How the 2016 Yankees Compare to a Pre-Dynasty Yankees

As the Yankees report to Tampa today, New York will begin the quest for their 28th World Series Title. This 2016 team, draws many comparisons to a dynasty that won four titles in five years. 

In the well-endowed history of the New York Yankees organization, they have rarely been characterized as underdogs.

In recent history the team has always been considered to be favorites to win the World Series year in and year out. As we get set for 2016, no one seems to be giving the Bronx Bombers a fighting chance. 

ESPN listed them in their preseason predictions as going 80-82 and also stated that they’ll disarm some of their impact players for high-level minor league prospects at the deadline.

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The NY Times also predicted they will suffer their first losing season since 1992, as “aging sluggers crumble, and the injury prone starting rotation falters.” While these scenarios are certainly a possibility, it’s safe to say that the media has marked the 2016 Yankees as underdogs.

The Yankees have had 24 consecutive winning seasons dating back to 1993, the last year they were ever considered to be underdogs. That 88-74 team was not the greatest Yankee team, but they were the team that built the foundation for one of the greatest dynasties in the history of Major League Baseball.

Let’s start the comparison by comparing the off season transactions of the 1993, and the 2016 Yankees.

The 1993 free agent class was highlighted by a slugger, an ace, and an all-star outfielder: Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, and Kirby Puckett. The Yankees chose not to pursue these stars because their $37 million payroll was around 20 percent below those of the league’s top spenders. To avoid payroll trouble, they decided to make a trade to fill a much needed hole in the lineup. 

The key off season acquisition in 1993 was a National League star who was no longer seen as the face of the franchise of the team he’d grown up with. His name was Paul O’Neill.

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Fast forward to 2016, the free agent market was highlighted by a slugger, an ace (actually two!) and an all-star outfielder: Chris Davis, David Price, Zack Greinke, and Yoenis Cespedes. General manager Brian Cashman was instructed not to add to the teams payroll, and made a trade in order to fill a much needed hole in the lineup. 

The key off season acquisition this year was for a National League star who no longer had a fit for the team he’d grown up with. His name is Starlin Castro.

Both teams had aging veterans who had question marks when it came to health. In 1993, it was Don Mattingly and Mike Stanley. Here in 2016, they have Mark Teixiera, Carlos Beltran, and Alex Rodriguez.

Both teams also have a veteran who was determined to prove that their best years were not left behind with their former team and rival, the Boston Red Sox. In 1993, it was Wade Boggs. Here in 2016, Jacoby Ellsbury looks to regain his all-star form he had in Boston.

Bernie Williams was already a promising young outfielder and the legendary “Core Four” were on the way to pave the way to glory, with some help from a few big name free agents (Chili Davis, Darryl Strawberry, David Cone and more) along the way.

There are a half-dozen prospects the Yankees are very high on in 2016, and it’s no secret that Bryce Harper is on the radar once all the fat contracts come off the books in the near future.

To conclude the comparison, the Yankees were chasing the Blue Jays then, as they do now.

The 1993 team was the last Yankees team that didn’t carry a boat load of expectations entering Spring Training. From what the so called “experts” are telling us here in 2016, there isn’t much to expect as pitchers and catchers reported today.

Related Story: Why You Should Be Excited for the 2016 Yankees

It took the 1993 Yankees three years to become champions there’s no doubt in my mind New York will be in the best position for a title run in 2019. History tends to repeat itself, and there’s no denying the comparisons between these two teams that are separated by almost a quarter century.