, and everything associated with the rumors.

I don’t get too fired up anymore about rumors, or stories, and the like. I get excited like a little boy when I hear or read something, it makes me smile, but that’s about all. I remember as a child, tuning into Sportscenter each night during the winter, and being excited with each new free agent signing. One year is was Jack Clark, another year, it was Steve Sax. Were these guys finally going to help me as a young Yankees fan witness a World Series title? Of course we know that answer now, but at the time, it was like Christmas morning, EVERY morning. I’m a HUGE fan of the Hot Stove and the rumor mill. It’s as much a part of baseball as the games and World Series are.

So here we are, on the cusp of December, 2014, the Red Sox have made some moves, rumored to be involved in dozens of others, and all the fans of the Yankees have, is an unconfirmed rumor that Max Scherzer has been offered a contract. That’s it. Really? No, really? That’s all I have to hold on to as a Yankees fan?

It’s okay. It really is. The Yankees are in a complete different spot than the rival Red Sox are. Think about it. Going left to right, you have Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Carlos Beltran in the outfield. On the infield, you have Alex Rodriguez? a hole at shortstop, one of three guys in Martin Prado, Jose Pirela, or Rob Refsnyder at second base. Mark Teixeira at first and Brian McCann behind the dish. So where are the holes?

We don’t know what A-Rod will bring. We don’t know if Chase Headley will be back. If he’s not, will Martin Prado split time with A-Rod? That wouldn’t be so bad would it? It would save the Yankees some money, and honestly, Prado has an average glove, and he’s better with the bat than Headley.

So who at shortstop? I still think Stephen Drew on a two-year deal, with a full spring training, improves the infield defense and does just fine hitting out of the seven or eight hole. Brendan Ryan? Forget it. It was a mistake to resign him last year. One more year and he can hit the bricks.

And the starting rotation? I love the idea of a rotation that looks like this: Masahiro Tanaka, Jon Lester, Michael Pineda, Brandon McCarthy, and C.C. Sabathia. Notice there is no Max Scherzer? Sorry, I don’t want a guy whose fastball has dropped 2 miles per hour over the past season. He’s go too many miles on that arm, and any deal he gets, turns into C.C. 2.0. The bullpen? Save yourself some more money, let David Robertson walk, take the draft pick, promote Dellin Betances to become the most dominant closer in baseball, and use younger, cheaper power arms to refill your bullpen. Let the Toronto Blue Jays sign D-Rob, and when he does his Houdini act north of the border, for $40 million or so, the Yankees can sit back, smile and continue to develop a resurgent farm system.

That’s it. No big time deals, nothing crazy. Just handling business. With prayers to God himself for good health, and a full season of Martin Prado, this Yankees team will be better. They can’t be worse can they?