New York Yankees: Finding a Long Term Solution
Even though the New York Yankees took three of four games from the Royals, they are still struggling. How could they fix their roster to contend in the next couple of years?
The New York Yankees are terrible. As much as it pains me to say this, it is true. Being a lifelong fan of the Pinstripes, I actually thought this was their year to go back to the Big Show. After the very first week, the offense was putting up big numbers, the Yankees were cruising and all was well in the Bronx.
Then reality set in. The Yankees went from crushing the ball to hardly making contact and none of their pitchers proved consistent, save Masahiro Tanaka. What good is spending all that money to make a killer relief staff if you can’t keep it close in the beginning of the game?
Fast forward to today and the Yankees are in the cellar of the American League East, seven games out of first place. GM Brian Cashman has hinted at a possible “cleaning of the house” and honestly, that is what realistic Yankees fans want. I could care less if the Yankees don’t win another game the rest of the year as long as I knew they were storing up prospects that could contribute in four to five years.
So, here is a breakdown of the Yankees current roster and yearly salary, and an analysis of who I think that we should keep, trade, or just let them run out their contract.
Next: The roster
Current Roster and Key Player Salaries
If you want to get to the root of why the New York Yankees are struggling, just listen to how much these players will make this year.
- Alex Rodriguez– $20 Million
- CC Sabathia– $25 Million
- Jacoby Ellsbury– $21.4 Million
- Mark Teixeira– $22.5 Million
- Carlos Beltran– $15 Million
- Chase Headley– $10.5 Million
I think there is already enough said about this group by talk show personalities and others, so I will spare the details of this horror show of a lineup but rest assured, they have not performed at even close to a reasonable level this season.
So, what can the Yankees do to get out from their downward slope? Let’s take a look at a few difficult decisions that would need to be made in order to improve their long term outlook.
Next: The trades
Solutions to the Roster
There are some tough choices that need to be made, but they are also necessary to the future success of the franchise.
First off, the New York Yankees need to trade Aroldis Chapman. This will be hard to do, however he will be impossible to keep in a weak free agency class without throwing an excessive amount of money at him. Next, they will have to find a way to trade both Brett Gardner and Brian McCann, with the possibility of Jacoby Ellsbury too. This would be very controversial but also very beneficial to the franchise as a whole.
Lastly, my favorite move of all. Find someone, somewhere that wants Michael Pineda. I hate the fact that he thinks since he throws 98 that he can drop one right over the middle of the plate and not get taken deep. He is an eyesore on the rotation and probably my least favorite current player besides Headley. Just find some way for him and his pine tar to leave New York and try to get at least decent player for him.
Now, here I get to the sad part, the players who no one will pick up and who the Yankees will have to let run until their contracts are done and they can be disposed of. A-Rod, CC, Tex, Headley and Carlos Beltran are all players who will never even be considered by another team. The worst part of it all is they are worth a combined $92.75 Million this year alone. The sooner these players leave the better, as the Yankees cannot enter a full rebuild with these guys still on the team.
Next: The long term answer
The Solution
But everyone, Rejoice! The Yankees have enough young talent to make this franchise do a complete 180. Here is a breakdown of the current players we have that can lead this team in the near future.
- Starting Pitchers: Masahiro Tanaka, Nathan Eovaldi, Luis Severino, and Ivan Nova (4)
- Relief Pitchers: Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller (2)
- Middle Infielders: Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro (2)
- Outfielders: Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge (2)
- Corner Infield: Greg Bird
There are only three real holes that we need to fill up, one OF, one 3B, and one SP. Obviously they need some depth; however, that will come after they have made starting caliber acquisitions.
Looking pretty far ahead to the free agent class of 2018, there is a wealth of talent that the Yankees could acquire. At third base, both Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson are set to become free agents. In the outfield, one name stands out to Yankee fans and that is Bryce Harper. There has been talk of a $500 Million contract being conceived by the Yankees for him, and I really don’t doubt that.
Andrew McCutchen is also set to enter free agency, however I feel that he is a loyal guy and will probably want to stay and be a career Pirate. In the pitching category, this class may be the best ever. Clayton Kershaw, Jose Fernandez, Matt Harvey, Dallas Keuchel, Garrett Richards and Jake Arrieta are part of this exemplary class. With the Dodgers having lost their window of opportunity and with the Marlins never having one, both Kershaw and Fernandez could be players to keep an eye on.
Also, with Jake Arrieta already hinting at the fact that he will only take top dollar for his services, we all know which team is best known for giving out extremely lucrative multi year contracts. If the Yankees got any one player from each of these categories, they would instantly become a title frontrunner.
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Although the promised land may currently seem far away, all that I’m saying to the rest of you Yankee fans is “Don’t fear, Cashman is here.” I have complete faith in our GM and I believe that by 2018 or 2019, the New York Yankees will be back to serious title contention again. However in the interim, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.