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?
I think the Yankees will have their sights set on a starting pitcher or two and a left-handed power bat that they can slide into the DH spot. Questions remain about whether Tanaka will opt out of his current contract and if CC Sabathia will ask for a one or two-year deal.
They’d like to have both back but CC will probably only get re-signed to a one-year deal because that knee could go at any second. A one-year, $5 million deal would be something the Yankees might feel comfortable offering.
If he doesn’t take it, I wouldn’t be so quick to go out and spend a ton of money for a Yu Darvish or overpay for older pitchers like Rich Hill. The Yankees want to get under the luxury tax next season, and to make sure that happens, I think that both Chance Adams and Justus Sheffield are right around the corner from being MLB-ready and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them gets a shot.
Yonder Alonso and Lucas Duda would make sense as viable DH options if Matt Holliday isn’t re-signed. Both can take advantage of the short porch in right field and can play in the field if need be. I can see the Yankees signing either for one-year, $12-13 million, similar to Holliday’s deal last year.
Which prospects will make the team next year?
Gleyber Torres is a virtual lock to make the team next year (and potential start at third base) and would have seen significant time in 2017 if he hadn’t sustained a season-ending injury.
Chance Adams had a great season in the minors in 2017, going 15-5 with a 2.45 ERA, and I actually think he’ll be the fifth starter if Sabathia doesn’t come back.
I really like Domingo Acevedo as a reliever instead of a starter, especially with his 103 mph fastball and a filthy changeup to go along with it. He started for most of 2017 but has yet to remain in a rotation for a full season. At 6-foot 7-inches and 250 pounds, he would bolster that unit even more.
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 (13): Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery, Chance Adams, Aroldis Chapman, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, Chasen Shreve, Domingo Acevedo
Infielders (8): Greg Bird, Starlin Castro, Didi Gregorius, Gleyber Torres, Gary Sanchez, Austin Romine, Ronald Torreyes, Yonder Alonso
Outfielders (4): Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner
Predictions from Alexander Evans