FINALLY. It is here. All 30 teams, previewed and reviewed. Today, we finish with my New York Yankees. I'll make it simple to start off with: Russell Martin, Nick Swisher and Raul Ibanez are gone offensively, Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson will miss the start of the season and in their place will be Kevin Youkilis, Travis Hafner and Juan Rivera/Matt Diaz, most likely. The pitching staff is pretty much intact. Let's examine the 2013 Yankees
Starting Lineup
SS Derek Jeter
RF Ichiro Suzuki
2B Robinson Cano
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Kevin Youkilis
DH Travis Hafner
LF Juan Rivera/Matt Diaz (Curtis Granderson, who'll move up to the 4 hole upon return)
C Francisco Cervelli
CF Brett Gardner
This is the opening day lineup in my opinion. Jeter and Eduardo Nunez will likely switch on and off at SS at the season's opening with Jeter at DH against lefties until his ankle is truly sufficient. I'm not worried about Jeter's bat; he'll be fine and the Yankees are always conservative with injuries and its not like he's Ozzie Smith out there defensively. I did not want Ichiro back; outside of last September, he's stunk since 2011. I would have rather seen a Nate Schierholtz/Scott Hairston platoon at a cheaper cost, and potentially more productive. My biggest problem is the 2 years. 2 years? Why? It's all about the $$, baby! Cano will be his usual beast self and I believe the Yankees will work out an extension with him long term, as well. Tex really has to step it up. He's the cog to the lineup until Grandy's back. Hopefully, the WBC will help him get that bat going. Youk was also not my choice to replace A-Rod, but, if he plays and this new stance works, for one year, I'll deal with it. Hopefully David Adams rakes in the minors and replaces him next year. Hafner is a low risk signing and as long as he stays healthy, I hope he revitalizes himself and launches a few HRs. He should hopefully be better than Raul. Rivera and Diaz will play LF until Grandy is back and whoever is performing better will keep their roster spot. I believe Cervelli wins the catcher's job with his improved defense and his better bat and Gardner has been en fuego during Spring Training: let's hope it carries over. This offense is definitely going to be different and likely less productive, but fingers crossed.
Starting Rotation
SP CC Sabathia
SP Hiroki Kuroda
SP Andy Pettitte
SP Phil Hughes
SP Ivan Nova
Let me be briefer here: if they're healthy, they're fine. CC and Hiroki are great but just watch their workloads. Andy will get hurt at some point but they have David Phelps to step in. Hughes will try and put together a monster season for that nice $$ in free agency. Nova, according to Stewart, has a new arm slot which'll help his repetition and location. The 2011 Nova would be great. The young depth is nice and Pineda is back post AS break, so this rotation is enough to be solid contenders.
Bullpen
CL Mariano Rivera
SU David Robertson
SU Joba Chamberlain
SU Boone Logan
SU David Aardsma
LHS Clay Rapada
LR David Phelps
A very solid bullpen indeed. Mo's back and healthy and his arm is just fine, which is what matters. Robertson is an elite set-up man. Joba will look for that $$ as well, so he will want to produce, as will Boone Logan, also a FA, as is David Aardsma. Money motivates, that's for sure. Rapada reestablished himself as a quality lefty specialist and Phelps was solid as the swing man. He pitched to an ERA under 3 as a reliever. The Yankees have a ton of bullpen depth in the minors, particularly with Chase Whitley and top prospect Mark Montgomery on the way.
I'm thinking second place and a Wild Card birth is an order. I think Toronto's improved themselves to win the division if healthy but a lot of people are counting the Yankees out. It's important to realize the Yankees lost some important offense, but gained better role players and contact hitters while retaining the same bullpen and a rotation who could be better this year.
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