Looking Ahead to 2017

[NY7]

Barring any incredible developments in which those ahead of us cannot win a game to closeout the 2016, I think it's safe to say we'll be sitting out another October. A pill much easier to swallow thanks to the emergence of the "Baby Bombers". Excited to start talking about next year.

Potential 2017 Lineup--

SP: Masahiro Tanaka
SP: Michael Pineda
SP: Luis Severino
SP: Nathan Eovaldi
SP: CC Sabathia/Adam Warren

**Would look for Cashman to explore Pineda trades. He struggled throughout the season, still has age on his side, but a change of scenery seems necessary for him to rebound his career. A strong Spring from Severino will really help the roto. CC could be released in the final year of his monster deal but he's been more than serviceable late into this year. The lack of quality SP's on the open market this offseason keeps the Yanks from bringing in anyone new. I could see a smaller, Hellickson-type trade around Winter Meetings.

LR: Adam Warren/CC Sabathia
RP: Chasen Shreve
RP: Nick Goody
RP: Anthony Swarzak
RP: Tyler Clippard
SU: Dellin Betances
CL: Aroldis Chapman/Kenley Jansen

**The Yanks will make a splash in FA by bringing in an elite closer. The Yanks front office has to be thinking "what if" they hadn't dealt Chapman to the Cubs? Betances has been stellar in the CP role but the bullpen isn't what it was to start the season.

CF: Jacoby Ellsbury
LF: Clint Frazier
1B: Greg Bird
DH: Mark Trumbo
C: Gary Sanchez
RF: Aaron Judge
2B: Starlin Castro
3B: Chase Headley
SS: Didi Gregorious

BN: Rob Refsnyder 2B/1B/OF
BN: Austin Romine C
BN: Ronald Torreyes 3B/SS/2B
BN: Tyler Austin OF

**Can't see a scenario in which McCann returns in 2017. He'll fetch a decent return on the trade market as plenty of teams head into winter desperate for a catcher who can actually hit a baseball. McCann off the books clears the path to bringing in Trumbo. Trumbo is absolutely slashing in the AL East and while the Yanks are getting younger, his being in the lineup ensures opposing teams keep pitching to The Sanchize. Curious to see how Bird bounces back from injury as he was projected to club 38 dingers last season. Brett Gardner is an other guy dealt over the Winter in order to make way for Frazier. Gardner enters the final year of his deal and should fetch a decent return of prospects because of his speed an ability to play CF.

And if anyone knows how to vaporize Chase Headley, please let me know so I can drive to the Bronx and make it happen.

 

[purguy12]

Starting rotation is a mess.

 

[$500 Million]

2017 is basically going to be tryouts for the pitching staff, with Luis Cessa, Chad Green, Luis Severino, James Kaprelian, Bryan Mitchell, and Jordan Montgomery all in line for spots going into 2018.

 

[Pastafazul]

want some kind of chance for '17? get rid of the babysitter and hire someone with balls, one who coaches every game to win, one who does not plan players days off, a leader who demands respect from his players, one who's not afraid to shake the applecart!... ohh and one who knows how to put a line- up together, and let the pitchers pitch!

 

[navamind]

2017 ZiPS Projections – New York Yankees | FanGraphs Baseball

Fangraphs' projected standings for 2017 have them at 82-80 (not based on ZiPS).

 

[BambinoBear]

Starting rotation is a mess.

Still a mess. After opening day, I have little hope for this season. Unless some magic happens, they will probably be a .500 team.

 

[$500 Million]

Almost everyone around the game of baseball has the Yankees finishing at or around .500, this is a rebuild.

 

[BambinoBear]

Almost everyone around the game of baseball has the Yankees finishing at or around .500, this is a rebuild.

True. The offense could be scary if they all hit. The starting pitching his not anything to be excited about. I look at the Red Sox starters and if they all stay healthy, WOW! I don't want the Yankees to get rid of the farm for some starting pitching. I do hope however they can develop someone to be a starter. They don't have a good track record of that lately.

 

[$500 Million]

True. The offense could be scary if they all hit. The starting pitching his not anything to be excited about. I look at the Red Sox starters and if they all stay healthy, WOW! I don't want the Yankees to get rid of the farm for some starting pitching. I do hope however they can develop someone to be a starter. They don't have a good track record of that lately.

It's worse than "lately", if you look back you can count the starters they've raised through their farm system that have gone on to become legit stars/studs on one hand: Lefty Grove, Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, and Andy Pettitte.

They've always acquired their best starters through free agency, and they may have a shot at some good ones coming in the next few years. I agree with you on the farm system as far as bats go, but I wouldn't hate them for trading a few young guns to get an established starter.