Yankees: 3 X-Factors in Shortened 2020 MLB Season

2. Yankees: Outfield Depth

The Yankees will have exceptional outfield depth in 2020.

When New York brings their 30-man roster to the diamond to start off 2020, they could have six All-Star-level outfield bats in play — seven, depending on what you think of Rosell Herrera (half-kidding?).

Beyond Stanton, Judge, Hicks and Brett Gardner, New York will also have the luxury of carrying Mike Tauchman, who hopefully builds off his landmark 2019 debut with a bit less pressure laid upon him, as well as Clint Frazier, who simply has to be here as long as the minor-league season is canceled.

And, of course, Hicks is back just in time.

Days off aren’t really a part of the game plan for 2020, but small nicks and bruises are going to happen, and players simply…aren’t going to be able to give 110% day after day following a three-month layoff (or longer, if you’re talking about every single starter). A team relying on Stanton, Judge and Hicks to deliver every single day after they’ve accrued a combined 27 months of rest come July would be set up for disaster.

But the Yankees’ entire second unit is a starting outfield for some of their AL competitors. Depth matters less in a short season, but it matters so much in the area where the Yankees are most well-stocked. It will be tough to navigate a 60-game season where Judge is absent, but there’s so much to trust here.

And speaking of depth and strange times…