Cashman, Boone don’t make grade in the pandemic-shortened season
Aaron Boone was agitated by the question, but the Yankees set their own standards.
By their own definition 2020 was a failure. The Yankees’ 11th year without a World Series was a strange one as baseball tried to play through the coronavirus pandemic. In the end they got beat by a better, more complete team in the Rays, who had a fraction of the Yankees’ payroll.
Looking back, there were some highs, but not a strong season overall.
Here’s the final grades for 2020: DJ LeMahieu, IF: AL batting champ, the only man in the modern era to win it in both leagues. He is the catalyst for the Yankees offense. They must re-sign him. Grade: A+
Luke Voit, 1B: Led MLB with 22 home runs, carrying the lineup that was without Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for half the season. Struggled in the ALDS, but played all year hobbled by “foot stuff.” Grade: B+
ZackBritton, LHP: Went 8-for-8 in saves as Aroldis Chapman was sidelined by COVID-19. After a second straight season ended with Chapman giving up a homer, Britton’s role should be expanded. Grade: B+
Gio Urshela, 3B: Proved that his breakout 2019 was no fluke. He played stellar defense and had an impressive offensive year with an .858 OPS. For the second straight season he faded down the stretch. Grade: B
Gerrit Cole, RHP: He finished strong — including taking the ball on short rest for the first time in his career in Game 5 of the ALDS. Not a consistent season, but a good start. Grade: B
Chad Green, RHP: An inconsistent season, which probably had more to do with the strange pandemic-shortened season. Boone’s continued trust in him says more than his stats. Grade: B
Clint Frazier, OF: Huge improvement on the defensive side. After rating as one of the worst outfielders in baseball in 2019, Frazier was a plus defender this season. His “legendary bat speed” plays in the big leagues. He should have seen more time in the playoffs. Grade: B
Kyle Higashioka, C: As Cole’s personal catcher, Higashioka gets some credit for him turning around his season. He earned the trust of Boone and the staff. Was clearly the Yankees No. 1 catcher by the end of the year. Grade: B
Deivi Garcia, RHP: An impressive debut, nothing bothered the 21-year-old. He has a devastating curveball and life on his fastball. Next year will be fun to watch him grow as a starter. Grade: B
Giancarlo Stanton, DH: Bitten by the injury bug again. Missed
nearly a half-eason with a strained hamstring. Hit six homers in the Yankees’ first five playoff games. Grade: B
Aaron Judge, RF: Judge missed half the season with a calf injury and then his bat disappeared in the ALDS. He has yet to have success over the course of a full season. Grade: B
Aroldis Chapman, LHP: Chapman missed a significant amount of time recovering from COVID-19 and then struggled to find consistency with his dominant fastball. For the second straight season he gave up the homer that ended the Yankees’ season. Grade: C+
JordanMontgomery, LHP: After a strong spring training, much more was expected of Montgomery. Hewas inconsistent but ended on a high note. His Game 4 start was gutsy and smart. Good sign for 2021. Grade: C+
AaronHicks, CF: In his first year back from Tommy John surgery, Hicks struggled to find his power. He had an extraordinary on-base percentage by working almost a walk per game. His postseason showed flashes of what could come. Grade: C+
J.A. Happ, LHP: Was the Yankees’ best pitcher for a stretch. Ultimately the sporadic nature of the 2020 season was his undoing. He will be remembered more for the Game 2 fiasco when he came in behind Deivi Garcia. Grade: C+
Brett Gardner, OF: Was able to overcome a slow start and finish strong, including starting five of the seven playoff games. Sadly, what could be his last year with the Yankees ended without fans getting to say goodbye. Grade: C+
Tyler Wade, IF: With speed and
solid defense, Wade was a nice option off the bench. Unfortunately his lefty bat was inconsistent. Grade: C
Michael King, RHP: This was a chance for King to get some big-league experience as both a starter and reliever. With inconsistent work, it’s hard to judge if he’s going to be able to iron over the rough spots long term. Grade: C
MasahiroTanaka, RHP: Twobad starts this season will likely define Tanaka’s year. He got hit hard in two playoff starts, a tough way to close out his contract with the Yankees considering he had been such a clutch, playoff pitcher for most of his career. Grade: C
Gleyber Torres, SS: There has to be concern about Torres as the starting shortstop after this season. His defense was sloppy and inconsistent. It didn’t help that his bat did not have the same pop this year. Grade: C
Miguel Andujar, IF/OF: With only 65 plate appearances after missing most of 2019 with a shoulder injury, it’s hard to say what Andujar’s role will be moving forward. The Yankees seemed to give up on finding room for him and stashed him at the alternate site. Grade: Incomplete
Thairo Estrada, IF: After a monster summer training camp, Estrada had opportunities to break out but never did. A solid backup shortstop and bench player. Grade: D
Mike Tauchman, OF: After a breakout season in 2019, Tauchman could not reproduce his offensive production. Grade: D
James Paxton, LHP: Paxton’s season ended in August with a left forearm strain. His two seasons
with the Yankees were marred by injuries and inconsistent performances. Still, he was dominant in the 2019 postseason and the Yankees missed him in the ALDS. Grade: Incomplete
Adam Ottavino, RHP: Boone clearly lost faith in Ottavino after the 2019 playoffs. He used him sparingly down the stretch and then in just one game in the postseason. Grade: D
MikeFord, 1B: Ford pinch hitting in Game 5 of the ALDS was a surprise because he’d struggled all season long. He was never able to rediscover the power that made him a threat in 2019 and spent most of September at the alternate site. Grade: F
Gary Sanchez, C: After making significant changes to Sanchez’s defensive crouch, he never looked comfortable behind the plate. The Yankees have to hope his miserable season at the plate was a byproduct of his defense creeping over to offense. Grade: F
Aaron Boone, manager: Ford pinch hitting in Game 5? J.A. Happ-Deivi Garcia piggybacking? Those were not great decisions, but worse was the aftermath with Happ. Boone is considered good at managing his players, but he clearly could not get Happ to buy in. Grade: D
Brian Cashman, general manager: The Yankees came in talking about winning a World Series and could not even win a division in a 60-game season. The Yankees got beat by a better, more complete, more cost-effective team in the Rays. Going to make for a long winter in Tampa for owner Hal Steinbrenner. Grade: D