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Yankees’ News: Early Projections Are Not Favorable

By Wayne Cavadi

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The New York Yankees have had an active offseason. They addressed the infield situation by trading for Didi Gregorius and re-signing Chase Headley (no comment on the Stephen Drew signing). They may have gotten stronger in the bullpen despite letting their closer from last season walk. The Yanks even bolstered their depth at first base and brought on a new starter in the process.

Apparently those moves were not enough for some people to think the Yankees could contend. Bloomberg reports that the Atlantis Casino Resort’s sports book has the Yankees to finish with a losing record for the first time since 1992. Steve Mikkleson, the sport book director, has them finishing at 80-82.

"“It doesn’t mean they can’t go out and win their division, but there’s just a lot of question marks when you look at this Yankees team,” Mikkelson told Bloomberg in a telephone interview. “I started with them at 81-81, but I’m not even sure they’re .500. I went to 80, but I couldn’t go lower. This is still the Yankees.”"

I find it interesting that this team projects so low after the past two seasons. 2013’s team was seemingly worse with names like Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay, Chris Stewart and Travis Hafner as starters. Of course, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson were slated as starters that year but were derailed by injuries. 

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This 2015 team may be better but is surrounded by question marks. If Carlos Beltran can’t bounce back and has in fact reached the end of the line, can Chris Young be an everyday outfielder? What does CC Sabathia have left in the tank and how will Masahiro Tanaka’s arm hold up over a full season without surgery? Can newly acquired Nathan Eovaldi progress in a new environment or is he doomed in the power-happy A.L. East?

If you remove the question marks, and base a judgment on the players slated to play, this team is better than the 2014 rendition. The bullpen is arguably stronger without David Robertson as Dellin Betances, David Carpenter and Andrew Miller form a frightening three-headed beast. The defense in the infield will be substantially better, which will help out in all those close games that the Yankees lost last year.

Garrett Jones, a swing man right fielder and first baseman, brings extra security as a player with actual first base experience on his resume. And Brian McCann can’t be worse than he was in his debut season in the Bronx.

If the pitching is ready, this Yankees team is no worse off than they were last year when they finished 84-78 and in second place. I’m not necessarily saying that the Yanks are a 95-game winning team that will take the A.L. East, but I do think they finish above .500.

The East is full of question marks with the Red Sox and Blue Jays’ rotations and a rebuilding Tampa Bay Rays squad. The reigning A.L. East champion Baltimore Orioles are no guarantee by any means. The Yankees should not be any worse off than the past two seasons.

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