Even though the New York Yankees missed the playoffs, there was plenty to take away from their 2016 season
2016 was all about transitioning for the New York Yankees. Transitioning from the old guard into the new generation.
In the off-season, the Yankees didn’t sign a free agent for the first time in forever it felt like, however they did add Starlin Castro in a trade. They also managed to obtain Aroldis Chapman after the Dodgers backed out of a trade once his domestic violence allegations came to light.
Chapman would be suspended for the first 30 games, but once he came back, No Runs DMC would be born. Chapman combined with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances formed a lockdown trio.
Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira were both counted on to have productive seasons, like they had in 2015 but neither lived up to that expectation.
In fact, as the Yankees began their transition phase, Rodriguez ended up retiring and taking a job with the Yankees front office. Texieira would become more of a bench player.
By the deadline, Miller, Chapman and Carlos Beltran, who at 39 was their best player, were all dealt for prospects. The team brought back old Yankees Tyler Clippard and Adam Warren to help balance out the bullpen. Prospects like Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge were called up as the club finally got younger and looked more towards the future for the first time in decades.
With Sanchez and Judge up, Greg Bird on his way back from injury and Clint Frazier coming up as soon as next year, the future looks very bright in the Bronx.