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3 Yankees facing make-or-break seasons in 2021

By Thomas Carannante |
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees at bat in Game One of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at PETCO Park on October 05, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees at bat in Game One of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at PETCO Park on October 05, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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These Yankees really need to prove they can perform or stay healthy in 2021.

While every year feels like World Series or bust for the New York Yankees, those words have never been truer for 2021 and 2022. We’re operating under the assumption that DJ LeMahieu will be returning or Francisco Lindor will be acquired in a trade. If those things don’t happen, well, it’s a different story.

But if everything remains the same (or there’s a bigger upgrade), all eyes will be on the Yankees in their attempt to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers atop Major League Baseball. The clock is ticking for the Bombers, despite this team being in such a prime position to capture championship No. 28.

Why? Because there are a number of players who will be tasked, yet again, with proving their worth to the organization in one way or another. For two of these guys, it will be a “get the job done, or get out” situation. The other? Well, it’s complicated. Let’s start with the easier ones first.

Here are three Yankees who face make-or-break seasons in 2021.

Domingo German #55 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
Domingo German #55 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

3. Domingo German

Simply put, this is it for Yankees starter Domingo German.

If we’re being completely honest, we don’t need to waste too much of your time here. Domingo German hasn’t played since the end of 2019 and then ended up being suspended for all of 2020 (because the season was shortened) under MLB’s domestic violence policy. Yup. Not good. We’re not sure why the Yankees haven’t cut him loose.

But here we are. German, who claimed he was retiring a few months ago only to rescind that claim shortly thereafter, is pitching in the Dominican Winter League, and he’s looked impressive. In two outings, he’s pitched nine innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits and four walks while striking out eight.

One would guess the Yankees have opted to keep him around because of their starting pitching situation. They clearly don’t want to spend on this year’s free agent class and they need some sort of stability beyond Gerrit Cole. The crazy part? German has the next most games under his belt as a member of this rotation (among those who will start the 2021 season healthy — remember, Luis Severino won’t be back until June or July).

The 28-year-old is 20-11 in 55 games (38 starts) with a 4.52 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 273 strikeouts across 243 innings. If the Yankees don’t bring back Masahiro Tanaka, German will be even more important, which is scary to think about. Cole, German, Deivi Garcia, Jordan Montgomery and Clarke Schmidt will likely make up the rotation if that happens.

If German can’t help keep the ship afloat, the Yankees will simply cut him loose or non-tender him a contract in the offseason … because they won’t need a bad pitcher with the kind of baggage he brings to the table.

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

2. Gary Sanchez

Gary Sanchez, it’s safe to say, has one more year to show the Yankees he’s worth it.

Again, there’s no need to spend much time here, but we did it with German, so let’s just do it again.

Gary Sanchez will be tendered a contract for the 2020 season despite speculation suggesting otherwise. Though he’s hardly impervious to trade rumors, we doubt the Yankees are going to sell low on the slugging catcher because that’s just not general manager Brian Cashman’s style.

So this is Sanchez’s last stand. He’s batting .200 since the start of 2018 and his shortened 2020 season nearly booked his ticket out of the big city. There’s no chance the Yankees will be tendering him a contract for the 2022 season with rising arbitration costs if he lays an egg once again. At that point, he’ll potentially cost closer to $10 million.

The Yankees, rightfully so, weren’t going to let a 60-game season cloud their overall judgement of Sanchez. Though it was, without a doubt, a putrid performance in every sense of the word, the 27-year-old’s ceiling remains high. However, his lack of improvement on defense and lagging plate discipline are a serious cause for concern.

Another year in which he boasts an unacceptably low average, costs the team runs behind the plate, and fails to register anything that resembles a timely hit, then he’s likely gone. But guess what? This is rock bottom for Sanchez. The only way to go is up. Perhaps that’ll help him get back on track in 2021.

Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge needs two full healthy seasons to convince the Yankees to sign him long term.

Nobody wants to hear this. We don’t even want to talk about it. In fact, we have to take a break and pace around the room before even considering what to write here. But 2021 will be a very telling campaign for the future of Aaron Judge in pinstripes.

Aaron Judge is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility and will cost the Yankees nearly $11 million. Pretty good deal, right? We’d say so … as long as he can stay healthy, which is the MAIN reason why the larger-than-life All-Star faces such a defining upcoming year.

If Judge, once again, can’t stay on the field, contract extension talks will be even further complicated than they are now. The 28-year-old, despite only becoming a full-time player in 2017, feels like he’s been the next Yankees captain-in-waiting for a decade. But injuries have halted every meaningful discussion surrounding him.

Since 2018, Judge has appeared in just 242 games out of a possible 384. That’s the only problem. When his bat is hot, he’s arguably the best in the game. His defense in right field is top-notch. Not many can compete with his all-around capabilities. However, guys like Mookie Betts, Bryce Harper, George Springer and Christian Yelich easily get the nod over him because of his health issues.

If 2021 features another injury-shortened campaign, it won’t be the end for Judge, but the Yankees will likely find a difficult time making him their captain and/or keeping him as a franchise cornerstone. No team can pay a player who can’t stay on the field, especially the kind of money Judge should earn because of his astute production in limited appearances.

The bottom line: Judge needs two full healthy seasons to earn the big contract extension from the Yankees and likely become the next captain. It’s hard to envision it any other way when you consider how tight the Bombers are seemingly getting with their expenses.

We sure hope we’re excessively rising in 2021. That’s all we’re gonna say.

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