MLB offseason reports:

Are the Yankees healthy enough and the Astros deep enough for pennant runs? Losses further distance Indians from AL elite.

Five issues facing the Yankees: Starting pitching:

Are the Yankees deep enough in this department? Or will they be in the hunt for a premier upgrade by the summer trade deadline, for someone like Madison Bumgarner or Michael Fulmer?

They already have a solid five-man rotation, trading promising pitching prospect Justus Sheffield to Seattle in a deal for lefty James Paxton and signing free agent J.A. Happ, whom the Yankees originally acquired at the 2018 trade deadline.

Right-handers Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka return atop the rotation and CC Sabathia is back for one final year, following offseason surgery to clear a blocked artery. After an All-Star first half, Severino’s sharp slide was partly attributed to tipping pitches.

If injuries arise, the Yankees’ shallow depth could be exposed with relatively inexperienced Chance Adams, Jonathan Loaisiga and Domingo German in the wings.

Filling in for Didi:

Days after the Yankees’ Division Series loss to Boston, shortstop Didi Gregorius had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

A key component to the past two Yankees’ postseason teams, Gregorius is expected to be sidelined at least until June.

Opting against an aggressive play for free agent superstar Manny Machado, the Yankees signed veteran Troy Tulowitzki for the big-league minimum, with the expectation that the 34-year-old former All-Star will handle shortstop in Gregorius’ absence.

But Tulo is coming off a lost 2018 season, following bone spur surgery on both heels, the latest in a string of injuries that have altered his All-Star status.

Sanchez’s comeback year:

This is a critical season for Gary Sanchez, coming off a brutal 2018.

He twice landed on the disabled list with a recurring groin strain, and his overall game took a step back, batting under .200 and falling into bad habits behind the plate, resulting in MLB’s most

passed balls last year.

Sanchez showed signs of his elite pedigree as a hitter late last season but needs overall consistency.

Who’s on first:

Right-handed-hitting Luke Voit holds the edge over lefty- hitting Greg Bird as camp begins.

A mostly nondescript trade deadline acquisition from St. Louis, Voit put on a power display that knocked struggling Bird out of job. After another early-season ankle surgery, Bird must prove he’s still the high-end talent that the Yankees dreamed on.

Catch the Red Sox:

Easier said than done, after winning 100 games in Aaron Boone’s rookie managerial campaign and still finishing eight games behind the eventual defending champions.

The Yankees’ first goal is to avoid playing in a third consecutive win-or-gohome wild-card game, having survived

the previous two.

Already, they’ve designed a bullpen that the Yankees hope makes the difference in the division this time.

PAUL RUTHERFORD/USA TODAY SPORTS Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez struggled offensively and behind the plate in 2018 and was on the DL twice but showed positive signs hitting late in the season.