New York Yankees: Health is key to the 2015 Season

The 2015 season for the New York Yankees could be an interesting one. What can we expect from this year’s club? Honestly, I have no idea. This could be a team that wins 90-plus games, or this could be a 70 win team. The Yankees key to the season is health. Plain and simple. The Yankees roster is an older one and even the young members have a history of injuries.

If the Yankees are to have a successful season they need their key, old, and/or fragile members to remain healthy. This season relies on the health of Masahiro Tanaka, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and Michael Pineda. Tanaka’s elbow, Pineda’s shoulder, Sabathia and Teixeira’s entire bodies need to hold up for the entire year.

We can be honest with ourselves, Sabathia nor Teixeira are going to ever be 100% healthy and they probably won’t ever be the top end players they used to be. However, they still are vital to this team and are still above average players at their positions.

Mar 17, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher

CC Sabathia

(52) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Sabathia can still help bolster this rotation and be the southpaw the Yankees need. Will he win you 20 games? No, but he can still win 15, maybe 16, and can go deep into a game. Sabathia can still give quality starts and save some bullpen arms. He is needed for this year to work.

Teixeira is still one of the best defensive first basemen in baseball. We all hope he can hit above .250, but can he? Not sure. Supposedly his new diet is going to help him both stay healthy and hit for a higher average. We all hope that it works. Either way, whatever happens with his bat, he needs to stay on the field to help on defense.

Tanaka and Pineda are key to both this season and beyond. They are vital to this franchise. Their health is important above all else. If they can hold up, the Yankees have a great 1-2 punch for this year and the future.

Mar 28, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees third baseman

Alex Rodriguez

(13) hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest surprise this spring has been the one and only, Alex Rodriguez. I will be the first to admit I did not expect A-rod to be worth anything this year. He has been a pleasant surprise. As long as he focuses on baseball, and not pulling digits from some girl in the crowd, then I am all for rooting for him. As long as he helps the Yankees win, I hope Rodriguez does well. However, the same question of health applies to him as well. Will his hip prevent him from playing? Will mostly being the DH help keep him near 100%? Only time will tell.

This whole season will depend on one word. Health. We will find out just how good this team can be, if they remain healthy.

Next: Who Are The 5 Greats Yankees Of All-Time?

More from Empire Writes Back

Home/New York Yankees