New York Yankees
2016: 84-78, fourth place. Manager: Joe Girardi (10th season). He’s here: LHP Aroldis Chapman, DH-OF Matt Holliday, DH-1B Chris Carter, RHP Ernesto Frieri, INF Ruben Tejada, C Wilkin Castillo, INF Pete Kozma. He’s outta here: 1B Mark Teixeira, C Brian McCann, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Kirby Yates, RHP Nick Goody, INF Dustin Ackley, DH Billy Butler, OF Eric Young Jr. Projected lineup: LF Brett Gardner (.261, 7 HRs, 41 RBIs, 16 SBs), CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.263, 9, 56, 20 SBs), C Gary Sanchez (.299, 20, 42 in 53 games), 1B Greg Bird (missed last season following shoulder surgery; .261, 11, 31, .871 OPS in 46 games in 2015), DH-OF Matt Holliday (.246, 20, 62 with Cardinals) or DH-1B Chris Carter (.222, 41, 94, NL-high 206 Ks in 160 games with Milwaukee), 3B Chase Headley (.251, 14, 51), 2B Starlin Castro (.270, 21, 70), RF Aaron Judge (.179, 4, 10, 42 Ks, 84 ABs in 27 games), SS Ronald Torreyes (.258, 1, 12). Rotation: RH Masahiro Tanaka (14-4, 3.07 ERA, 165 Ks), RH Michael Pineda (6-12, 4.82, 207 Ks), LH CC Sabathia (9-12, 3.91), RH Bryan Mitchell (1-2, 3.24 in 5 games), RH Luis Severino (3-8, 5.83). Hot spot: Starting rotation. The Yankees entered spring training with two open spots, and Mitchell likely earned one after missing most of 2016 with a toe injury. A fifth starter isn’t needed until mid-April, and the inconsistent Severino might get another chance to start after an impressive debut in 2015. But if he’s not effective, 24-year-old lefty Jordan Montgomery could get a quick call-up. Tanaka has remained healthy and sharp all spring, but the hefty Sabathia is always a concern and Pineda’s inconsistency has puzzled the Yankees. Outlook: With starting shortstop Didi Gregorius (.276, 20, 70) expected to miss the first month of the season with a shoulder injury, Torreyes figures to fill in. A team in transition, the Yankees plan to start three young players in Sanchez, Bird and Judge and await the emergence of top prospects Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, James Kaprielian and Gleyber Torres. Holliday should provide more offense than Alex Rodriguez did before his August release last year. After his hot start, Sanchez cooled in late September and must show he can adjust when pitchers pound his weak spot. Judge must cut down on his strikeouts and Bird needs to establish himself as an everyday player after missing all of 2016.