Yankees: Timetable for the World Series will change after 2020

Options are still being considered for the 2020 schedule, but what if the season is ultimately not played at all and the Yankees lose several of their best players?

Chances are the 2020 season is going to take place one way or another, but there is always the possibility that it doesn’t. The New York Yankees are one of several teams that cannot afford for their 2020 season to be canceled.

Why? Because 2020 is the year that Brian Cashman set up to win a World Series.

Cashman obviously did his best to build a team to win during the 2019 season, with a fallback plan of winning it all in 2020. The contract layout says it all.

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DJ LeMahieu’s contract was good for two years, expiring after the 2020 season. James Paxton was acquired last off-season with two years remaining on his contract. Zack Britton, Adam Ottovino and Aroldis Chapman were all given contracts to keep them all in pinstripes through at least the 2020 season.

Cashman made three big moves this past off-season: re-signing Brett Gardner, keeping Chapman from leaving, and signing Gerrit Cole to the most lucrative contract in Yankee history. While the offseason was not filled with many acquisitions, Cashman decided to spend money where it was needed most — on an ace.

Cole is a pitcher who can command the rotation for many years to come. However, the Yankees may end up losing 60 percent of their rotation in Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, and J.A. Happ. If a single game was not played during the 2020 season, the players that would take the biggest hit are the prospects. The Yankees would desperately need them for the 2021 season, but they may not be ready for the big leagues if they cannot develop this season.

Looking ahead at 2021, the rotation would consist of Cole, Luis Severino, Jordan Montgomery, J.A. Happ (if he meets the requirements for his vesting option) and Domingo German (if he can serve his suspension). Even though that is still a very solid group, there are other areas of concern for the Yankees. There is no definite answer on how well the bullpen will be able to continue their dominance, as the “Big 3” of Ottovino, Britton, and Chapman are all in their 30s. After all, pitching is what will help the Yankees win a World Series.

LeMahieu may end up deciding to leave via free agency, but the Yankees may try to keep him in pinstripes for a few more years. However, nothing is definite. Even though LeMahieu is a valuable player on the Yankees, he won’t be as valuable as the pitching staff if the team captures a title.

The Yankees can still be a solid team in 2021, but their team is built to win it all this year. If they cannot win the World Series this year, it may take them a couple more years to get back to World Series contention after their prospects have developed.