Whether Manny Machado or Bryce Harper become Yankees in the coming days or not, there’s going to be plenty of drama and action in the Yankees’ camp this spring.
Assuming the Yankees go into spring training with the roster as it currently stands, here are three compelling stories going into spring training.
Fans are anxiously awaiting Paxton, whom the Yankees traded number one prospect, Justus Sheffield (along with Dom Thompson-Williams and Erik Swanson) for back in November.
Paxton went 11-6 with Seattle last season with a 3.76 ERA, 208 SOs with a 32.3% K rate in 106.1 IP. He also famously threw a no-hitter on May 8th against the Blue Jays. He can’t rest on his laurels in Yankee Stadium however, the lefty will have to perform at that same elite level and stay healthy to impress the Yankee faithful.
Likewise, Ottavino is out to prove that he can be the elite reliever for the Yankees that he was for the Colorado Rockies last season. In ’18, Ottaviano shared the major league lead in holds with 34. He’s a Brooklyn-born player who will be out to prove he can bring it in the American League East.
The fact that Sanchez struggled in every facet of his game last season is no surprise to Yankee fans and the fact that a case can still be made that he is one of the best catchers in the game might come as a surprise.
Sanchez did not catch or throw particularly well in ‘18, and he hit below the Mendoza line (1.86) on the season, however he was plagued by injuries throughout July and August.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke about Sanchez at the Winter Meetings and said:
“This year is going to be a huge year of growth for him,” manager Aaron Boone told reporters. “And going through some of the challenges and adversity that he went through is going to make him a better player.”
Fans will be anxiously awaiting the results of whatever work Sanchez has done in the offseason to correct his deficiencies behind the plate and hope that his offensive woes are behind him.
- Infield Options
This is an area for fans where most of the drama has been centered this off-season as Didi Gregorius went down with an elbow injury to his throwing arm that required Tommy John surgery to repair. Since that time, Manny Machado has been the name on the lips of fans, some clamoring for him to sign with the Yankees, some claiming the Yankees don’t need his attitude and self-described lack of hustle.
On January 4th, the Yankees signed Troy Tulowitzki, a gold glove and silver slugger winner from years past, but with several recent years of injuries behind him.
Tulowitzki missed the entire 2018 season after surgery on both heels for bone spurs and also had limited playing time in 2017 due to numerous injuries. The Blue Jays released Tulowitzki in the fall.
Scouts who saw the 34-year old Tulowitzki working out this winter said he was in good shape and moving without restriction and the Yankees were impressed enough to sign him to a one-year deal for the league minimum, with Toronto picking up the $38 million owed to him over the next two seasons.
Cashman says he’s committed to Tulowitzki playing shortstop while Didi is out on the Injured List. He told reporters on January 4th that he didn’t know whether signing Tulowitzki would take the Yankees out of contention for Manny Machado and made this remark as reported by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com:
Brian Cashman, on if Troy Tulowitzki takes them out of the Manny Machado hunt:
“I can’t say what it would take us out of, but we’re going into this with a commitment level to try Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop.”
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) January 4, 2019
Cashman has done nothing since this January 4th statement to suggest that the Yankees are doing anything other than planning to play Tulowitzki at shortstop to start the season.
However, Yankees Manager Aaron Boone stated this week that the Yankees would be mindful in spring training and early in the season that Tulowitzki’s playing time would need to be managed closely. I assume because he’ll need to shake the rust off slowly.
Not that positioning Tulowitzki at shortstop resolves every questions about the Yankee infield in ’19, rather it raises further questions concerning second base, Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu.
On January 14th, the Yankees signed free agent DJ LeMahieu for two years $24 million. The 30 year old LeMahieu was an All Star and Gold Glove second baseman with the Rockies, where he played for seven seasons.
How the Yankees intend to use LeMahieu is the question fans are asking since there appears to be a logjam in the center of the infield. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported that the Yankees view LeMahieu as a super utility player who will spell players at second, third and shortstop. He quoted LeMahieu as saying:
“I was told to bring a lot of gloves, if that’s any indication,” LeMahieu said on Wednesday. “I think I can add a lot.
LeMahieu also said he feels comfortable wherever the Yankees decide to play him.
Now that pitchers and catcher have reported to Spring Training, Manager Aaron Boone has commented publicly about positioning players on the infield. He has said that Miguel Andujar will play exclusively at third base. He also said that Tulowitzki will be brought along slowly and that a plan for using him will evolve.
Keep a watch on the Yankee infield situation as it appears the positioning will be fluid with Torres likely getting opportunities at shortstop and with LeMahieu getting opportunities at second base much of the spring.
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