New York Yankees 2018 Roster Prediction Roundtable
What players will the New York Yankees chase in the offseason? What will be the package/contract that they will be traded for/sign?
First off, let’s handle our free agents:
CC Sabathia will be a Yankee for the rest of his career. He’s had a Hall of Fame career and he will continue to seal his case if he continues to pitch like he has the past two years.
Todd Frazier is coming back. He loves being a New York Yankee and he has been a great addition. No matter if it’s at first, third or designated hitter, bring him back.
Masahiro Tanaka will opt into the remaining three years, $67 million due to his injury history and inconsistency, but if he does opt out, don’t offer him a new contract unless desperate.
Matt Holliday, who was sick or benched for the majority of the year, will not be back.
Same for the rental Jaime Garcia, who had a sub-par Yankee campaign.
The unfortunate free agent who will not be re-signed is Michael Pineda. Pineda, just like Nathan Eovaldi, had season-ending Tommy John surgery and will most likely be sent out of town.
Now, the new guy….
Shohei Otani. The Japanese Babe Ruth has had an outstanding career in Japan, but he believes that it is time for him to come over. At the age of 23, Otani needs to go through the posting process between MLB teams and his Japan League team, the Nippon Ham Fighters. The Yankees will win the posting, but under the new CBA, he can only sign a minor league contract with a signing bonus of up to $3.5 million, so we most likely know what his contract will be.
Which prospects will make the team next year?
The only prospect I see making the team out of spring training is Miguel Andujar, who would be the everyday designated hitter. The Yankees have to take advantage of the massive pop in Andujar’s bat and play him as much as possible.
Throughout the season, I see Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres, Chance Adams, Tyler Austin, Ben Heller, Billy McKinney, Jake Cave, Domingo German, Giovanny Gallegos, and Tyler Wade getting shots in the bigs.
And finally, what is your 25-man roster for next season? Take into account the free agents you sign and re-sign and players you trade/trade for.
Pitchers (11): Luis Severino, Sonny Gray, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Jordan Montgomery, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green, David Robertson, Aroldis Chapman
Infielders (9): Gary Sanchez, Austin Romine, Greg Bird, Starlin Castro, Todd Frazier, Didi Gregorius, Chase Headley, Ronald Torreyes, Miguel Andujar
Outfielders (4): Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Jacoby Ellsbury
P/DH (1): Shohei Otani
Predictions from Scott Fingeroth