Cautiously optimistic. Bend but don’t break. Playoff primed but maybe not World Series caliber. These New York Yankees aren’t the Derek Jeter Yankees, nor are they the Bryce Harper Yankees, yet.
There’s the old guard (Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran) of broken heroes on a last chance power drive. The new core (Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird (DL) and James Kaprielian) on the cusp and around the corner. Plus, you have an improved Yankees roster, following a quietly effective off-season of acquisitions the Yanks “bought low” on, acquiring Starlin Castro, Aroldis Chapman and Aaron Hicks.
I don’t buy the narrative of the Yankees being an all or nothing team. They’re not winning 105 games or losing 85. I call it as I see it. This club is going to contend in the AL East and will at least snag a playoff spot.
These 2016 Yankees have more depth and flexibility than the 2015 Wild Card edition. While the starting rotation is the “little girl with the curl” and the usual suspects will have their bouts with injuries, this roster is constructed for the long haul.
Why am I more optimistic with this club?
Here’s a litany of reasons why:
– Castro learned how to be a pro, playing with Alfonso Soriano and he idolizes Jeter, he’ll finally be a suitable replacement for Robinson Cano.
– Didi Gregorius has a year under his belt and less of a shadow looming over him.
– The bullpen formula, even with an injury to Andrew Miller, a suspension to Chapman and trades of Adam Warren and Justin Wilson, will put the club over the top.
– Brian McCann, like Gregorius, is another year comfortable and will no doubt help with the bat and make the pitching staff overachieve.
– They’re getting a full season out of Severino.
– Teixeira, A-Rod and Beltran can all still hit if healthy.
– Dustin Ackley and Hicks provide the off the bench spark which they didn’t get out of Garrett Jones last year.
– At some point, Judge, Sanchez and Kaprielian will give this team a boost.
On the whole, I see this squad winning anywhere between 86 and 91 games. The Yankees will be there at the finish line, it’s just a matter of how much damage they can inflict when they cross it.
