MLB team reports:
Checking in on the Yankees, Indians and Cubs.
Giancarlo Stanton unexpectedly landed in the Bronx, a product of the slugger’s no-trade clause, the new Miami Marlins ownership’s fiscal issues and the Yankees’ ability to seize an opportunity — as well as absorbing a huge contract. But there are two infield vacancies, and the club is considering a rotation upgrade. Pete Caldera of The (Bergen County, N.J.) Record takes an inside look at the team.
Catcher
Gary Sanchez is an offensive force, even though his full big-league season was interrupted by a month-long disabled list stint (strained biceps). His rocket arm still limits opposing basestealers, but difficulties in blocking certain pitches — a league-worst 16 passed balls — need to be addressed. Sanchez also will see time at designated hitter, as the club is comfortable with defensiveminded, veteran backup Austin Romine. Kyle Higashioka is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster.
Depth chart: Sanchez, Romine, Higashioka, Erik Kratz
First base
Promising lefty-hitting Greg Bird could have a very good year, fitting snugly amid the thunderous right-handed power bats. But he must stay on the field. After missing the entire 2016 season because of right shoulder surgery, Bird tore up Grapefruit League pitching last spring — only to suffer an ankle injury that led to surgery. Arriving late in the season, Bird slugged .575 in 98 plate appearances and started in all 13 playoff games. Depth is an issue with the departures of Chase Headley and Todd Frazier.
Depth chart: Bird, Tyler Austin, *Miguel Andujar, *Billy McKinney
Second base
By trading Starlin Castro in the Stanton deal, Gleyber Torres has a golden opportunity. The top-rated prospect in the Yankees system, Torres, a shortstop by trade, is coming off season-ending Tommy John surgery to his non-throwing elbow. He has played in just 55 games above Class A, but some in the organization thought he was big-league-ready last spring at 20. Torres came to the Yankees via the Chicago Cubs, in the 2016 midsummer Aroldis Chapman trade. Ronald Torreyes is a capable fill-in, and fleet Tyler Wade, who had a big-league cameo last year, is in the mix.
Depth chart: *Torres, Torreyes, *Wade, Danny Espinosa, Jace Peterson
Shortstop
This could be the year Didi Gregorius makes the AL All-Star team. The rangy, rocket-armed defender has ascended since those first few shaky months manning the position directly after Derek Jeter. The lefty hitter is now a 25-30 homer threat; with 25 homers last year, he surpassed Jeter’s club record for shortstops despite missing nearly a month with a shoulder strain. Torres could slide back to his natural position in a pinch, while Torreyes and Wade provide depth.
Depth chart: Gregorius, *Torres, Torreyes, Espinosa
Third base
Could the contenders really go with two rookies in the infield? That’s the model for now, with Miguel Andujar and Torres penciled in as potential regulars. Andujar, 22, had three hits and four RBI in his first major league game, but he was quickly farmed out. A slashing righthanded hitter, Andujar mostly has to prove he has made the defensive gains needed to be a reliable everyday option. Torreyes provides some cover, as does Wade, though the Yankees could pursue a short-term solution until Andujar and Thairo Estrada — another promising hitter — are fully ready.
Depth chart: *Andujar, Torreyes, *Wade, Espinosa, *Torres, *Estrada
Left field
Currently the longest-tenured Yankees player, Brett Gardner is entering the last guaranteed year of his contract and is expected to be the opening-day leadoff hitter. At 34, he’s still a basestealing threat, his defense was as good as it was during his 2016 Gold Glove season and his 21 homers in 2017 represented a single-season career high. With a crowded outfield, Clint Frazier and right fielders Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge could get occasional time in left, provid- ing Gardner occasional rest or a designated hitter day. Depth chart: Gardner, Frazier, Stanton, Judge, Wade
Center field
The domain of Jacoby Ellsbury now belongs to switch-hitting Aaron Hicks, a plus-defender with a strong arm who finally began living up to offensive expectations in 2017. Clint Frazier’s midseason emergence cut into Ellsbury’s playing time, and Hicks made Ellsbury a fulltime bench player during the postseason. And it’s hard to move Ellsbury, with $68.5 million due through 2020 and a full no-trade clause. Depth chart: Hicks, Ellsbury, Gardner, Frazier, *Jake Cave
Right field
Aaron Judge quickly soared to stardom in 2017, unanimously winning the AL Rookie of the Year award and finishing as runner-up in the MVP vote. Then the Yanks doubled down by trading for reigning NL MVP Stanton. The two right fielders are due to split time at the position and will rotate as DH, mainly with Gary Sanchez. The Yanks think the athleticism of Stanton and Judge will allow them to adapt to some play in left field. Depth chart: Judge, Stanton, Frazier, Austin
Designated hitter
A year ago, the Yankees imported free agent Matt Holliday, which paid firsthalf dividends. Now they see the DH spot as a carousel featuring Stanton, Judge and Sanchez. With two right fielders in Stanton and Judge, a twice-a-week stint as DH could help both players over the 162-game grind. Before 2017, when he played in 159 games, Stanton averaged 115 games over the previous five seasons, including time missed with facial frac-
tures from being hit by a pitch. Judge battled left shoulder issues, possibly contributing to a deep second-half rut, before he rebounded as September’s AL Player of the Month.
Depth chart: Stanton, Judge, Sanchez, Ellsbury, Gardner
Starting pitchers
By adding a changeup, Luis Severino, 23, emerged as the staff ace. A question mark heading into camp last spring, Severino now leads a staff that includes Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray, CC Sabathia and Jordan Montgomery. While Severino finished third in the Cy Young balloting, Tanaka had a rough season, though he rebounded with a sharp postseason. Tanaka chose not to exercise the opt-out in his seven-year contract, and Sabathia re-signed on a one-year deal, rebounding to a 14-win season at 37 with better management of his arthritic right knee. Gray is under team control through 2019. Montgomery led AL rookies last year in starts, strikeouts and innings pitched, but top organizational pitching prospects Chance Adams and Justus Sheffield could be ready to make the bigleague roster. Adam Warren likely will be treated as a starter in camp, mostly for insurance purposes. After competing for a rotation spot last spring, Luis Cessa took a step back in 2017.
Depth chart: RHP Severino, RHP Tanaka, RHP Gray, LHP Sabathia, LHP Montgomery, RHP Warren, RHP Cessa, RHP Adams, LHP Sheffield
Bullpen
A club strength, though Chapman briefly lost his closer’s role during a shaky August. After making his fourth consecutive All-Star team, Dellin Betances struggled mightily in September and was a non-factor in October because of command issues. After failing to win a rotation spot, Chad Green emerged as a valuable multi-inning relief weapon. Tommy Kahnle, acquired from the Chicago White Sox with David Robertson and Todd Frazier last July, picked up the slack for Betances and became a reliable performer. Until Betances can straighten out mechanical flaws, Robertson remains the primary setup man and likely closer when Chapman is unavailable. Chapman is locked up through 2021; Robertson is entering his free agent walk year. Depth chart: LHP Chapman, RHP Robertson, RHP Green, RHP Betances, RHP Kahnle, LHP Chasen Shreve, RHP Ben Heller, RHP Jonathan Holder, RHP Domingo German, *RHP Domingo Acevedo