Two pitchers on very different paths have found themselves indispensable to their team.

Own Disney's Million Dollar Arm on Blu-ray™ and Digital HD today!

Masahiro Tanaka and Dellin Betances were two bright spots on a team that was otherwise underwhelming in 2014. Their outings on the mound made games watchable while the offense floundered for the entire season, giving us some reason to be optimistic about their presence on the team for the next few seasons. Although they were two of the most dominant Yankee pitchers in 2014, their paths to the big leagues could not have been more different. Assuming that the concept of a million dollar arm is one that is pretty indispensable to the organization, both of these pitchers more than fit the bill.

The Yankees took a leap of faith after studying video of Tanaka pitching in Japan for years before he was ever made available to MLB teams. Their $155 dollar commitment over the next seven years was quite the investment for a pitcher who had never thrown a single pitch in MLB and it could have turned out terribly if Tanaka's stuff didn't translate the same way it did when he was dominating Japanese hitters in the NPB. Fortunately for the Yankees, Tanaka seemed to transition seamlessly to MLB. There was concern about Tanaka's partially torn UCL that caused him to miss time from the All-Star break until virtually the end of the season, and therefore cost him a chance at the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards that he looked to be one of the favorites for, but his overpowering stuff has made him worth the risk and investment so far. It was a successful case of the Yankees going outside the traditional means of acquiring top tier talent that paid off in a big way to this point. If Tanaka can avoid Tommy John surgery so soon into his MLB career, the Yankees should have a true ace to turn to now that CC Sabathia is no longer the dominant force he was during the first part of his Yankee tenure.

Betances' ascension to dominating reliever was not as clear of a path as Tanaka's path to Yankees ace was. The control issues displayed in the minors kept Dellin from turning all of his potential into the frontline starter scouts thought he might be. After running out of time to keep trying the starter experiment, the Yankees moved Betances to the bullpen as almost a last resort. From that point on, Betances has done nothing but thrive in his new role. His 1.40 ERA in 90 innings out of the big league bullpen made him one of the best relievers in baseball, even as a rookie. Watching opposing hitters look helpless against his offerings was enough to make fans remember when a young Mariano Rivera was just starting to dominate hitters back in the mid-90s. Whether or not the Yankees decide to let David Robertson leave in favor of Betances as closer, it's comforting to know that the team has found such a weapon for the late innings out of a pitcher who was very nearly a completely failed prospect. Dellin has absolutely found his groove as a reliever, even if that groove is a bit different than the career path he originally set out on.

Both Tanaka and Betances displayed why they were million dollar arms by their dominating performances in 2014. The way they got to that point couldn't have really been more different, but they were both able to become forces to be reckoned with after being given the chance. Do you think the Yankees' next million dollar arm is already somewhere in the system? Who do you think it will be?

The Yankees blunder cost Jeter, Martin Prado the proven 2B option, Yankees 2014 recap, Is Dante Bichette the next hitting coach?

Motley Fool | Adam Levine-Weinberg: The New York Yankees' investing blunder cost Derek Jeter his last playoff run.

NY Post | George A. King III: The Yankees make a to do list: Third base, shortstop, rotation, closer.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Could Dante Bichette be the next Yankees' hitting coach?.

NY Daily News | Mike Lupica: Somehow the Yankees continue to perpetuate the Bronx tale that they are close to winning a World Series every year but they're not.

NoMaas | SJK: There can be no more Cashman apologists.

It's About The Money | Brad Vietrogoski: The best and worst of the 2014 New York Yankees.

Yanks Go Yard | Dan Dechenaux: Martin Prado: The Yankees' proven second base option.

Will Brian McCann rebound in 2015 or will his contract become another albatross?

Grade: D

2014 Statistics: 108 games, .232/.286/.406, 23 HR, 75 RBI, .306 wOBA,  92 WRC+

2015 Contract Status: Signed for $17 million.  Four years and $68 million are remaining on the deal.  Contract also includes a $15 million vesting option in 2019.

After a dismal offensive display behind the dish in 2013, the Yankees were looking to significantly upgrade the catching position. They accomplished that quickly by signing top free agent catcher Brian McCann before Thanksgiving to a five-year and $85 million contract. At the time, the move to sign the former Atlanta Brave was praised by both the media and the experts. Many of them predicted that he would hit 30 home runs a year with the short right field porch in Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, the overall results fell short of the expectations.

McCann’s first two months wearing pinstripes were a struggle, as he hit just .229 with seven home runs and 24 runs batted in. June was a complete disaster for him while he hit below the Mendoza Line with a meager two home runs.  Then in July, he missed two games due to left foot soreness after fouling a ball of his foot. Although his power disappeared for a second straight month, he did hit for a .287 average. In August, he missed six more games, suffering a mild concussion after taking a foul tip to the face mask. Upon returning his struggles continued, as he neither hit for power nor for average. McCann did end the season on a power surge, hitting eight homers in the month of September.

The numbers from 2012-2014 are somewhat similar, begging to question if this is the player that McCann has become. While offense around the game has fallen, he has remained somewhat steady. This past season he improved his strikeout percentage while his walk rate dropped significantly. It's imperative that he returns to being more selective at the plate and takes more walks, as his 5.9 walk percentage is a new career low.

Next, we’ll take a look at his 2014 spray chart courtesy of FanGraphs.

Source: FanGraphs

Looking at this chart you'll notice the amount of fly balls hit in the infield. Infield fly balls are generally automatic outs, and with an 11.1 percent infield fly ball rate, it's no wonder his numbers suffered. Next, I examined the chart for ground balls and see that most of the pitches were hit directly into the shift, which is unsurprising as he's a left-handed batter. McCann continues to be one of the most shifted against hitters in baseball. These trends are in part responsible for his continued under-performing .231 BABIP. Those numbers would've been most likely worse if it weren't for his career low 32.7 ground ball rate percentage.

Defensively, he continued to be one of the top catchers in the game, finishing sixth in caught stealing percentage and first in extra strike calls with 141. His leadership on the field showed this season in the handling of the pitching staff. Through the addition of multiple new pitchers throughout the year, McCann kept focus, guiding the staff to be one of the better rotations, statistically, in the game.

Maybe just maybe our expectations weren't realistic to begin with. The results in 2015 may progress as the numbers show that they should, but I wouldn't bet on a return to the 2009 production level. As a catcher in his 30's, McCann remains one of the very best at the position and in a league of weak hitting catchers, that's a huge advantage.

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs, Baseball Prospectus and Baseball-Reference

Who will they hire?

Kevin Long and Mick Kelleher are out from the Yankees coaching staff, so it's time to start speculating about who might take their place. The organization is likely going to replace them relatively quickly, but we still have some time to speculate before then. If no one else loses their job, the team will need a new hitting coach and a first base coach, someone who can also take on the duties as infield instructor. There are plenty of candidates, but will any of them end up with the job? We'll see.

First thing's first: Paul O`Neill is not interested in a coaching position and Tino Martinez is not being considered for the open hitting coach position.

Someone who might already be considered the favorite for that position is current Athletics hitting coach and former Yankee Chili Davis. Oakland beat writer Susan Slusser has heard talk of him being pegged for either the Yankees or the Red Sox. He's been with the A's since 2012 and is considered to be a big part of their recent success. Though nothing official has been said yet, another name to seriously consider is Dante Bichette. The ex-slugger was the hitting coach for the 2013 Rockies before stepping down after the season to seemingly fix his son's swing, and he's also best friends with Joe Girardi from back in their Colorado days. Girardi named his own son after him. Don't underestimate the power of friendship here.

As far as internal options go, Trenton Thunder hitting coach Marcus Thames is reportedly getting a chance to interview for the job. He's probably not the favorite, but a lot of the young players he's worked with seem to like him and the organization has noticed. Other people in the organization who could make sense, but have yet to be officially considered are longtime infielder and minor league coach Luis Sojo, and, though he doesn't officially work for the organization, Hideki Matsui. The hiring of Matsui, someone who has been seen throwing a lot of batting practice across the minor league system, would fall in line with Brian Cashman's comment about bringing a "global perspective" to the team.

One idea that seems to be picking up steam is that Mike Harkey could return as the Yankees bullpen coach after spending a year in Arizona as the pitching coach. Bringing him back in would allow Gary Tuck to move in as bench coach, a position he filled when Girardi was with the Marlins, which would make Tony Pena the first base coach.

Instead of all that shuffling, the Yankees could hire current special assistant Trey Hillman as their new first base coach/infield instructor. Hillman has experience working with infielders and it could be a way to keep him in the organization as George King is reporting that the Astros have interest in hiring him on as their next bench coach. He helped the organization at scouting in 2014 and is considered to be a great asset to hold onto so it's possible he will be considered a favorite.

It doesn't appear that the Yankees have much in the way of candidates for infield instructor, but we probably haven't heard of all the candidates yet. Who do you want the Yankees to hire? Are there any other people you'd like them to consider?

Finally healthy, the 2012 First-Rounder showed great promise in his first real season on the mound.

Grade: C

2014 Statistics: 17 Games (16 GS)30.2 IP, 2.93 ERA, 11.7 K/9, 3.2 BB/9

2014 Level/Roster Status: Rookie Ball | Short-Season   Non-40

It has not been an easy career so far for 2012 first-round pick Ty Hensley. When initially drafted , the big right-hander was praised for possessing an overpowering fastball that had been clocked as high as 98 mph. Hensley backed that pitch up with an extremely advanced, potentially plus curveball that was viewed as being among the best breaking pitches in that entire class. Hensley was expected to sign quickly for $1.6 million but a post-signing physical ultimately found a genetic abnormality within his shoulder. The abnormality caused the Yankees to reduce their offer and Hensley understandably took time to contemplate his future before agreeing to sign at the deadline for $1.2 million. The late signing limited Hensley to only five innings in 2012.

Expected to begin the 2013 season with the Charleston RiverDogs, the big kid from Oklahoma suffered an abdominal strain early during spring training. What was expected to be a few weeks of recuperation ended up being extended due to numerous setbacks that were eventually attributed to be caused by then unknown impingement in Hensley’s hip that, like his shoulder, was genetic in origin. The former first rounder ended up having surgery to repair this issue, ultimately ending his year before the regular season even began.

With so many issues limiting Hensley over the previous year and a half, 2014 was very much a make or break year for Ty Hensley. With the hip finally fixed, the righty was able to make a proper debut for the Gulf Coast League Yankees, and later the Staten Island Yankees in the Short-Season baseball league. Due to so much missed time, the Yankees understandably limited Hensley’s innings to three innings per appearance. The small number of innings pitched makes all the statistics very unreliable but scouts who were present at his games had some very positive things to say.  In his chat about the Short-Season league, Baseball America’s Aaron Fitt made note that Hensley sat in the 90-93mph range with his fastball, topping out at 96 mph. Fitt also mentioned Hensley "showed a plus curveball."

Although the number of innings thrown were limited, Ty Hensley being able to pitch this year without any issue was a big step in the right direction. The hope for next year is that the reigns will be loosened allowing him to get some significant innings. It is likely that he will start next season in Charleston before hopefully finishing the year in Tampa. It has not been an easy road so far for Ty Hensley but the talent and potential makes him a major sleeper within the Yankees system that could make a lot of noise very soon.

Pro scouting meetings started yesterday; Yankees considering hiring Omar Minaya.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Scouts at FanGraphs have good things to say about Yankee prospect Jorge Mateo.

NY Daily News | Anthony McCarron: Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda may not be posted during the offseason.

Newsday | Erik Boland: The Yankees may be considering former Mets GM (and current Padres senior VP) Omar Minaya for a front-office job.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Pro scouting meetings started yesterday and the team has a lot of decisions to make.

LoHud Yankees Blog | Chad Jennings: Taking a look at right field throughout the Yankees' farm system.

New York Post | Mike Vaccaro: A list of heartbreaking New York-related sports injuries, including Derek Jeter's broken ankle.

Best trade deadline acquisition and hilarious off the field? What's not to like?

Grade: A-

2014 MLB Statistics: 32 GS, 200 IP, 4.05 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 7.9 K/9, 1.5 BB/9

2015 Contract Status: Free agent

Sources: #Yankees were working last night to acquire Brandon McCarthy from #DBacks for Vidal Nuno. Deal appears close.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 6, 2014

I couldn't believe it when the rumors started to emerge that the Yankees were acquiring Brandon McCarthy for Vidal Nuno. Sure, the Diamondbacks righty had struggled somewhat in the first half with a 5.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a .295 batting average against (not to mention the 3-10 record), but he had solid peripheral numbers that strongly indicated a rebound was in order. The skinny, from Eno Sarris of FanGraphs:

ERA does not tell the full story of Brandon McCarthy‘s season so far. Look across his line, and you see career-best strikeout (20%) and ground-ball rates (55.3%) paired with his customary excellent command… and then you see that he’s giving up twice as many home runs on fly balls [20.0%] as he has his whole career.

Meanwhile, Vidal Nuno was Vidal Nuno, an underwhelming 27-year-old rookie who was just absolutely getting pummeled by AL hitters with a 5.42 ERA, 5.17 FIP, and a 1.44 WHIP. Yet on July 6th, the deal was complete: Brandon McCarthy was going to be a Yankee, and Nuno was being sent to Arizona. Oh, and the since-fired Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers paid extra for the privilege of employing Nuno, covering half the cost of McCarthy's contract for the rest of the year. Amazing.

Sure enough, when McCarthy came to the Bronx, he got into a groove, the reverse of what normally seems to happen when a National League pitcher move to the American League. In his 14 starts with the Yankees, McCarthy pitched to a 2.89 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 8.2 K/9, 1.3 BB/9, and a 1.15 WHIP. The real McCoy McCarthy shined through, as people who embrace traditional statistics realized that he was nowhere near as bad as his first half numbers indicated. The 1.2 HR/9, .345 BABIP, and 66.7% LOB% corrected themselves to more typical McCarthy rates of 1.0 HR/9, .307 BABIP, and 76.9% LOB%.

The fact that McCarthy became a work horse made matters even better. The Yankees desperately sought some stability in their rotation with 80% of their Opening Day rotation absent for the majority of their season, and McCarthy brought consistency to his starts. He regularly worked into the seventh inning, averaging over 6 1/3 innings pitched per start, thus permitting manager Joe Girardi to use dominant arms Dellin Betances and David Robertson without needing many outs from the other shaky relievers. There was even one game when the bullpen was exhausted, and McCarthy delivered a much-needed reprieve with a four-hit, eight-strikeout shutout:

The big righty was everything the Yankees could have hoped for in a trade acquisition, and it would behoove them to bring him back for 2015 now that he's a free agent. He has had some injury problems in the past and his health was a bit of a surprise this year, but it's not like health has ruined any of his seasons since reinventing himself in 2011. Even in his 18-start 2012 (partially limited due to a scary line drive off his head that required emergency surgery), he pitched 111 valuable innings with good numbers. The Yankees can afford to take a little bit of risk with a guy with potential like McCarthy.

McCarthy won't be dirt cheap, but the three-year, $36 million contract proposed by Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors sounds like one that I would take McCarthy back on in a heartbeat.

Come back, Brandon McCarthy. We need your pitching. And you and your wife's tweets.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. But cut people that 'like' Facebook on Facebook out of your life.

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) October 10, 2014

Scissor me timbers.. pic.twitter.com/14dqaPo2j3

— Amanda McCarthy (@Mrs_McCarthy32) September 12, 2014

And Hobbes. Please.

Don't eat a @Perfect_Bar around Hobbes.. She will straight steal the wrapper pic.twitter.com/Czm8XFeTDk

— Amanda McCarthy (@Mrs_McCarthy32) July 31, 2014

Which minor league players will be eligible for free agency very soon?

Major leaguers aren't the only players who experience free agency in the offseason; minor league players get to enjoy it too. For minor leaguers to be eligible for free agency, they must have seven years of experience in a major league organization without being added to the 40-man roster. This year, the Yankees prevented Jose Pirela from being eligible for free agency by calling him up in September, but a few others will be eligible if the two sides don't come to a new agreement by January 15.

Jeremy Bleich was drafted 44th overall in the 2008 MLB Draft and remains one of the very few alumni from that draft to still be with the organization. After missing the entire 2011 season with a shoulder injury, the left-hander just reached Triple-A for the first time as a 27-year-old. He saw some promising results after moving to the bullpen in 2012 ad 2013, but he struggled this year with a 4.31 ERA, 4.0 BB/9, and 7.5 K/9 after moving back to the rotation. It's very possible the Yankees could keep him around as organizational filler, but he won't be missed if he leaves.

Shortstop Ali Castillo isn't considered to be much of a prospect and he's never been younger than the league average at any level he's played at, making his mediocre results look even worse. At one point it looked like he had the potential to hit, but now it's clear that he's never going to make it through the upper majors after only managing a .645 OPS in his second season of Double-A at the age of 25. It would be easy to see him go if it wasn't for the fact that he was Trenton's starting shortstop and, with only Cito Culver close behind him, it doesn't look like they have much in the way of a replacement.

It pains a lot of people to say that Pat Venditte, the cult favorite ambidextrous pitcher, has now completed his seventh season in the Yankees' organization and is still no closer to making the majors. Recovering from shoulder surgery, the 2008 draft pick had a solid season with a 2.64 ERA, 2.5 BB/9, and 9.5 K/9 as he finally reached Triple-A for the first time at 29. It looked like he was as close as he'd ever come to a call-up, but it just never happened. At this point, it's probably time to realize that it's just never going to happen, at least not with the Yankees. He'll be better off hooking on with another team who might be more willing to give him a shot in the big leagues.

Two players who were eligible for minor league free agency this year were 24-year-old catcher Kyle Higashioka and 25-year-old right-hander Joel De La Cruz. The 2008 seventh-round pick Higashioka made his return from Tommy John surgery this year and is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League. De La Cruz is a little less straightforward, as he was originally signed by the Brewers nearly a decade ago and spent time with the Nationals before making his way to the Yankees. He also re-signed with the organization last year, so he's had a few contracts over the course of his career.

Bleich, Castillo, and Venditte is a relatively light class for the Yankees, but it will only get worse next year. After the 2015 season, infielders Anderson Feliz and Jose Rosario, catcher Jackson Valera, righties Brett Gerritse and Caleb Cotham, lefty Aaron Dott, and outfielders Daniel Lopez and Yeicok Calderon will all be eligible for minor league free agency. Before that time it's possible that any number of these players will be released, traded, or claimed within the next year, so they might not have much to worry about very soon.

How did the Yankees' 2013 first round pick fare in his first full season as a professional?

Grade: C

2014 Statistics: .259/.354/.460, 16 HR with High-A Tampa

2014 Level/Roster Status: High-A/Non 40-Man

When the Yankees drafted Eric Jagielo last summer the belief was that his polished college bat might be able to quickly move up through the system to provide the team with a third base option before too long. To match that belief, the Yankees aggressively started Jagielo off at High-A Tampa to start his 2014 season instead of having him start out at Low-A Charleston before working his way up. Jagielo managed to appear in only 85 games for the Tampa Yankees, missing a chunk of time with a muscle injury he suffered in the middle of an at-bat. The results were a bit mixed, but a solid season when he did play is reason to be optimistic.

In those 85 games with Tampa, Jagielo batted .259/.354/.460 with 16 home runs and 14 doubles. Although the batting average is lower than you'd like to see, and the 93 strikeouts are a few more than ideal, it's not really accurate to say that Jagielo's season was disappointing. Hopefully health is more on his side in 2015, of course, but the power was at the very least encouraging. It's concerning that scouts believe that Jagielo might not be able to stick as a third baseman considering the team's great need for a replacement for Alex Rodriguez in New York pretty much immediately. Whether those slightly unfavorable reports continue or not remains to be seen, but it's possible that working with professional infield coaches can help Jagielo overcome the holes in his game that stop scouts from buying in 100%.

The Yankees could very well keep with their aggressive approach with Jagielo by starting him off at Double-A Trenton to begin next season, but it wouldn't be shocking for them to tap the breaks a bit after he was only able to play in 85 games a year ago. Jagielo suffered a facial fracture that needed surgery early this offseason, meaning he won't have as much time to prepare for the year as the team may have hoped. Still, he should be ready to go in time for spring training. Improved defensive play and cutting down on some of the whiffs should go a long way to improving Jagielo's stock as he inches toward the upper levels of the minors. He should undoubtedly see time at Trenton next season, putting him not that far off from a chance to play in the Bronx if everything breaks the right way. Hopefully the Yankees' aggressiveness with him will be rewarded with a strong, healthy season next year.

Josh Beckett announced this past Friday. He was one of the Marlins' most successful first-round draft picks and a crucial component to one of the team's best moments in history.

Before last weekend, perhaps the most successful first-round draft pick in Miami Marlins team history announced his retirement. Josh Beckettcalled it a career after 14 seasons in the majors, ending a successful career run that began with the Marlins and ended unfortunately with injury as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Beckett was injured with multiple ailments this past year with the Dodgers, most notably a torn labrum for which he underwent surgery. Beckett decided he did not want to undergo the necessary rehab to get back into playing shape and called it quits instead.

What Beckett left was an excellent career in the big leagues, a good deal of which he spent with his drafting team, the Marlins. For Miami, Beckett was the consolation prize of an ugly 1998 season, as the team had just undergone a drastic fire sale from the 1997 World Series-winning ballclub. The Marlins won just 54 games that season and ended up with the second-worst record in the game, ahead of only the Tampa Bay Rays. The then-Devil Rays selected Josh Hamilton with the first overall pick, leaving the Florida Marlins with Beckett, the tantalizing fireballing high school righty from Texas. The Fish would come to be known for picking hard-throwing southern righties, and Beckett was the model of that type.

Josh Beckett was selected second but contract negotiations held him out of play until 2000. In his first full season in the minors at age 20, he made just 12 starts thanks to injury but put up a 2.12 ERA and whiffed 26.2 percent of batters faced. Before 2001, he was bumped up to the third-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America, but his work in High-A and Double-A would prove him better than that. Split between those two levels at age 21, he dominated with a 1.54 ERA and 203 strikeouts in just 140 innings, constituting a monstrous 38.7 percent strikeout rate. Beckett whiffed more than one third of his batters faced and seamlessly made the transition to Double-A, which is supposed to be the most difficult jump for a prospect.

Needless to say, both Beckett and the Marlins saw him as a prospect no longer. He got a cup of coffee in 2001 in the bigs and made his full-season debut in 2002 for Florida. Beckett was back and forth in his rookie season, posting a 4.17 ERA and 3.69 FIP in 107 2/3 innings pitched but failing to go the distance due to injury issues, including his infamous blister problems that sapped the occasional start. The 2002 season was worth something between one and two wins, which was solid given his innings count but disappointing in that health limited his workload.

Then the 2003 magic began.

Photo by Dilip Vishwanat, USA Today Sports

Beckett made progress and squeezed out 23 starts for the Fish in 2003, posting 143 innings total. Most importantly, he was fully healthy for the start of the 2003 playoffs, when the Fish needed him the most. Then, Beckett played the role of staff ace perfectly. In the 2003 playoffs, he threw a combined 42 2/3 innings in three different series, including crucial low-rest outings against both the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees. In a critical Game 5 against the Cubs, with the Fish facing a 3-1 deficit in the series, Beckett challenged Chicago with a complete game shutout with two hits allowed and 11 strikeouts versus one walk.

Beckett then moved on to battle the Cubs once more, this time in Game 7 in Chicago. With the Marlins staying alive with the wild comeback in Game 6, the Marlins had a chance against Kerry Wood one more time. What followed was a crazy game in which Mark Redman gave up five runs in three innings and the Fish were forced to turn to someone to stem the tide and allow the comeback. With a bullpen that was occasionally tough to trust, Jack McKeon turned to his starters. Brad Penny turned in one inning, but Josh Beckett, on two days' rest, turned in four relief innings with three strikeouts and one run allowed to keep the Marlins in the contest. The Fish came back and won 9-6, and Beckett threw 19 1/3 innings in that series, with two starts and that dominant relief appearance.

Of course, nothing could beat what happened next. Miami faced the New York Yankees, and in Game 3, Josh Beckett dueled with fellow ace Mike Mussina to a veritable tie in what eventually turned into a 6-1 loss in which Beckett gave up two runs on three hits while striking out ten in 7 1/3 innings. But with the Marlins making magic in two games in a row, the team faced a 3-2 lead and a tough decision heading into Game 6 in New York. Once again, McKeon decided to ride his starters, and in particular Beckett, to the finish. The Marlins' manager chose to start Beckett on three days' rest, and he responded with his second complete-game shutout of the playoffs. Beckett whiffed nine Yankees while walking two and giving up five scattered hits, and the Marlins won their second World Series in five years.

The World Series ended in an iconic moment, as Beckett tagged Jorge Posada for the final out and jumped for joy in front of a stunned New York crowd as the Fish won again. Beckett was rightfully named World Series MVP.

Beckett finished that postseason with 42 2/3 innings and 47 strikeouts versus 12 walks. Those 47 strikeouts represented a 29.3 percent strikeout rate versus three of the best teams in baseball that year. Beckett allowed a 2.10 ERA during the playoff run, and his impressive feats of endurance under short rest earned him an MVP award.

Beckett proved to be healthier in his next two years with the Fish, but he was also beginning to approach an expensive level. Beckett got a Major League contract with the Marlins initially, so he earned a fair amount before even reaching arbitration. He picked up just $2.4 million in his first arbitration season in 2005, and at that point the Marlins had decided the 2003 core was not going to win them a World Series. Beckett was among the first casualties of the post-2005 fire sale, but he was perhaps the most important one.

The Marlins traded Beckett along with Mike Lowell in November of 2005 to the Boston Red Sox, but the deal's return was critically important to the Marlins as well. While Beckett went on to have a strong but controversial career as a Red Sox starter, the Marlins got two fantastic pieces back in the trade. One was perhaps the Marlins' best player in history, Hanley Ramirez, who went on to put up close to 30 wins for the Fish over six-plus seasons with the franchise. Ramirez would go on to be the best shortstop in franchise history, hit .300/.374/.499 for his career in Miami, and be the first Marlin to finish second in the MVP award and to win a batting title. Anibal Sanchez was the next important piece, as he finished with a career 3.75 ERA with the Marlins and put up around 13 wins for the Marlins in a six-plus year career.

Josh Beckett is currently the most successful Marlins first-round pick in team history (we'll see how Jose Fernandez and Christian Yelich fare). Beckett served admirably for the 2003 World Series core, put up one of the best postseasons in league history on the mound, helped with a World Series and was a World Series MVP, and was traded for critical parts of the next era of Marlins baseball. By career's end, Beckett was not a Hall of Famer or someone who will be enshrined for his greatness. But as a Marlin, he is an eternally important part of the team's history.

New York Yankees rookie Shane Greene came out of (almost) nowhere to hold his own in the majors in 2014. Who is this guy?

Among the surprise stories in the 2014 Major League Baseball rookie class were a pair of New York Yankees right-handers, Shane Greene and Chase Whitley. Greene was more successful and we'll examine him first as part of our "sleepers who woke up" series.

Greene made 14 starts and one relief appearance for the Yankees this year, posting a 3.78 ERA, 3.73 FIP in 79 innings with a sharp 81/29 K/BB, 81 hits allowed, generating 1.2 fWAR. That's a solid debut, particularly for a guy who was completely anonymous two years ago.

The Yankees drafted Greene in the 15th round in 2009, from Daytona Beach Junior College in Florida. His college career began at the University of West Florida in 2008. He posted a 7.71 ERA in 28 innings as a freshman then blew out his elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery. He transferred to DBJC and did enough to impress the Yankees as a potential bargain as a $100,000 double-digit round pick. He posted a 5.87 ERA in 23 innings of rookie ball, giving up 30 hits although his K/BB was nice at 20/6.

Greene split 2010 between Staten Island in the New York-Penn League and Low-A Charleston in the South Atlantic League, posting a combined 4.59 ERA with a 66/29 K/BB in 70 innings, with 71 hits. He didn't stand out particularly with either the scouting or the stats. He spent all of '11 with Charleston, posting a similar 4.37 ERA, 5-11 record, and a 128/68 K/BB in 138 innings, 141 hits. Again, nothing special, although his strikeout rate was decent enough. At this point he was seen as an organization arm who may or may not develop into something more.

2012 wasn't much different; his ERA spiked to 5.22 for High-A Tampa in the pitching-friendly Florida State League, although the component ratios did not change much (101/63 K/BB in 112 innings, 113 hits). Still a decent strikeout rate, but too many walks and a hit-per-inning. There are a lot of guys who can do that in A-ball.

2013 was another matter. Greene posted a 3.60 ERA with a 69/10 K/BB in 75 innings for Tampa, then moved up to Double-A Trenton and posted a 3.18 ERA with a 68/20 K/BB in 79 innings. He gave up a lot of hits at Trenton, 92, but despite that he took a large step forward as a prospect. Mechanical adjustments dramatically improved his control, he made the 40-man roster, and there was good buzz about him in Yankees circles last fall and winter. I filed this report entering '14:

Greene was drafted in the 15th round in 2009 from Daytona Beach Community College. He’s received little notice as a prospect, but the Yankees added him to the 40-man roster over the winter so they obviously see things they like. He’s got a decent enough arm with a 90-94 MPH fastball; that’s the four-seamer, he also uses a two-seam sinker with slightly less velocity. He mixes in a slider and changeup and he usually throws strikes with everything, or at least he did last year; his command was troublesome earlier in his career but improved mechanics seem to have helped. He’s not overpowering and will give up some hits, but with a good defense behind him he could be a workable fifth starter or long reliever. Grade C.

Greene was hittable at Triple-A Scranton in the first half of 2014, posting a 4.61 ERA, 57/26 K/BB in 66 innings with 79 hits, but his FIP was much better at 3.40. As noted, he acquitted himself well in the second half for the Yankees.

So, fluke or not?

Points to consider:

***The PITCHf/x data lines up with the pre-season scouting report fairly well, although with a little more velocity than expected: his four-seamer was clocked as high as 96 and averages 93, as opposed to the 90-94 MPH marks observed in the minors. The two-seamer ranges from 87 to 95, a hair higher on the upper end than expected.

***Pre-season reports said he had a slider and change-up; Brooks Baseball breaks the secondary pitches down as a slider, cutter, change, and a miniscule number of curves. I"d be very interested in the observations of Yankees watchers who saw him pitch regularly.

***Overall he may have thrown slightly harder than anticipated, but the obvious and key difference between Greene in 2013-2014 and 2009-2012 is dramatically better control. The Yankees picked up on this and were wise enough to protect him from Rule 5 last winter despite his uninspiring track record before '13.

***The pre-season assessment ("with a good defense behind him he could be a workable fifth starter or long reliever") still seems reasonable to me. I'd expect some regression, but I don't think he's a total fluke, either.

What do you think?

Shane Greene, photo by Travis Lindquist, Getty Images

On this edition of Fish Bites, former Marlins great Josh Beckett retires and a whole bunch of different position reviews from Fox Sports Florida and from our friends at Marlin Maniac.

Florida Marlins World Series hero Josh Beckett retires - Sun Sentinel

Despite pitching a no-hitter during this season, Dodgers starter and former Marlins great Josh Beckett announced his retirement after continuing to deal with an ailing hip.

Miami Marlins position analysis: Second base | Fox Sports

Fox Sports Florida's Christina De Nicola takes examines Kike Hernandez, Donovan Solano and Derek Dietrich and examines their odds of returning to the roster for the 2014 season.

Miami Marlins Position Review: Left Field Grades - Marlin Maniac - A Miami Marlins Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Marlin Maniac's Chris Logel continues the site's review series by looking at the team's left field situations.

Miami Marlins Position Review: Center Field Grades - Marlin Maniac - A Miami Marlins Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

In continuation of their series, Marlin Maniac's Chris Logel looks at how Marcell Ozuna manned the right field position

Miami Marlins outright utility man Jordany Valdespin to Triple-A | FOX Sports

After releasing Ed Lucas, who eventually went to the Texas Rangers, Miami outrighted utility man Jordany Valdespin to Triple-A.

Around the League

The extra money won't help Andrew Friedman as much as you might think - SBNation.com

If you're expecting a lot from new President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, it's not the bigger checkbook that's going to make the biggest difference.

The Dodgers' GM was just OK, and that's why he was let go - SBNation.com

Ned Colletti compiled a strong record with the Dodgers, but that speaks less of his acumen than it does the fortune that was been lavished on the roster -- just look at the bullpen.

Finding the all-time postseason walk-off champions - SBNation.com

Which team has won the most postseason games in its final at-bat at home? The Yankees. But there's more to it than that ...

Evaluating the Prospects: Boston Red Sox | FanGraphs Baseball

FanGraphs' Kiley McDaniel gives an in-depth look at Boston's top farm system prospects.

Moneyball Comes to LA: Dodgers Hire Andrew Friedman | FanGraphs Baseball

FanGraphs' Dave Cameron talks about Andrew Friedman and an analytical mindset making it's way to Los Angeles.

At Fish Stripes

A Josh Beckett Marlins career memoriam - Fish Stripes

Josh Beckett announced this past Friday. He was one of the Marlins' most successful first-round draft picks and a crucial component to one of the team's best moments in history.

Miami Marlins Prospects: AFL Report - Fish Stripes

A look at how Marlins prospects such as Anthony DeSclafani and Austin Nola are performing in the Arizona Fall League.

Marlins could pursue Adam LaRoche - Fish Stripes

The Miami Marlins weren't content with the play of Garrett Jones in 2014, and as a result can look to add Adam LaRoche this offseason. Washington is expected to turn down his $15 million option.

2014 Marlins Season Review: Adeiny Hechavarria - Fish Stripes

The Adeiny Hechavarria schism continues to grow, as the shortstop's bat improved but was still among the worst in baseball, while the question of his defensive play remains at the forefront of the conversation.

Marlins position changes: Tom Koehler to the bullpen - Fish Stripes

Signing Hanley Ramirez would be a mistake, the Yankees zero in on a potential hitting coach, and more.

NY Daily News | Andy Martino:The Yankees are not currently in discussions with Omar Minaya, but a deal could come together this winter.

Yanks Go Yard | Jason Evans: The Yankees would be smart to avoid overpaying for Hanley Ramirez this offseason.

LoHud Yankees Blog | Chad Jennings: Taking a closer look at the state of Yankee center fielders up and down the organization.

It's About the Money | Brad Vietrogoski: The Yankees will almost certainly offer closer David Robertson a qualifying offer this offseason, and they would be wise to do so.

NY Post | George A. King III and Joel Sherman: The Yankees and the Mets are both after the same hitting coach - current Rangers hitting coach Dave Magadan.

ESPN Yankees Blog | Andrew Marchand:The farm system has improved, and eleven young Yankees could make a big impact in 2015, either on the the field, or as part of trade packages.

Murphy started the season strong in the majors, but his performance dipped when he was sent back to Triple-A.

Grade: B-

Statistics: Triple-A: 51 G, .246/.292/.397, 6 HR; Majors: 32 G, .284/.318/.370, 1 HR, 93 wRC+

2014 Level/Roster Status: Triple-A/MLB/40-man roster

When the 2014 season started, John Ryan Murphy seemed destined to spend the majority of the season in Triple-A, barring some sort of trade. Instead, Francisco Cervelli almost immediately injured his hamstring, and Murphy was called up to replace him as the backup catcher. Murphy swung the bat well towards the start of the season, going on to hit .364/.382/.394 in the month of May. By the time June rolled around, he started to struggle and ended up collecting just two hits during his last eighteen at-bats. Thankfully, this lined up with Cervelli's return from the DL, and Murphy was designated back to Triple-A where he remained until September call-ups.

Although this isn't what you would expect, he had a better season overall in the majors. His strikeout percentage in Triple-A was elevated from last season, while his walk percentage decreased. He might have had the opportunity to re-join the team in August when Brian McCann missed time with concussion symptoms, but Murphy ended up being injured at the exact same time, and missed almost two weeks of his own. After finally being called up in September, Murphy only played in a handful of games, and finished the season with five hits in his last twenty at-bats.

In terms of his defense, Murphy caught 201 innings in the majors, and made just one throwing error. He allowed 10 stolen bases, and caught two runners stealing, making his CS% just 17. In the minors, his CS% was 26% for the season,; 26% is also his career average. For the sake of comparison, Cervelli's was 25% and McCann's was 37%, while league average in the majors was 27%, granted that they both caught many more innings than Murphy.

As things currently stand, Murphy has the starting job locked down in Triple-A, where he has edged out Austin Romine. It seems that Cervelli will remain in the backup catcher position for as long as he is on the Yankees, and for as long as he is healthy. Coming off of this season, Cervelli's stats really speak for themselves and he's earned the job at this point. It seemed ridiculous that the Yankees started the season with five catchers on their 40-man roster, and even more improbable that they would remain on the roster all season, yet here we are. Since McCann pretty obviously is not going to be traded, Cervelli and Murphy seem to be the two most likely candidates to be moved during the offseason. Unless Cervelli gets traded, we probably will only see Murphy in 2015 if one of the catchers get injured, and when rosters expand.

The Yankees' slugging outfield prospect kept right on hitting between two levels in 2014. What's next for Judge?

Grade: A

2014 Statistics: .333/.428/.530 w/ 9 home runs in 65 games for Low-A Charleston. .283/.411/.442 w/ 8 home runs in 66 games for High-A Tampa

2014 Level/Roster Status: High-A/Non 40-man

Aaron Judge likely had the best season of The Big Three first rounders selected by the Yankees in 2013. The tall outfielder started his season at Low-A Charleston, where he clubbed 15 doubles with nine home runs on his way to a .400+ on-base percentage. The Yankees felt like Judge was ready for the next challenge at a higher level, promoting him to High-A Tampa around the All-Star break. Judge's batting average and slugging percentage dipped a bit upon promotion, but he kept right on finding a way to get on base enough to maintain his better than .400 OBP. That's a huge achievement.

@PSA_GIFs

Looking at Judge, you'd assume that the 6'7" right-hander might be the next in the long line of Yankee giant pitchers. His frame certainly lets you dream on the power potential that his bat may be able to provide. He's only 22 years old, meaning that there is still time for his power stroke to really develop. If we have a more powerful Judge to look forward to, that should make Yankees fans very happy. Even without overwhelming home run power in 2014, his offense was well above average with a 167 and 149 wRC+ at Charleston and Tampa, respectively.

The Yankees obviously have two longer contracts already tied up in the outfield with Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner, but that leaves Judge's usual right field open for the outfield prospect to claim when he is ready in maybe a year and a half or so. The fact that Judge has drawn such praise may give the Yankees enough confidence not to seek out another long term contract for the outfield that may block Judge's progression. That spot may have previously been thought to be for Slade Heathcott, Tyler Austin, or Mason Williams, and we all know how that worked out. Not to say that Judge will suffer the same fate, just that dreaming too far into the future with prospects is never the best idea. It's also very safe to say that Judge has passed those guys in the pecking order of top outfielder in the system. The Yankees could get aggressive with the college draftee and start him at Double-A in 2015. That would presumably put him on track to possibly crack the majors by early to mid 2016, if everything breaks the right way.

Although the league eventually caught up with him, New York Yankees rookie Chase Whitley was a sleeper success story early in 2014. What does his future hold?

Yesterday we looked at New York Yankees rookie Shane Greene, who unexpectedly had a fine major league debut season after relative anonymity as a prospect. Yankees teammate Chase Whitley was also a surprise contributor in 2014, although in his case the league caught up with him after an early run of success. Whitley is still an interesting case study, so let's take a look.

Chase Whitley began his college career at Southern State Union Community College in Alabama. He transferred to Troy University for his junior year in 2010 and was successful as both a hitter and pitcher, batting .364/.464/.564 with 10 homers and an excellent 31/27 BB/K in 236 at-bats. On the mound he posted a 3.68 ERA out of the bullpen, with a 65/24 K/BB in 66 innings, allowing just 48 hits and saving seven games. Scouts preferred him as a pitcher and the Yankees drafted him in the 15th round.

He succeeded immediately, saving 15 games with a 1.31 ERA for Staten Island in the New York-Penn League, with a sharp 44/15 K/BB in 34 innings plus a pair of outings for High-A Tampa. Here is the report I filed entering 2011, which gives you the basic scouting report at the time:

Whitley was a closer-shortstop at Troy University in Alabama, earning a 15th round selection in the ’10 draft. He became a full-time pitcher as a pro, using an 88-92 MPH fastball and an excellent changeup to blow through the New York-Penn League, and he looked good in two outings in the Florida State League as well. His main problem is a mediocre breaking ball, but he is athletic and I think there’s a chance the breaking ball can improve. I like former two-way players, and I think he’s a relief sleeper. Grade C.

Quick success continued in 2011: 1.68 ERA with a 40/10 K/BB in 48 innings for Tampa, followed by a solid 3.37 ERA, 37/19 K/BB in 43 innings after moving up to Double-A Trenton. He looked good in the Arizona Fall League, and his stuff improved to match the stats:

Whitley had a fine 2011 season, increasing his velocity into the 91-96 range while continuing to use his strong changeup. He made progress with his slider, and he was one of the few pitchers who performed well in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 1.62 ERA with a 13/5 K/BB in 17 innings with just 12 hits allowed. He’s got a three- quarters angle in his delivery that adds deception. Whitley needs to refine his command, but so far the Yankees have to be happy with his development and he could get to the majors within the next two years as a middle reliever. Grade C.

2012 was another solid year with a quick adaptation to Triple-A, posting a 3.25 ERA with a 66/25 K/BB in 80 innings for Scranton, with 61 hits. The Yankees began using him in longer outings, which seemed to cause his velocity to slip but without any loss in effectiveness. The report entering 2013:

Whitley reached Triple-A in less than two years and had a fine season in the Scranton bullpen. Whitley has average velocity at 88-92 MPH, but he hits his spots with it and avoids most mistakes. He has a fine slider, and his changeup is unusually good for a minor league reliever, giving him three usable pitches. Due to his relatively diverse arsenal, they stretched him out a bit as a long/middle reliever, giving him several multiple-inning outings (which enabled him to vulture nine wins). He even started a couple of games late in the year and performed well, throwing a combined eight shutout innings. Whitley isn’t going to close games in the majors, but he has a chance to fill the back end of a bullpen. He can pitch more than an inning at a time without wearing down, and even start in an emergency.  Grade C.

2013 was more of the same: 3.06 ERA, 62/21 K/BB in 68 innings for Scranton, 61 hits. The Yankees continued the stretching-out process, giving him five starts along with 24 relief outings. For some reason, I did not file a report on him entering 2014. Maybe it was my concussion, because his '13 was a another solid year for Whitley and my opinion hadn't changed, seeing him as a potentially useful bullpen guy.

As you likely know, Whitley was used as a starter early in 2014 for Scranton, pitched well, then was inserted into the Yankees major league rotation as an emergency measure in mid-May. He pitched well at first, making seven consecutive successful big league starts, giving up just 11 runs in 39 innings during that stretch. However, he began getting roughed up in late June and eventually ended up back in a relief role to finish the year.

Overall, Whitley pitched 75.2 innings for the Yankees, posting a 5.23 ERA with a 60/18 K/BB, giving up 94 hits and 10 homers. The FIP was better than the ERA at 4.14 and he kept his fWAR slightly positive at 0.6. Despite his background in the bullpen, he was actually more effective as a starter (3.81 FIP) than as a reliever (5.25).

Stuff-wise, he showed a four-seamer between 87 and 94 MPH this year, averaging 91. His two-seamer has similar velocity. He has a slider, but his best pitch remains his change-up. All of the PITCHf/x and Brooks Baseball data is line with the scouting reports from when he was in the minors.

Whitley's stuff isn't as good as Shane Greene's. It is easy to dismiss him as a flash-in-the-pan, but Whitley did help stabilize the pitching staff at a critical time and he's already done more than most 15th round picks can do.  The big key for the future will be reducing his home run rate. It was quite low in the minors, and if Whitley can avoid gophers more often, he could still be a useful asset due to his versatility and ability to throw strikes.

Chase Whitley, photo by Hannah Foslien, Getty Images

Would the veteran right fielder be a fit for the 2015 Yankees or not?

One of the names that was linked to the Yankees as a possible trade candidate around the time of this year's Trade Deadline was Alex Rios, the former Blue Jays and White Sox outfielder who was going nowhere with a last-place Rangers club this year. Nothing ended up coming from the rumors, and Rios did not actually end up going anywhere at all. He was in the last year of the seven-year, $69.84 million extension he signed with Toronto in 2007, but he did have a a $14 million option of the 2015 campaign if the Rangers chose to exercise it.

Well, that's not happening, per Jon Heyman. Texas has chosen to pay Rios the $2 million buyout to release him from his contract and make him a free agent. It makes sense for the Rangers, who don't know exactly what Rios would have brought them in 2015 while they were working to rebound from an abysmal season this year. However, it does open up another opportunity for the Yankees should they choose to pursue another outfielder.

The 2014 campaign was a disappointment as well for the 33-year-old Rios, whose home run power abruptly disappeared as he hit .280/.311/.398 with a 92 wRC+ and barely-above-replacement-level play. The righty did hit 30 doubles in 131 games, but the mere total of four homers was easily his lowest since his rookie season in 2004. He wasn't walking much, and his strikeout rate of 17.9% was also his highest since his much-younger days (2006).

Nonetheless, it would be surprising if Rios's skills truly deteriorated that quickly. He had a miserable 2011, but in 2012 with the White Sox, he played 157 games and hit .304/.334/.516 with a career-best 25 homers and 126 wRC+, not to mention 4.2 fWAR. In 2013, he slipped to a .278/.324/.432 triple slash in 156 games with 18 homers and a 104 wRC+. He was a three-win player just a year ago; declines happen, but could he really be replacement level so soon? Additionally, while his -0.8 dWAR and -4.3 UZR/150 were unattractive, his +5.4 FRAA suggests that his defense might not be quite as bad as it seems. Rios would seem like a good buy-low candidate on a contract that would not be too expensive.

On the Yankees though, it just doesn't seem like Rios is a fit. Even if for some reason they don't get a third baseman like Chase Headley in the off-season, the only possible scenario wherein Rios would fit into the everyday lineup is if he plays right field while Carlos Beltran DHs and Alex Rodriguez starts at third base, which is just asking for trouble given A-Rod's injury history. Martin Prado could play third, but then A-Rod or Beltran's not in the regular lineup. A situation where one of A-Rod, Beltran, Prado, or Rios isn't in the hypothetical regular lineup just doesn't seem likely. Obviously, you can't count on all of them to stay healthy for the full year, but you have to take the player's perspective into consideration. The logjam seems like something Rios would want to avoid, and he doesn't appear to be a good enough player at this point to really work to win him over.

If Rios wanted to accept a bench role, a short, low-cost contract might be in order, but chances are he is going to want regular playing time. Some other team needing outfield help is likely to give that option to Rios. Given the red flags around Rios at the moment, it's hard to feel too bad about the Yankees probably not pursuing Rios this off-season.

Dave Magadan is scheduled to meet with Cashman, Billy Eppler is once again on the short list of GM candidates, David Robertson is deserving of a big payday, and more

MLB.com | Bernie Pleskoff: His progress may have been delayed by a balky back, but Greg Bird still displays all tools to be an effective Major League player.

Lohud Yankees Blog | Chad Jennings: With Andrew Friedman heading to LA to become the Dodgers President of Baseball Operations, it is possible that Billy Eppler may leave the Yankees to become the Dodgers new General Manager.

New York Post | George King: Dave Magadan is set to interview with the Yankees for the hitting coach position next week.

It's About the Money | Scott Moss: An elite reliever is worth twice his weight in WAR.  With David Robertson set to become a free agent, the Yankees would be wise to pay him his money.

2014 was a lost season for Ivan Nova. Hopefully he's able to return to form once he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Grade:F

2014 MLB Statistics: 4 GS, 20.2 IP, 8.27 ERA, 6.91 FIP, -0.4 fWAR

2015 Contract Status: Arbitration Eligible

Things were looking up for Ivan Nova heading into the year. The 27-year-old was coming off of a breakout campaign in 2013, where he posted a very respectable 3.10 ERA across 139.1 innings around two triceps injuries and a brief demotion to triple-A Scranton. This was a significant improvement over his disappointing 2012 campaign, where he pitched to an ugly 5.02 ERA and 4.60 FIP. Nova's overall numbers were pretty solid in 2013, but he was nothing short of dominant in the time between his two triceps injuries, reeling off 11 starts of 2.28-ERA ball, while posting a 3.15 FIP.

Unfortunately, Nova's 2014 campaign was a complete disaster. Not only did his season come to an end in April following a torn elbow ligament and Tommy John surgery, but he pitched dreadfully in the four starts he did make. Nova never seemed quite right from the get-go. In addition to his putrid 6.91 FIP, his release point was about inches lower than it was at the end of 2013, which may or may not have had something to do with his poor performance and/or injury. In any event, Nova's injury marked the first blow of many to the Yankees starting rotation in 2014.

Recovering from Tommy John Surgery usually takes around 13 months, so it's unlikely that Nova will be healthy in time to break camp with the Yankees in 2015. Barring any setbacks, he should be ready to don the pinstripes again sometime in the first half of the season, but how he'll perform is anyone's guess. Not only will he be coming off of major surgery, but he also has a history of being unpredictable. His ERA from the last four years read like a heart monitor: 3.70, 5.02, 3.10, 8.27. Even so, there's reason to be hopeful about Nova's prospects in 2015. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball for a stretch in 2013 -- possibly the last time he was fully healthy -- and hopefully he's able to re-capture some of success once his elbow heals up.

The promising second base prospect took a step backwards in his development this year.

Grade: D

2014 Statistics: .222/.345/.326, 20 SB, 96 wRC+

2014 Level/Roster Status: Low-A/Non-40

Second base quickly went from an area of great strength for the Yankees to an area of concern when Robinson Cano decided to take his talents to the Space Needle last winter. The development of talent at second base is now a top priority within the organization and coming into this season there was probably no more promising prospect than 2013 second round pick Gosuke Katoh. After tearing up the Gulf Coast League during a 50-game stint in 2013, Katoh began 2014 with Low-A Charleston. However, adjusting to higher quality pitching in the South Atlantic League proved to be more challenging for him than was anticipated.

As a left-handed batter with a wiry frame and slap-hitting style, Katoh has been described as an Ichiro Suzuki-type hitter with perhaps a bit more pop. Unfortunately, his slaps rarely found holes and his pop was nowhere to be found in his sophomore year. By the numbers, his batting average dipped by nearly 90 points and his slugging percentage plummeted by about 200 points compared to his successful rookie campaign. On top of that, he used his excellent speed to steal 20 bases but was also caught 10 times, meaning his work on the base paths actually hurt his overall production. While it would have been nice to see him climb the organizational ranks at least up to Tampa in 2014, this kind of year will likely result in the Yankees being cautious with any promotion even in 2015. Baseball America also did not think much of Katoh, noting in the end-of-season SAL chat "The less said about Gosuke Katoh, the better."

All is not lost for the young second baseman though. He was drafted with the reputation of being a great fielder and that reputation is still intact thanks to a fine year with the glove. He also showed improvement at the plate as the year wore on. Even if his final slash line was nothing to write home about, it was right around average compared to his peers, and his second half line (.251/.382/.337) looks much better than his first half (.191/.302/.315). Furthermore, those numbers prove that he can maintain a solid on-base percentage even when his batting average dips thanks to his high walk rate. That's a very good sign that he can turn things around offensively. If you still need a reason to be optimistic about Katoh, look no further than his birth date. He just turned 20 years old and isn't finished growing into his six foot two frame yet. With more bulk should come more power and he has plenty of time to improve his plate skills before anyone could consider him a lost cause. Let's hope 2014 was just a small bump in the road for Katoh.