Bombers go into camp with new players, new approach, but same expectations
With Yankees pitchers and catchers set to report to camp on Thursday, the Daily News is ready for baseball in the Sunshine State.
We’ve already covered some of the biggest questions facing the club this season, including the rotation’s health, whether some high-paid veterans can bounce back, and whether the Yankees did enough to improve after missing the playoffs last season.
Below, we’ll take a look at some storylines and individuals to keep an eye on as spring training gets underway.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Yankees have a lot of fresh faces following a busy offseason. None will garner more attention than Juan Soto, the 25-year-old superstar who is slated to become a free agent after the season.
With Soto, a Scott Boras client, all but guaranteed to test free agency next winter, it will be interesting to see how he settles into his new surroundings. Money will likely be the primary factor when it comes to Soto’s future, but the Yankees have all season to make him feel comfortable while selling him on the perks of wearing pinstripes. After acquiring Soto from the Padres, Brian Cashman said that some in-house recruiting will occur.
As for other newcomers, Marcus Stroman and Alex Verdugo are known for their personalities. Spring training will provide the first looks at how they fit in with their new teammates and a Yankee way that doesn’t always encourage individuality.
Other new additions include Trent Grisham, Caleb Ferguson, Victor González and Cody Poteet.
ANALYTICAL ALTERATIONS
A few Yankees, including Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole, have commented on the way the team uses and communicates analytical data since the end of last season. Judge went as far as to say that the organization “might be looking at the wrong” numbers and suggested that there needs to be “a better process” when relaying information to younger players.
Have the Yankees made any related changes since? At the Winter Meetings, assistant general manager Michael Fishman defended the analytics department but acknowledged that improvements need to be made when it comes to educating players.
The Yankees hired Zelus Analytics so that they could see what the outside firm does, but Fishman said that that review would take months. Because of that, any changes stemming specifically from Zelus may not be implemented until next offseason. However, that doesn’t mean the Yankees can’t make changes based on player feedback and other internal opinions.
PROSPECT WATCH
A few of the Yankees’ top prospects have been invited to major league camp, including Spencer Jones, Chase Hampton, Will Warren, Clayton Beeter and Ben Rice.
Jones is the Yankees’ top prospect, according to MLB. com, which means all eyes will be on the towering outfielder. He’s yet to play above Double-A and will likely start the year in the minors. But a strong spring — similar to the one Jasson Domínguez enjoyed last year — could expedite Jones’ big league ETA.
The same could be said of Hampton, the team’s top pitching prospect. But he’s also only made it to Double-A, and Warren and Beeter have better shots at impacting the major league team in the short-term.
And while fans have already seen what Domínguez can do in The Show, his recovery from UCL surgery will be worth watching, too. Over the winter, Aaron Boone said Domínguez would look more or less like a regular player this spring as the 21-year-old strives for a summer return.
THE BSOML BRIGADE
It’s a spring training tradition for players to insist they’re in “the best shape of my life.” While such comments are often overstated, the physiques of a few Yankees will be worth checking on after some photos surfaced online over the offseason.
No. 1 on the list is Giancarlo Stanton, whose injury history prompted a blunt assessment from Cashman at the GM Meetings. Since then, however, Cashman has praised changes that Stanton made to his diet and offseason conditioning. Boone, meanwhile, has said to expect a leaner slugger; a picture showed exactly that. The manager added that Stanton wants to be an occasional — and quality — option in the outfield.
Carlos Rodón has also appeared slimmer, and the Yankees have noted that he’s looked good on multiple occasions this winter after injuries and poor performance ruined his first season in pinstripes.
More recently, a pic of Oswald Peraza showed more muscle. That could come in handy as the infielder tries to prove that he can hit at the major league level.
RIZZO’S HEALTH
The Yankees’ overall health will be something to focus on after injuries ravaged the club last year. However, most notable players are entering camp with clean slates (as far as we know before Boone starts holding press conferences on Wednesday).
One individual to watch, however, is Anthony Rizzo. Cashman recently said that the first baseman is in the clear after suffering through post-concussion syndrome last year. The GM added that doctors are not worried about Rizzo’s symptoms returning based on the type of concussion that he had.
However, Cashman also noted that brain injuries are always “tricky,” so the Yankees will want to pay close attention to Rizzo over the next few weeks.
BACK OF THE BULLPEN
Barring injuries, the Yankees’ bullpen looks mostly set. However, Scott Effross’ unclear timeline — he’s recovering from Tommy John surgery — could create an opening this spring.
Among the candidates are holdovers Ron Marinaccio, Nick Ramirez and Matt Krook, top starting pitching prospects Warren and Beeter, newcomers Poteet and Cody Morris, and other depth starters like Luis Gil and Yoendrys Gómez. The Yankees also have a few intriguing non-roster invitees who could fight for a job, including Yerry De Los Santos and Nick Burdi.