2023 Pre-Season Profile: New York Yankees

 #2

The New York Yankees rode their AL MVP to the top of their division, but couldn't take that last step and compete in the World Series.  Will 2023 bring their first Fall Classic since 2009?

2022 Predictions

#13 - 3rd in AL East

MIH - Josh Donaldson

MIP - Luis Severino

PTW - Oswald Peraza

2022 Results

#3 - 99-63, 1st in AL East, lost in ALCS

Highest WAR (Position) - Aaron Judge

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Nestor Cortes

The New York Yankees are currently riding their longest drought without a World Series appearance in franchise history.  That may sound like a spoiled statement, but Yankees standards are higher.  It's World Series or bust every year.  With that said, it's hard to look at 2022 and say it was a complete failure.  They won the AL East, which was probably the toughest division in baseball.  They made it to the ALCS and lost to the eventual champs.  Individually, they had a surprise All Star season from starter Nestor Cortes.  With all that said, by far the biggest story of 2022 was Aaron Judge.  Right now, it takes a record-breaking season to pass both Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout to win the MVP.  Well, 62 home runs, 131 RBI's, .311 batting average, 211 OPS+, 10.6 WAR ... yeah, that'll do it.

Additions / Subtractions

Aaron Judge won the MVP in a record-breaking season in his contract year.  The Yankees had to bring him back, and they did (even though everyone thought for an afternoon he was going to be a Giant).  They also upgraded the rotation by signing Carlos Rodon to replace Jameson Taillon.  Outside of that, there wasn't much change in this roster.

Most Important Hitter

Gleyber Torres

Obviously, Aaron Judge and his health is vital to this lineup.  Keeping Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson on the field for a whole season is important.  However, the X-factor of this lineup that could make it elite is Gleyber Torres.  Torres burst on the scene with All Star appearances in his first two seasons.  Then, he followed it up with two disappointing seasons in 2020 and 2021 as the Yankees played with putting him at shortstop.  Last season was his best year since his All Star seasons, but he is still a big question mark entering the season, with even trade rumors surrounding his name this offseason and even entering the season.  He is still only entering his age 27 season with two more years of club control.  If Torres can build off a strong season in 2022 and get back to a borderline All Star level, this lineup will be scary.

Most Important Pitcher

Carlos Rodon

Carlos Rodon has had a bit of a roller coaster career so far.  He came up with the White Sox in 2015 with a lot of promise and showed that he could develop into something great.  Then he flatlined for a few seasons and never really improved.  Then came injuries, which derailed his 2019 and 2020 seasons.  In a contract year in 2021, he had the best season of his career, but no one was sure if it was sustainable.  After signing a one year deal with the Giants, he proved he had turned a corner.  Now he's a Yankee on a big free agent deal and is expected to pair with Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation as co-aces of the staff.  Some are already nervous as he is starting the season on the IL.  If the Yankees are going to have a successful season, they need Carlos Rodon to earn his paycheck.

Prospect to Watch

Anthony Volpe

The Yankees sport a mid-level farm system, which is impressive considering how often they dip into it to make blockbuster trades.  The top of their system is the #5 overall prospect in all baseball, Anthony Volpe.  He is a highly-touted phenom drafted out of high school that has cheered for the Yankees his entire life that got the Opening Day start at shortstop for the Pinstripes.  Sound familiar?  Volpe does sport a different game than Derek Jeter had though.  He is a true five-tool player that can do it all.  This was shown in the minors when in 2021 he hit 27 homers, 35 doubles, and stole 33 bases.  He followed that up in 2022 with 21 homers, 35 doubles, and 50 steals.  He became the first 20/50 minor leaguer since Andruw Jones in 1995.  That's pretty good company too.  The Yankees may have another superstar on their hands at shortstop.

2023 Prediction

1st in AL East, lose World Series

The Yankees have been so close to getting back to the World Series recently.  One of these seasons, they are going to break through.  There were a lot of big names available in free agency, and they did bring in Rodon (which was a much needed addition).  However, I like it when teams decide to stay quiet and show confidence in the group they already have.  They are the Yankees so they may be a prime candidate for a big trade at some point, but the consistency of this roster might bode well and bring them an AL pennant.

Fearless Prediction

Aaron Judge will not lead his team in home runs in 2023.

He can't do it again, can he?  Aaron Judge played in 157 games in 2022, the most of his career and only the third full season of his career.  Most of those games were in centerfield.  An injury does tend to creep up on him from time to time.  I could also see the Yankees try to protect him and keep him fresh.  With all that said, this is less of a statement on Judge (he did homer yesterday on the second pitch he saw on Opening Day) and more a statement on Giancarlo Stanton.  I have always been a fan of Stanton, and his time in the Bronx has been perceived mostly as a disappointment.  However, he has stayed moderately healthy the last two seasons, hitting over 30 homers both years.  He has big seasons in him too, having hit 59 homers back in 2017 in his last season in Miami.  If he can stay healthy again, I could Stanton and Judge pull a Mantle and Maris in their home run competition.  It's not out of the question to see a total of over 100 home runs from just these two (last year they combined for 93).

2021 Pre-Season Profile: New York Yankees

 #4

The New York Yankees once again bring a star-studded roster into the season, but they haven't found their way into Fall Classic in over a decade.  Will 2021 be the year they return to the World Series?

2020 Predictions

#5 - 2nd in AL East, WILD CARD, lose in ALDS

MIH - Giancarlo Stanton

MIP - James Paxton

PTW - Clarke Schmidt

2020 Results

#10 - 33-27, 2nd in AL East, lost in ALDS

The Yankees must be scratching their heads after spending all that money on all their superstars, and then they watch the small market Tampa Bay Rays win the division and knock them out of the playoffs.  Despite all their talent, the Yankees seem to be stuck and keep coming up short of the pennant, let alone a World Series championship.

Additions / Subtractions

This proved to be an interesting offseason in the Bronx as they tried to improve their team without being huge spenders.  They re-signed D.J. LeMahieu who has become the quiet heart and soul of the team.  On the pitching side, three veterans left the rotation in J.A. Happ and James Paxton signing elsewhere and mainstay Masahiro Tanaka returning to Japan.  They replaced them by signing former Cy Young winner and bounce back candidate Corey Kluber and by trading for Jameson Taillon.  In the bullpen, they traded Adam Ottovino to the Red Sox (what?!?) to save money (WHAT?!?!?!?) and replaced him with veteran Darren O'Day.

Most Important Hitter

Gleyber Torres

Gleyber Torres was anointed as the next Yankee superstar almost before he played a single game in the big leagues.  As a second baseman, he burst on the scene in 2018 and 2019, making the All Star Team both seasons.  In 2020, he moved to shortstop and his production took a dip.  Was it a young player having a down year?  Is Torres better suited to be a second baseman?  Well, he's back at short, but only entering his age 24 season.  If he bounces back, he is a really important weapon in that lineup.

Most Important Pitcher

Corey Kluber

The ace of the Yankees is Gerrit Cole.  That's a given.  What happens after him in the rotation is going to be fascinating to watch.  The Yankees are relying a lot on a guy like Corey Kluber that has only thrown 36.2 innings over the last two seasons to probably be their #2.  By all indications, the 34 year old starter is entering the season fully healthy for the first time in awhile, but the Yankees need him to be back to his old self, win double digit games, be an All Star candidate, and throw 150 innings.  Otherwise, their rotation runs the risk of being Gerrit Cole and that's it.

Prospect to Watch

Deivi Garcia

One pitcher that also might help with that rotation depth is Deivi Garcia.  He got a chance to start 6 games in 2020 for the Yankees with marginal success.  This 21 year old righty is the 87th best prospect in baseball entering 2021 and has the opportunity to add the depth the Yankees lost in free agency.  You don't normally see the Yankees rely so heavily on rookies, but you get the idea that the Yankees didn't work harder on filling holes in their rotation because they are counting on contributions from Deivi Garcia and fellow prospect Clarke Schmidt..

2021 Prediction

1st in AL East, lose in ALCS

The talent of the Yankees is undeniable.  I know the small-time Rays beat them out in 2020, but in a full season with that lineup, the Yankees are going to take the division.  With that said, the pitching is going to catch up with them in the playoffs and cost them a shot at returning to the World Series in 2021.

Fearless Prediction

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton will hit 100+ home runs combined.

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are the big boppers (emphasis on "BIG") in the middle of the Yankees' lineup, however their storyline as teammates has been defined more by injuries than their on-field production.  Judge has only played one full season in his career, and Stanton has only played 41 games over the last two seasons.  When they play full seasons, their home run totals are some of the highest in baseball (Judge led the AL in 2017 with 52 as a rookie, Stanton led the NL in 2017 with 59 in his MVP year and last year in Miami).  I think this is the year they both finally play a full season together, and if they do, it could be scary.

2018 Pre-Season Profile: Pittsburgh Pirates

#24

The Pittsburgh Pirates have taken steps backward in the last few seasons.  Will some recent roster moves lead to more success in 2018?

2017 Predictions

3rd in NL Central

Andrew McCutchen will be traded by the end of the year.

2017 Results

75-87, 4th in NL Central

The Pirates' season seemed to be derailed before it even started when Starling Marte was suspended for 80 games with a PED positive test.  Also, Jung Ho Kang, their Most Important Hitter pre-season last year, never played a game for the Pirates as he couldn't secure a work visa to return to the US.  This all started them down a path where they never really competed all season.  As for my Fearless Prediction, I may have just been a little premature.

Additions / Subtractions

The Pirates appeared to try and reset their roster a little bit this offseason, trading away two of their most productive players from their postseason runs.  Andrew McCutchen is now a Giant, and Gerrit Cole has joined the World Champion Astros.  The only experienced players that have been added to the roster are outfielder Corey Dickerson and pitchers Joe Musgrove and Kyle Crick.  These are not really names that are going to excite fans considering what left.

Most Important Hitter

Starling Marte

This is a big year for Starling Marte for many reasons.  First, he is the biggest established star left on the Pirates' roster.  There are some emerging stars like Gregory Polanco or Josh Bell, but Marte is still the best player.  Also, Marte has some redeeming to do after last season and his suspension.  He needs to prove his production was for real and that he can be counted on and trusted moving forward.  Lastly, the Pirates organization is probably looking at Marte this year and deciding whether he will be a centerpiece of the franchise moving forward or will he be another player to be moved for more prospects.  With all these factors in mind, it is a huge year for Starling Marte.

Most Important Pitcher

Jameson Taillon

Finally, the Pirates were able to see a full season from Jameson Taillon in the big leagues in 2017!  A top prospect derailed by a myriad of health issues, Taillon finally got to start what everyone still hopes will be a promising career.  In 2017, Taillon was an average starting pitcher.  In 2018, he will be asked to start progressing into the star everyone hopes he will be.  The Pirates are banking on their new look team to be anchored by a bright young pitching staff.  Taillon, along with Tyler Glasnow, will be asked to be the anchors of that.

Prospect to Watch

Mitch Keller

The next arm to join the young Pirates rotation will be 21 year old Mitch Keller.  A former 2nd round pick from 2014, Keller is the 15th best prospect in all of baseball with a potential of being an ace to be counted on moving forward.  If the Pirates are able to establish Taillon, Glasnow, and Keller as the phenoms they can be, the Pirates rotation will be regarded similarly to how we talked about the Mets a few years ago.

2018 Prediction

4th in NL Central

The cupboard isn't bare, but they are definitely taking a giant intentional step back in 2018.  They still have some young emerging stars and a strong pitching staff, but they are looking at the top three in this division, realizing they can't compete with them, and re-tooling to fight another day.  Look for them to be a postseason factor again in 2020.

Fearless Prediction

Starling Marte will be traded this season.

Including team options, Marte is under contract through 2021 on a very club-friendly deal.  However, by the time the Pirates are looking to compete again in a couple years, Marte's contract will be ready to expire.  He is most valuable to them right now: an All Star player in his prime with club control that is ready to help a team now.  They could get a pretty large package back for him that could set them up moving forward.  It would also clear space for top prospect Austin Meadows to crack the big league lineup.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: Pittsburgh Pirates

#16

For the first time since 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates were left out of the postseason party.  Will 2017 bring a return trip to October baseball?

My 2016 Predictions

2nd in NL Central, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen will switch positions by the end of 2016.

2016 Results

78-83, 3rd in NL Central

With a team as talented as this Pittsburgh Pirates team, I figured they would make a return trip to the playoffs.  Due to some struggles in their pitching staff, and an extremely strong top of the division, they came up short for the first time in three years.  Another reason for the slight decline for the Pirates was the decline of Andrew McCutchen.  For years, experts have said Andrew McCutchen was not the best centerfielder on his team.  After a true struggle defensively in 2016, my prediction came true.  It just came true later than I thought.  McCutchen is moving to right, Gregory Polanco is moving to left, and Starling Marte is taking his rightful place in center.

Additions / Subtractions

The Pirates made very few moves this offseason.  After trading Mark Melancon at the Deadline last year, and losing a couple veteran starters in free agency, the roster is pretty much set.  No free agency moves, no trades (despite a lot of talk about trading Andrew McCutchen).  They are counting on their farm system to fill any holes they may have had.

Most Important Hitter

Jung Ho Kang

Despite a broken leg that ended his 2015 season, Jung Ho Kang has had two very productive seasons in the big leagues.  However, he has yet to have a full season.  This season appears to be no different as the Pirates' third baseman is stuck in Korea having trouble obtaining a work visa after an offseason arrest in his homeland.  The Pirates are hoping he makes it back by Opening Day, but there is no guarantee he plays in the big leagues at all this season.  He has been a borderline All Star the last two seasons.  They need him in the lineup to compete.

Most Important Pitcher

Gerrit Cole

The former first overall pick in the draft had a season that lived up to expectations in 2015 as he made the All Star Team and finished 4th in the Cy Young voting.  However, 2016 was disappointing as his ERA was over a run higher than the year before.  Cole needs to get back to the elite level he showed in 2015.  If he doesn't, the Pirates have no chance.

Player to Watch

Austin Meadows

The Pirates have a trio of prospects that are ready to burst on the scene in 2017.  Tyler Glasnow is projected to start the season in the rotation, and Josh Bell is slated to be the Opening Day first baseman.  However, the most intriguing prospect of the group is outfielder Austin Meadows.  He is a top ten prospect in all of baseball and about ready to become a star.  The problem is he is blocked by a trio of All Star caliber outfielders in Polanco, Marte, and McCutchen.  This was one of the reasons McCutchen was almost traded; they wanted to make room for Meadows.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out throughout the season.

2017 Prediction

3rd in NL Central

Starting with the Tigers at #17, every team from here on out will be competing for a playoff spot in September.  The Pirates will be coming up a little short though.  They will improve from their performance in 2016, but there are just way too many teams better than them.  With their mixture of established talent and bright future starts, they will be fun to watch throughout the season though.

Fearless Prediction

Andrew McCutchen will be traded by the end of the year.

Andrew McCutchen has been the face of the franchise since his debut.  However, with his declining numbers, the Pirates not making the playoffs, and the fact that he is the elder statesmen in the outfield, it makes sense if he moves on.  Like I said, they have a can't-miss phenom in Austin Meadows waiting for a spot.  One of two things will happen this year.  Either McCutchen gets traded for more prospects or Meadows gets traded for a star to make the playoff push.  It looks more likely that McCutchen gets traded though.

2016 Pre-Season Profile: Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have had three straight 2nd place finishes in the NL Central, which have led to three straight appearances in the NL Wild Card Game.  Will 2016 break the trend?

Last Season

My 2015 Prediction: 1st in NL Central, lose in NLDS

2015 Result: 98-64, 2nd in NL Central, lost in Wild Card Game

Only one team finished with a better record than the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015.  Unfortunately, that team was in their division.  Then, for the second year in a row, they ran into the hottest pitcher in the league and were completely shut down in their one game playoff.  It was quite an anticlimactic ending for a team that almost won 100 games.

2016 Additions / Subtractions

For the first time in awhile, the Pirates actually made some changes to their core group this offseason.  Neil Walker was traded to the Mets for Jon Niese, and Pedro Alvarez wasn't re-signed in favor of a John Jaso / Mike Morse platoon at first.  Ryan Vogelsong was also brought in to add some rotation depth, and just yesterday, David Freese was signed to provide another infield option while Jung Ho Kang gets healthy.  It wasn't a lot of moves, but for a team that usually does nothing, it was an active offseason.

Most Important Hitter

Andrew McCutchen

I rarely say that a team's best player is their most important player going into the season.  However, Andrew McCutchen truly fits the bill in this case.  Cutch had a "down" year in 2015 as he started to be overshadowed by his outfield mates Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco.  If the Pirates want to get over the hump and make a serious postseason run, McCutchen has to get back to his MVP-caliber form and show why the Marte-McCutchen-Polanco outfield is the best in baseball.

Most Important Pitcher

Jon Niese

Jon Niese successfully improved his overall value with a very strong run out of the Mets' bullpen through the 2015 postseason.  That led to the Mets selling high and the Pirates buying high on Niese.  Now the Pirates need him to show that he can carry over that momentum into the starting rotation in 2016.  If he struggles, the second-guessing will dominate the conversation.

Player to Watch

Tyler Glasnow

With question marks around Niese and Vogelsong at the back end of the rotation, the future might be now for some Pirate prospects in 2016.  Tyler Glasnow is the brightest of those future stars.  He almost made an appearance down the stretch last season like Steven Matz did for the Mets, but instead they chose to move him along a little slower.  Look for him to make his big league debut as soon as someone has to miss a start.  Also, don't be surprised to also see the injury-plagued former top prospect Jameson Taillon reach the big leagues at some point too.

2016 Prediction

2nd in NL Central, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

New season, same result for the Pirates.  There is just something about this team that seems to keep them from getting over the hump.  It seems the Pirates are really good at being really good while the other contenders around them are finding ways to be great.  They will have another outstanding season, but they will come up short once again.

Fearless Prediction

Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen will switch positions by the end of 2016.

Many experts have been claiming for several years now that the Pirates' best centerfielder has been player leftfield.  With McCutchen's injuries and slight decline, I could see the Pirates try this theory by moving Marte to center to relieve some wear and tear on the former MVP.  It doesn't matter how they line up, they are still the best outfield in baseball.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: Pittsburgh Pirates

After not making the playoffs since 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been involved in the last two postseasons.  Will 2015 continue their recent streak of success?

Last Season

88-74, 2nd in NL Central, WILD CARD, lost to Giants in Wild Card Game

The Pirates were the talk of the playoffs in 2013 much like the Royals were in 2014.  However, last season the electricity of Pittsburgh in the playoffs could not overcome the freight train that was Madison Bumgarner's 2014 postseason run.  His shutout in the Wild Card Game ended the Pirates' 2014 season, but in making it to the postseason two years in a row, the Bucs proved they are now one of the top teams in the National League that can be expected to be in the mix year after year.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

The Pirates showed just how much they think they are on the verge of greatness by barely making any moves this offseason.  Ike Davis moved on, allowing Pedro Alvarez to move to first base and Josh Harrison to have a permanent-ish home at third.  The biggest loss was Russell Martin moving on to the Blue Jays.  The Pirates think they found an adequate replacement behind the plate when they traded for Francisco Cervelli.  Outside of these moves, there was no real significant adjustments to last year's roster.  The biggest addition to their roster is another year of experience for their young stars.

Most Important Hitter

Gregory Polanco

Last year, Gregory Polanco made his highly anticipated debut for the Pirates in rightfield.  He did not have a great season, although it was just his age 22 season.  After his taste of The Show last season, the Pirates are needing Polanco to solidify his position in the heart of the lineup surrounded by budding superstar Starling Marte and superstar Andrew McCutchen.  His production could determine how far the Pirates go this year.

Most Important Pitcher

Gerrit Cole

While the Pirates' offense is a definite strength, their starting rotation is lacking some star power and greatness.  They need an ace that can be the face of the mound like McCutchen has been the face at the plate.  Gerrit Cole has the ability to be that ace, and the Pirates need him to start to show it.  This former overall number one pick had an injury-plagued 2014 season that kept him behind his progress.  Now that he is healthy, it is time for him to claim his place as the ace of this mediocre staff.

Player to Watch

Jung Ho Kang

One acquisition the Pirates made that I didn't mention earlier was the signing of 28 year old Korean player Jung Ho Kang.  He is starting the season as the team's utility backup infielder, but let's face it, Josh Harrison will not stay long as only a third baseman.  What makes him great is his ability to play everywhere.  He thrives on it.  If Harrison is needed elsewhere around the diamond, or if Jordy Mercer struggles, watch for Kang to get a chance to show how his talents translate to the American game.

Prediction

1st in NL Central, lose in NLDS

I think this is the year the Pirates finally win the division.  They have had their taste and now want to take the next step.  Although they win the division, their lack of pitching will keep them from going very far in the playoffs.  Watch out for them in 2016 though as more pitching prospects get closer and closer to breaking into stardom.