In wake of one of the most disastrous coaching moves ever made, which playoff mistakes hurt these Yankee skippers the most?

Yesterday, in commemoration of Seahawks coach Pete Carroll's astounding blunder in the Super Bowl, I looked back on some of the worst managerial decisions in Yankees history, from the days of Casey Stengel up through Bob Lemon in the Yankees' final World Series berth prior to their playoff drought. The Yankees inexplicably missed the playoffs 14 years in a row after the '81 Fall Classic, so a new generation of fans was treated to the frustrations that managers sometimes cause in the postseason.

Somewhat amazingly, the Yankees have had only three managers in the past 23 years, a mark of stability once deemed unfathomable with George Steinbrenner running the team and swapping out skippers like Pokemon cards. However, the microscope on managers nowadays focuses even closer than ever. There was no WFAN for annoyed callers to phone into whenever they were pissed off about Billy Martin's playoff strategy. There was no Internet forum for lengthy screeds about how Bob Lemon has the tactician abilities of a hermit crab.

While these managers had stability, they certainly were under fire from more sources than ever before. So what were their biggest mistakes in the playoffs?

Buck Showalter

Coney left out to dry

Current Orioles manager Buck Showalter was just 35 years old when GM Gene Michael picked him to run the Yankees at the start of the 1992 season. With Buck at the helm, the Yankees experienced a renaissance thanks to a slew of incoming veteran talent like Paul O'Neill, Wade Boggs, and Jimmy Key in addition to a youth movement led by Bernie Williams. Within two years, the Yankees went from 10 games under .500 to the best team in the American League, and it felt like only the 1994 players' strike stopped them from breaking their playoff drought. It was devastating that they never had the chance to finish the job in '94, but a late-season comeback in '95 helped the Yankees secure the first American League Wild Card spot.

They played another resurgent team in the playoffs, the Mariners, who won the AL West in a one-game playoff on the season's last day. It was a phenomenal best-of-five series, as the Yankees roared to a 2-0 lead thanks to two dramatic victories at Yankee Stadium, only to see Seattle counter with two straight wins of their own back at the Kingdome. The decisive Game 5 came down to Yankees ace David Cone (a brilliant trade deadline acquisition) and Mariners starter Andy Benes. Unsurprisingly, Cone held the edge and the Yankees carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning.

Worst NYY managerial moves (Part 1)

The worst Yankees managerial moves from Casey Stengel through Bob Lemon.

It was evident that Cone was beginning to tire though. He easily led all of baseball in innings pitched that year with 229 1/3 innings in just 30 starts, and he was on his 16th inning of the Division Series as well. He got one out in that inning, then surrendered a mammoth solo homer to superstar Ken Griffey Jr., his fifth homer of the series. Cone was able to shake it off and get a weak groundout from the red-hot Edgar Martinez, but he walked Tino Martinez and allowed a smash single up the middle by Jay Buhner. There was a chance for reprieve though--light-hitting Alex Diaz was due up as a pinch-hitter for the even worse Felix Fermin. No luck--Cone walked Diaz as well, on five pitches.

By this point, Cone was quite obviously exhausted and had thrown 141 pitches. Showalter stuck to his guns. Much like Billy Martin in '76 with Catfish Hunter, he trusted his ace. Showalter also was not feeling confident in his bullpen. Closer John Wetteland had an awful series, allowing seven runs in just 4 1/3 innings and blowing Game 4 on a monstrous grand slam by Edgar Martinez. So Showalter was not optimistic about Wetteland. Still, he had other weapons he could have used in the bullpen.

There was also an unheralded Panamanian rookie named Mariano Rivera who had impressed with seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 scoreless frames, including three during the 15-inning Game 2. Even if Showalter didn't trust Rivera entirely yet due to his shaky regular season, there was setup man Bob Wickman, a steady arm for him throughout the year who threw 80 innings of 115 ERA+ ball and had notched three scoreless in the ALDS so far. Regrettably, Showalter stood his ground and did not turn to either Rivera or Wickman. Cone proceeded to walk the punchless Pat Strange, bringing home the game-tying run and sending Cone to the showers after a mind-blowing 147 pitches. There's something to be said for trusting your ace, but it's another matter entirely when he is completely gassed.

Extra innings did not treat the Yankees as well, and after Edgar Martinez smoked his game-winning double down the left field line off Jack McDowell, it was all over. Showalter never managed another game with the Yankees. Imagine how much the game might be different had Buck turned to Mo or Wickman and they escaped the inning, preserving the lead. Would an ALCS bid have saved Buck's job? We can only guess.

Joe Girardi

Burned by Burnett

I feel like one day a book could be written about the A.J. Burnett Era in New York. After coming on board with the Yankees as a free agent in the 2008-09 off-season, Burnett experienced the highest of highs in the 2009 World Series, spinning a gem against the Phillies in Game 2 that tied the Fall Classic up and saved the Yankees from a big series deficit. They of course won the title that year. Although few denied that Burnett was inconsistent, a 114 ERA+ in his first year in addition to a championship was an excellent start to his five-year, $82.5 million contract

However, the good times did not last for Burnett. The Yankees returned to the postseason to try and defend their championship crown in 2010, but this time, it was in spite of what Burnett did on the mound. It was a miserable season for A.J., as he pitched to a career-worst 5.26 ERA and 82 ERA+ while leading the league with 19 hit by pitches. His strikeouts were down and he only made it past the sixth inning in half of his starts. Come playoff time though, manager Joe Girardi didn't really have anyone else to start in his place. Everyone else was either worse (Javier Vazquez and Sergio Mitre) or even more of a question mark (rookie Ivan Nova and unknown Dustin Moseley)

The Yankees avoided the problem in the Division Series by sweeping the Twins away, but someone had to take the ball in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Rangers. The momentum was against them, as after taking the opener in dramatic comeback fashion, they had lost two in a row to Texas. Whether the Yankees would tie the series or the Rangers would take complete control was in A.J.'s shaky hands.

For awhile, Burnett managed to survive against the tough Texas lineup. The Yankees scrapped together a slim 3-2 lead and Burnett pitched them into the top of the sixth inning. At that point, Girardi could have very well said "Thanks for five solid innings, A.J." and gone to the bullpen, which even before Mo featured capable setup men in Kerry Wood, Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, and David Robertson. Girardi stuck with Burnett, though, determined to wring one more inning out of him.

The frame got off to an inauspicious start when Vladimir Guerrero roped a line drive single to right. Again, Girardi could have called it a game at that point but did not. Burnett surprisingly retired Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler and was just one out from escaping. At this point, Girardi made the curious decision to intentionally walk David Murphy to face Bengie Molina. It made some sense, as Molina was a far worse hitter at that point in his career than the lefty-swinging Murphy. Still, it was putting the go-ahead run on base with a very risky pitcher on the mound nearing 100 pitches. Furthermore, Girardi could have simply played matchups and brought in either the lefty Logan to face Murphy or one of his righties in case Texas countered with a pinch-hitter. Regrettably, the batter/pitcher matchup remained the same. Molina made Burnett and Girardi pay.*

Aside: Literally moments before Molina homered, the TV broadcast showed a clip of a similarly crushing dinger by Molina against the Yankees from their 2002 Division Series loss to the Angels. Friggin' déjà vu.

The three-run bomb turned out to be the final homer of a fine 13-year career for Molina and it was the death knell for the game. The Yankees were unable to recover, and they lost to fall behind 3-1 in the series. They won Game 5 to force a sixth game in Texas, but it was too little, too late. The Rangers won Game 6 to end the Yankees' dreams of a repeat. Girardi survived a similarly poor move in the 2009 ALCS since the Yankees recovered to win that series, but a year later, no such luck was to be found. He certainly earned his share of criticism in the off-season for this move, and it remains the worst decision of his managerial career.

Joe Torre

As one of the Yankees' longest-tenured managers in franchise history and the one who was at the helm when the Internet exploded in high usage, Torre certainly had his share of questionable moments at the helm. It's inevitable for anyone on a job for such a long time. After Torre's teams got off to an unbelievable start to his tenure with four World Series titles in five years, Yankees fans held very high expectations. When the Yankees thus failed to win another World Series despite talented teams in all of Torre's final seven years on the job, it was even more frustrating.

Making matters worse was the fact that Torre was a terrible in-game strategist. He played hunches far too often, overused relievers, and sometimes failed to take advantage of a seemingly obvious opportunity. I can't sit here and say that Torre was a bad manager because so much of what goes into the job involves being a great leader of men and someone who keeps the locker room together. For most of Torre's tenure (with the exception of one particular incident), he did an outstanding job keeping morale up and maintaining a steady clubhouse atmosphere in a high-pressure city. So he deserves credit there.

In games though? Man, it was rough to watch Torre. It didn't help that his hunches, which were once equivalent to the Midas Touch thanks to random role players like Luis Sojo and Jose Vizcaino becoming World Series heroes, turned sour. I surveyed Twitter to come up with examples of Torre's playoff problems in the 2000s, and there was a disconcerting amount of responses:

@pinstripealley Not pulling the team off the field in Cleveland with all the bugs.

— Purenyyankee (@purenyyankee) February 3, 2015

That was an awful one. Torre himself has said that this was the worst decision of his managerial career, and there's definitely a case. An infestation of midges swarmed Progressive Field in Cleveland late in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS. Rookie sensation Joba Chamberlain could not find any way to pitch through the awful scene. The bug spray they used only made it worse. Torre could have pulled the team from the field until it was resolved, but he stayed in the dugout. Chamberlain blew the lead, Fausto CarmonaRoberto Hernandez remained unperturbed by the midges, and Cleveland eventually won in extra innings to take a 2-0 lead in what turned out to be Torre's last series in pinstripes.

@pinstripealley I don't think this was his dumbest move but starting a tired Wang on three days rest instead of a rested Mussina in '07 ALDS

— Armored Armadillo (@MattWaters28) February 3, 2015

This is just an add-on to 2007. That was just not a good series for Torre. Ace Chien-Ming Wang was crushed in Game 1 and he had basically no experience pitching on three days' rest. As @MattWaters28 noted, it wasn't the worst idea since Mike Mussina was up-and-down that year as well, but when Wang again got rocked in Game 4, that doomed the Yankees.

@pinstripealley batting Arod 8th

— Ben Greenberg (@HLbeans) February 3, 2015

Ah yes, the one glaring example of when Torre made a horrific clubhouse decision. Slump or no slump, batting one of your best hitters eighth in a lose-or-go-home playoff game (2006 ALDS Game 4 against the Tigers) is an abysmal choice. It reflected no confidence at all in Alex Rodriguez's abilities, and was an overreaction to a few bad games. It ultimately didn't matter because Jaret Wright was atrocious and the Yankees never really had a chance. Nonetheless, it remains baffling to this day.

@pinstripealley bringing the infield in in game 7 in 01. Should have only brought corners in

— Joe Vitulli (@jumpinjoe25) February 3, 2015

Boy, I really do not want to talk about the ninth inning of 2001 World Series Game 7. Here's all I'll say: It was not a weird strategy as I'm sure plenty of other managers around the game would have brought the infield in. The winning run was on third base, and if a slow grounder (common when facing Rivera) had won it for the Diamondbacks, he would have been equally scorned. Nonetheless, all hitters become much better when the infield is in, and that allows little bloops like the one that followed to fall in.

@pinstripealley Every decision in Games 4-7 in the 2004 ALCS.

— John C (@general_devs89) February 3, 2015

Oh. Oh God. Do tell, Twitter.

@pinstripealley not giving Rivera the ball in favor of Gordon in G5 of 2004 ALCS just after Ortiz HRed to make it a one run game in the 8th

— Isaac Dayan (@Dayankee21) February 3, 2015

Ow.

@pinstripealley Great post. I assume NOT running on Varitek with Wakefield pitching has to be on there

— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 2, 2015

I am wounded.

@pinstripealley not bunting on Schilling and his bloody sock.

— Drew (@_SwarlesBarkley) February 3, 2015

Okay, this is brutal enough.

Torre made awful decisions throughout the final four games of the 2004 ALCS, and he was a big reason why the Yankees lost those games. PSA writer Harlan Spence has often cited Game 7 as probably the worst of Torre:

Yeah in all seriousness, Torre butchered that series probably more than any manager has butchered any series ever. The decision to start Brown in that game – and then leave him in until it was pretty much out of reach – was one in a long line of very, very bad ones.

Neither Kevin Brown or Javier Vazquez were delightful options, but Torre's usage of them in that game brought forth so many questions. Nonetheless, one moment alone stands out as the worst in the Torre era. Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, you probably already know what it is.

Scenario: Your team is on the brink of taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the World Series. You are in extra innings, and you need to hold the fort. You have the greatest reliever in the history of baseball at your disposal. Instead, you turn to... this guy:

There cannot possibly be a worse decision. Instead of going to Mariano Rivera and skipping the bullshit "can't use your closer on the road in a tie game without the lead" rule that is not at all binding, Torre decided that Jeff Weaver and his 5.99 ERA was the man for the job in extra innings against the Marlins. Stunningly, it took the Marlins more than one inning to score against him, but score they did. Light-hitting Alex Gonzalez struck the decisive blow, and all of the sudden, the series was tied. The Yankees would not win another game in 2003.

Forget Torre's career--the decision to pitch Weaver over Mo in 2003 is arguably the worst baseball managerial move of all time. It was blatantly nonsensical and occurred on baseball's biggest stage with the chance to push the opposing team one game away from elimination. I loathe it to this day. As previously stated, Torre deserves some credit for those earlier championship teams, but in 2003, he was as much to blame as anyone for the Yankees' failure to secure a fifth championship in eight years.

Top Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada may soon sign with an MLB team, as he was finally declared a free agent today.

Finally!!!

Top Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada is now a free agent, as MLB has reached an agreement with the US government to allow Moncada to sign with any major league team beginning today.

The news on Moncada broke earlier this afternoon, and here is Yahoo Sports Jeff Passan who broke the news on Twitter:

Breaking: Yoan Moncada is a free agent after MLB changes its rules regarding Cuban players. Story with details soon on Yahoo Sports.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 3, 2015

According to Passan, the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox are considered the favorites to sign him, but other teams have held private workouts for him including the Giants, Tigers and others.

Here is more on the details of the agreement to allow Moncada to become a free agent, courtesy of Passan:

Players who present sworn affidavits to Major League Baseball stating they are residents of another country, have no intention of returning to Cuba and are not Cuban government officials can sign with major league teams immediately, sources said. MLB distributed a memo to teams Tuesday afternoon outlining the changes.

Previously, the league required a specific unblocking license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Recent changes in the government's policy regarding Cuba prompted OFAC to no longer issue specific licenses in cases where the person fulfilled the criteria for a general unblocking license - such as permanent residency in a third country.

Below is a short scouting report on Moncada, courtesy of Kiley McDaniel at FanGraphs:

Moncada is 19 and packs a lot of tools into his 6'1/210 frame. He's a plus-plus runner with above average raw power from both sides of the plate and the tools/skills to stick in the infield, possibly at shortstop. Moncada is the quick-twitch type with big bat speed that clubs covet and his track record of hitting at big tournaments and in Cuba's professional leagues is excellent considering his age.

Here is more from Ben Badler over at Baseball America:

How good is Moncada? He has more upside than Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, who just reached a $72.5 million deal with the Red Sox. He's better than Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas, who's in the Dominican Republic but is still likely several months away from free agency. If Moncada were eligible for the 2015 draft, he would be in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick. Gourriel and Despaigne would be safer bets, but there's no player in Cuba with Moncada's combination of youth, tools and hitting ability.

Note: Badler's piece was written on August 22, 2014.

I read recently that Moncada is a left handed version of Yasiel Puig, so he's going to get paid a very nice sum of money in the high nine digits real soon.

More on Mioncada from McDaniel's piece earlier today:

Moncada, 19, likely spends 1-2 years in the minors before settling in the big leagues at either second base, third base or center field, with the offensive upside of Yasiel Puig. For those wondering where Moncada would land on a top 100 prospects list, he'd be somewhere from 5-12 for me, with comparable talent to guys like Carlos Correa and Corey Seager, but with far less proven as Moncada hasn't played in a game for a long time. That said, Moncada was a standout performer in nearly all of his international tournaments before leaving Cuba, so his hitting tools are expected to lead to big numbers.

For those of you who participate in leagues where you can draft minor leaguers/prospects, Moncada could/should be considered an option as the #1 pick in your farm drafts in the coming months.

The 19-year old infielder is now a free agent after Major League Baseball made a rule change.

Teams who have been waiting to bid on Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada can now stop waiting. According to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan, Moncada is now a free agent after Major League Baseball slightly altered its rules with regard to Cuban players.

Initially, the league required an unblocking license that could be obtained from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. However, Passan notes potential baseball prospects who present affidavits to the league noting they are residents of another country, have no intention of returning to Cuba and are not directly connected to the Cuban government can sign with a major league team without a delay.

Moncada left Cuba and traveled to Guatemala, and according to Passan, obtained several documents that indicated he is a permanent resident. The league issued a memo to each team explaining the changes on Tuesday afternoon. The memo reportedly included "specific language" that a team can use in an affidavit. With the rule change, Hector Olivera and Andy Ibanez would both be eligible to sign immediately.

Although several teams have interest in Olivera and Ibanez, Moncada is receiving the most attention. Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports notes that Moncada has already worked out for several clubs, and as a result, it should not take long for him to be signed. He is expected to receive a deal worth $30 or $40 million, but a signing bonus could make any deal worth up to $80 million.

Moncada could wait to choose a team, however Passan believes the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers all have interest. He is expected to have several more workouts in February, and will likely be evaluated a second time by the teams most interested.

Several Cuban players, including Aroldis Chapman, Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig, and most recently Jose Abreu have explored their major league options. Ultimately, the use of affidavits provided the league with enough protection, allowing Moncada to sign with a team of his choice.

Should the Yankees consider bringing in a veteran closer so that Miller and Betances can be used more effectively?

One of the biggest decisions the Yankees have to make before the regular season starts is about who should fill the role of closer. The main choices for the position are Andrew Miller or Dellin Betances, though the team could opt for them to share the role. They could also go in an entirely different direction and bring in a third person to be the closer. Should they consider making someone besides Miller or Betances the closer?

The best argument in favor of bringing in another reliever to be the closer is that it would free up Miller and Betances. If one (or both) of them get locked into the closer role, then their availability becomes limited. If the Yankees brought in someone else to be the closer, then Miller and Betances could be used in high leverage situations or against the most challenging batters. Although, knowing Joe Girardi, he might make them strictly the seventh and eighth inning guys if he was given the opportunity. Since the rotation is so unpredictable right now, it would ease my mind to know that the Betances and Miller could protect the later innings of the game. Furthermore, bringing in a veteran closer would give the bullpen more depth in case someone gets hurt or is ineffective.

Realistically, the Yankees should not spend any substantial money on the bullpen since it is by and far the greatest strength on the team. If they want to sign any more free agents, then that money would be best spent on a starting pitcher to shore up the rotation, a bat to improve the offense, or Yoan Moncada (if he ever becomes available). With that being said, Rafael Soriano has yet to be signed, and we know the Yankees love having a "proven closer." The odds of the Phillies winning the World Series is probably higher than the odds of the Yankees bringing back Soriano. His untucking antics would be more interesting than his actual pitching considering that he put up a 3.12 ERA, 3.08 FIP and 1.12 WHIP in 2014, which isn't terrible, but Miller and Betances both had much better seasons.

It would only make sense to go with someone besides Miller and Betances if the Yankees decided to fill the position internally, or made a trade, both of which seem very unlikely. Some Yankee fan out there will argue that Miller and Betances have no closer experience, so it should be someone else by default, but David Robertson didn't either going into last season, and he did just fine. There's also the fact that none of the relievers on the 40-man roster have experience as closer, so they might as well just go with their best reliever, which would be Miller, Betances or a combination of the two.

Do you think the Yankees should consider bringing in someone besides Andrew Miller or Dellin Betances to be the closer?

Really? Are you sure?

After staying quiet in the bidding wars for free agent pitchers Jon Lester and Max Scherzer the Yankees may now be pursuing the final remaining big name starter on the market in James Shields. FOX Sports' Jon Morosi spoke to a GM that believes New York is actively pursuing the right-hander, which is a departure from their previous comments about not adding another serious payroll commitment ahead of the 2015 season.

Seeing as pitchers and catchers report in less than 20 days, time is running out for Shields to sign with a team before spring training really gets underway. He could, of course, wait and see which team inevitably loses a starter to injury in spring training with the hopes of cashing in on their panic, but that's always a dicey risk. The Yankees very obviously need some help in the pitching department so that depending on CC Sabathia and Chris Capuano becomes less of an absolute necessity. Shields isn't the great get that Lester or Scherzer would have been, but the advantage of that is that he also comes at a lower cost. Maybe the Yankees have gauged what he can reasonably expect to get at this stage of the offseason and are now intrigued by that.

Shields threw 227 innings for the Kansas City Royals last year on their way to an appearance in the World Series. Having a guy who has been able to pitch over 200 innings in every season of his career so far is a nice luxury for a team like the Yankees with so many injury risks in their rotation as it currently stands. Shields' 3.21 2014 ERA was a few ticks higher than his 2013 mark of 3.15, but still lower than his 3.52 ERA he posted in his last season with the Tampa Bay Rays. Even still, replacing Capuano with that seems like a no-brainer if the money isn't out of control. Maybe.

On the flip side, not everyone is buying the Yankees' interest:

Like with Scherzer, I continue to hear #Yankees are not in play for significant fr-agt SP such as Shields

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 4, 2015

That's certainly more in line with what we've heard from them all offseason, and it's certainly possible that Morosi's source is incorrect. Who knows. The joys of hot stove season are plentiful.

Do you want Shields to be a Yankee? Does it make sense that the team might be looking to bring him in at this stage of the offseason?

The right-hander and Broward County native is hoping for a bounce-back year after an injury-plagued 2014. Plus links on the new Marlins infield and the best trade in Marlins history.

To our readers:

Please welcome Danny Smith to the FishStripes team! -Scott Gelman

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Latos' repertoire was completely transformed in 2014, as he had worked a new splitter, threw the slider far less, and worked the cutter/sinker of the straight fastball.

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The Marlins' infield has undergone a makeover this offseason, adding new faces at first, second and third base. That means one of infield coach Perry Hill's first priorities in Spring Training will be getting everyone on the same page.

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Was the trade for Mike Lowell the best trade in Miami Marlins franchise history?

New seats, sound system at The Dean " The Fish Pond

Roger Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Marlins and Cardinals, will have a fresh, new look when both teams report to camp later this month. A couple of upgrades fans will notice immediately are brand new seats and a higher-quality sound system.

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Projected lineup and three big questions regarding the 2015 Miami Marlins.

Around The League

Who's better: Yankees or Mets? - SweetSpot Blog - ESPN

Alex Rodriguez will make his return to the Yankees, and Matt Harvey will do the same for the Mets in 2015. Which team has the edge at each position?

Hamilton to have right shoulder surgery; out 6-8 weeks | MLB.com

The Angels announced Tuesday that Josh Hamilton will undergo surgery to repair the AC joint in his right shoulder, a procedure that is expected to keep him out for six to eight weeks and makes him doubtful for Opening Day.

Cuba's Moncada cleared to sign with any MLB club | MLB.com

The path was cleared Tuesday for top Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada to negotiate and sign with the Major League club of his choice.

Cuban players no longer need license to play in MLB | FOX Sports

Major League Baseball has eliminated its requirement that Cuban players obtain a license from the U.S. government before they are eligible to sign with big league teams.

At Fish Stripes

Giancarlo Stanton to test out protective face guard in Spring Training - Fish Stripes

After conferring with friend and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jason Heyward, Giancarlo Stanton will wear a protective face mask in Spring Training as he eases back into the box after sustaining facial injuries late last season due to a hit-by-pitch.

Marlins on list of offseason winners - Fish Stripes

Miami was notably active this offseason, opting to try and contend as soon as possible. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman feels that the club has made positive steps towards this goal.

Grading the 2015 Marlins offseason - Fish Stripes

The Miami Marlins' offseason is very likely complete with the signing of high-profile fourth outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. How have the Marlins done this season with trying to build a postseason team? We grade every move.

New York Daily News | Wayne Coffey:Ivan Nova is feeling good after recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he isn't sure when he'll be able to return.

New York Post | Ken Davidoff: The Yankees have the resources to land Yoan Moncada, who is officially a free agent, but other teams with deep pockets will make the competition for his services an intense bidding war.

NJ.com | Ryan Hatch: Now that Moncada is eligible to sign with any MLB team, he could receive up to $80 million dollars from frontrunner teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox.

New York Post | Dan Martin:Dellin Betances went from practically being considered a failed prospect to an All-Star in one amazing season, but this season comes with expectations and the spotlight is going to be on him to turn in another strong season.

FOX Sports | Jon Morosi: Free agent pitcher James Shields has multiple offers and is expected to sign with a new team by the end of the week. One GM believes the Yankees have been in contact with Shields' agent.

At this point, the Yankees need to salvage every ounce of value they can from Alex Rodriguez. Two of A-Rod's traits as a hitter could be very valuable if passed along.

Say what you will about Alex Rodriguez, but everyone can agree that he is a pretty good baseball player with a vast amount of experience. He might not have set a very good example for young athletes throughout his career, but it is still possible for A-Rod to be an asset with his wealth of baseball knowledge. Looking at A-Rod's strengths as a player, his expertise could be very valuable to the future of the Yankees. A-Rod, who is likely looking to salvage what is left of his reputation, could definitely use the positive PR that comes with being a mentor, while less experienced players could stand to gain a lot by picking his brain.

Looking at A-Rod's profile as a hitter, two things jump out as extremely valuable skillsets. First, A-Rod has always done a great job of hitting for power to all fields. He has taken advantage of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium more often than several lefties would hope to do. Since 2002, FanGraphs has A-Rod leading all hitters in opposite field home runs with 87, in addition to putting up a wRC+ of 120. However, further analysis reveals a disparity between his fly balls and his grounders:

While he hit a majority of his grounders to the left side of the infield, it may or may not be enough to warrant a shift. Still, if A-Rod can help any Yankee hitters hit to all fields with power, he might help neutralize the shifts that crippled the Yankees' offense in 2014.

Another skill that stands out is A-Rod's ability to hit fastballs in the upper part of the strike zone. Tons of research suggests that the MLB strike zone is continuously dropping, and that high heat is the new thing. A-Rod has never had much of a problem with high fastballs, as shown by his zone profile, once again from Brooks Baseball:

The cat is out of the bag when it comes to high fastballs within the baseball community, making A-Rod's superb plate coverage extremely valuable. Every MLB analytics department has undoubtedly caught onto this trend and has probably had a discussion about implementing more high heaters into their pitchers' approaches. If A-Rod can give some of the younger Yankees a lesson in hitting high fastballs, the Yankees would be ahead of what is looking like the next major trend in baseball.

Of course, several potential roadblocks exist. Approaches that worked for A-Rod, who was gifted with superhuman ability that was augmented by PED's, might not work for just anyone. In addition, looking at hitting coaches around the league, there is absolutely no reason to believe that being a good hitter has any impact on coaching ability. New hitting coach Jeff Pentland never reached the MLB, while assistant Alan Cockrell posted a career fWAR of -0.1 in 9 career games.

In any case, it is important that A-Rod try his hand as a mentor to younger hitters. Looking at the other high profile PED users, there is reason to believe that A-Rod can help. Mark McGwire is currently serving as hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Barry Bonds has served as a guest instructor for the Giants in addition to consulting for hitters around the league, including A-Rod himself. The Cubs believe Manny Ramirez can help push super-prospects like Kris Bryant and Javier Baez to the next level. No one really knows what Sammy Sosa is doing.

Furthermore, letting the public know that A-Rod has embraced a mentor role in the clubhouse would help calm the media firestorm surrounding his return. The resurrection of Alex Rodriguez will definitely be an intriguing storyline in 2015. But if he can help solidify the future of the Yankees, it might not be all that bad.

With a lot of potential at the position, do you hold off? Or do you prioritize one of the big names?

The No. 15 first baseman in our consensus rankings hit 53 home runs a year ago, and has averaged more than 37 a year over the last three. He's tied with a guy who hit 30 homers and drove in 92 runs last year.

The unanimous No. 1 catcher is eligible at first base, and he could only manage 10^th place. The two guys just after him were first-rounders or close as recently as a year ago. Move down to our 21^st-ranked first baseman and you find last year's NL batting champion.

The position includes relocated third basemen (Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Zimmerman), multi-eligible guys (Buster Posey and Todd Frazier), and any number of old Yankees who can't find anywhere else to play.

What I'm saying is, there are a lot of first basemen right now. The following chart shows the 2014 wRC+ of the 10^th- and 20^th-best players at each position (*30^th and 60^th for outfielders):

The 20^th-best first baseman last year was a better offensive player than the 10^th-best second baseman and shortstop, and at least comparable to the equivalent at the other positions. It's not that first basemen, top to bottom, are great; it's just that there is so much competence.

You think I'm building this all up to tell you to wait on first base, don't you? If the 20^th-best guy at the position is the same as another position's sixth, why leap early? Why not wait and draft Chris Davis, or Lucas Duda, or Justin Morneau?

But that's what you get for thinking you can predict me, you big ol' wronghead. Because while the lower tiers of first basemen are better than their other-position counterparts, the top first basemen are really good. Like, I-ranked-Miguel-Cabrera-sixth-at-the-position good.

"Aha!" you're thinking. "He put a twist in! After all that boosting of the lower-level first basemen, he's going to tell us to dive in early! What a trickster!"

And again, dear presumptive reader, you are incorrect.

The thing about first base - this has been true for several years, actually, but with the uber-elite Albert Pujols-type seasons now less likely, and the next tiers closer to that top one, it's true now more than ever - is that you let the position find you.

If you're hanging out, looking for a second baseman, and you feel like you can either take Ian Kinsler now or sit back and settle for a Daniel Murphy type, you kind of have to jump on Kinsler. If you have a shot at Buster Posey, but waiting will land you Yasmani Grandal, maybe you take the premium guy.

At first base, though, there isn't an obvious dropoff. You could get by with Paul Goldschmidt or Edwin Encarnacion as your starter, or you could eke out a living with Carlos Santana or Adam LaRoche, provided you get a Robinson Cano type earlier when the opportunity arises.

In short, you want to have some sort of strategy for your middle infielders, your catchers, your pitchers. A guy you want, a backup in case that falls through. A round in mind, or a dollar amount to spend. But for first base, you just let it find you. When there are a lot of options, all you want is to be flexible. There are so many ways to go right.

Yoan Moncada is now free to be signed by a team hopefully named the Yankees. James Shields is also rumored to be on the move. Will he be moving to the Bronx? Pitchers and catchers report in Whitey Ford days.

I was asking for something for us to talk about, and yesterday I got that wish. Not one, but two bits of interesting facts and rumors graced our pinstriped world. The first bit, and the most important one, is that Cuban infield prospect Yoan Moncada has been officially cleared to sign with a team. So, you know, get on that Cashman. The second bit, mainly a Yankee rumor at this point, is that James Shields will be signed by a team sometime this week. Whether or not the Yankees decide to sign Shields has be bandied about by a few members of the baseball media. All will hopefully be revealed shortly.

Comments of the Day

Interesting points brought up in John Beck's article about overrated Yankees.

As we've discussed before, Melky Cabrera is a prime example of the real lack of repercussions that come from taking PEDs.

Pinstripe Alley's regular entomologist long time listener, ladies and gentlemen!

GIF of the Day

Someone claimed that Bernie Williams was overrated. This was my reaction.

Honorable Mod Mention

There wasn't much honorable content yesterday. However, Andrew probably was the least honorable by making us relive some of the worst managerial moments in recent Yankee history. Thanks a lot, Andrew!

• Since he wouldn't be the ace on the Yankees staff, replace "Big Game" with something else for James Shields.
• If you could do any event in the Winter Olympics, which one would you choose?

I probably could have used 2 Unlimited songs for the majority of Sports Theme Week. Apparently, some NHL Teams use this song to signal a Power Play. Bold choice! As always, please link us your Song of the Day.

Feel free to use this as your open thread for the day. How badly do you want James Shields? How badly do you want Yoan Moncada?

Do you feel alright?

The rumor mill is about to get cranked back up into full gear as a new Cuban superstar is officially on the market.

It must have been a harrowing few months for Cuban phenom Yoan Moncada between his initial trek from Cuba, to showcasing his skill for over a dozen clubs and his time spent in limbo as MLB decided how to deal with the effects of a proposed "normalization" of U.S./Cuba relations. MLB finally made their decision and will no longer require a special license for Moncada to join the league and he is now your standard International free agent. The timing is of course fabulous news for the Yankees, as they will be limited to offering $300,000 to International signings for two years starting July 2nd, having blown past the signing limit last year. That's why the rumor mill has assumed the Yankees would "go all in" on the young infielder, since they'll be mostly sitting on the sidelines for the next two years.

Still, just how far are the Yankees willing to go? Reports have Moncada commanding a bonus of upwards of 40 million dollars and then a matching amount going to the league in signing penalties. That's a lot of money for what amounts to a prospect, one that hasn't played baseball in about two years. He would undoubtedly become one of the best prospects in the league, however, and he projects to have enormous offensive upside. He's not expected to stick at shortstop though, so visions of him replacing Derek Jeter may need to be put on hold. He'll probably need 1-2 years in the minors anyways before we find out if his future is at second, third or the outfield.

The Yankees are going to be involved in nothing short of a frenzy. The Red Sox and Dodgers are both expected to be major players in this bidding war, and Boston finds themselves in the exact same signing penalty situation that could spur their aggressiveness. Moncada's expected to conduct a few more showcases this month and visit with a couple of teams a second time, so the process could be a lengthy one. Half of baseball could be seriously involved in all this before Moncada inks his deal. The kid's certainly earned the right to drive up his price after all the hassles he's dealt with just trying to play baseball in this country.

Now I'm no psychic, but I can already predict that the vast majority of Yankee fans will be royally pissed if the team allows Moncada to slip through their grasp. It's hard not to be, when the team can snatch up a 19-year-old wunderkind without giving up anything but money. Also when it happens that that team in particular could paint their stadium completely in gold and still turn a profit this year. But money still matters, and the Yankees are going to place a value on Moncada that they think he's worth. And that value might just happen to be less than what another team has placed on him. The Yankees aren't the only team out there that could use a boost to their farm system.

So I suggest everyone take a long and deep breath. This could be a more harrowing experience than the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes we dealt with last year, and it could even bring back memories of Red Sox/Yankees bidding wars of yore.

Jason, Tanya, and I rank the top 20 prospects in the Yankees' system heading into the 2015 season.

It's that time of the year again, as prospect rankings are being released left and right, so Pinstripe Alley is going to get into the act, as we have done in past years. The Yankees had a pretty exciting year in the minors, with young talent breaking out at several levels, and the system appears to be in much better shape than it has been in quite awhile. Hell, FanGraphs writer Kiley McDaniel felt that the Yankees have the deepest farm system in the game, and they were ranked 10th best among the 30 teams. If they manage to sign Cuban phenom Yoan Moncada, they're only going to get better.

As the team stands now, below is our consensus top 20 Yankees prospects. Beginning next week, we will be posting pre-season prospect profiles of all of these players in addition to several others. Here are the players who we think will be the Yankees of tomorrow:

Pinstripe Alley's Top 20 Yankees Prospects

1. Luis Severino

Age on Opening Day: 21 (Born February 20, 1994)
Height: 6'0" Weight: 195 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AA/A+/A) 24 GS, 113 1/3 IP, 2.46 ERA, 2.07 FIP, 10.1 K/9, 2.1 BB/9

Tanya - #1: Yes, he might end up a reliever and that is a far less exciting outcome than ending up as a top of the rotation starter, but Severino’s impressive 2014 season shows he’s worthy of being called the top prospect in this system. Another strong season will only further cement his place on everyone’s top 50 and 100 prospect lists.

Andrew - #2: A coin flip could basically determine the Yankees' top prospect, and according to MLB.com, there are only six righty pitching prospects in baseball more talented than Severino. Even though it's high praise for a 21-year-old who stands just six feet tall, his dominant romp through the Yankees' lower levels commanded a reward. Next step: Prove it wasn't a fluke and that he can be a long-term starter

Jason - #1: Whether he ultimately ends up a reliever is yet to be seen, but right now he has the upside of a front-line starter. Until he starts to show tangible evidence that he's not who we all want him to be, Severino will remain at the top of this list.

2. Aaron Judge

Age on Opening Day: 22 (Born April 26, 1992)
Height: 6'7" Weight: 230 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A+/A) 131 G, .308/.419/.486, 24 2B, 17 HR, .905 OPS

Tanya - #2: Judge has proven to be the prize of the 2013 draft so far, excelling at every level he was challenged with last season. He still hasn’t shown his monster power potential yet, and he’ll only be more impressive when it comes around. It’s easy to see why there is so much excitement surrounding him.

Andrew - #1: You have to go back to the days of Austin Jackson to find a Yankees outfield prospect as captivating as Judge. The bat is very real, and it will be exciting to see what he can do against pitching above A-ball. It will be a challenge, but the first round pick has the talent to live up to it.

Jason - #2: After the monster season he put together, it makes sense to have him at the top of the list. If he can put together multiple big seasons than we can talk about him overtaking the top spot–just in time to see him reach the majors.

3. Greg Bird

Age on Opening Day: 22 (Born November 9, 1992)
Height: 6'3" Weight: 215 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AA/A+) 102 G, .271/.376/.472, 30 2B, 14 HR, .848 OPS

Tanya - #3: Swoon. You have to be really, really good with the bat to make top prospect lists as a first baseman and Bird has proven himself completely worthy of that distinction. He has excellent plate discipline, tremendous power, and could be knocking on the door of the big leagues before too long.

Andrew - #3: Any and all lefty power bats that excel in the Yankees' minor league system are going to catch some eyes. Bird was no exception, as he followed up his monster 2013 with a strong year split between High-A and Double-A. The formidable home parks of Charleston, Tampa, and Trenton haven't been enough to hold Bird down--can he successfully begin his assault on Scranton this year?

Jason - #3: It's taken a bit of time for people to start taking him seriously, but he's now considered to be one of the top first base prospects in the game. If he turns out to be anything close to Brandon Belt or Freddie Freeman, I would do backflips

4. Rob Refsnyder

Age on Opening Day: 24 (Born March 26, 1991)
Height: 6'1" Weight: 205 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AAA/AA) 137 G, .318/.387/.497, 38 2B, 14 HR, .884 OPS

Tanya - #5: Defense is really the only reason Refsnyder won’t be given a chance to start at second base for the Yankees to begin this season. The offense has been there at every level to this point, and nothing should hold him back if he shows he can make strides defensively at Triple-A to start the year.

Andrew - #4: The fastest-rising position player prospect in the Yankees' system this year, his bat impressed all season long--his 38 doubles between Trenton & Scranton were certainly impressive. However, the question remains the same: Will he ever learn to even adequately defend second base at the major league level? If not, then his future is quite unclear since his bat does not profile nearly as well in right field.

Jason - #4: He might not be the best prospect the Yankees have, especially when talking about the full package, but he's major league ready. I don't care whatever nonsense Keith Law has to say, defense is the only thing holding him back.

5. Gary Sanchez

Age on Opening Day: 22 (Born December 2, 1992)
Height: 6'3" Weight: 235 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AA) 110 G, .270/.338/.406, 19 2B, 13 HR, .743 OPS

Tanya - #6: The promise of offense is nice but the dream of Sanchez being the Yankees’ catcher of the future is on serious life support. Questions about his defense are concerning and the attitude issues are worse. This ship might be sinking.

Andrew - #6: Sanchez's reputation is dropping like a meteor, as despite another fine year with the bat in Trenton, he ended the year with more problem than ever. His work ethic was criticized, he was suspended for a week at one point by his manager, and few scouts actually believe he has the skills to remain a catcher. He still has time to turn it around, but as Lisa Vito said in My Cousin Vinny, his biological clock is ticking like this.

Jason - #5: I've lost a lot of faith in Gary Sanchez. He hasn't exactly hit Mason Williams-levels yet, but between his questionable defense, questionable attitude, and a bat that just doesn't seem to be coming together, he might be a more effective trade chip than the catcher of the future.

6. Ian Clarkin

Age on Opening Day: 20 (Born February 14, 1995)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 190 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A+/A) 16 GS, 75 IP, 3.12 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 9.0 K/9, 2.8 BB/9

Tanya - #7: Clarkin has done well for himself after the Yankees selected him in the draft two seasons ago. He’s not going to blow through the system with incredible speed or anything, but he makes for a very intriguing left-handed option for the future, and every team can use more of those.

Andrew - #5: There's nothing like an awesome lefty pitching prospect, and Clarkin is quickly becoming a very good one. He's surprisingly polished for a 20-year-old and he already does a good job keeping walks down. Easily the second-best pitching prospect in the system.

Jason - #6: While he doesn't seem to have he velocity of a front end starter, his breaking stuff will make him a solid mid-rotation arm. He is one of the rare Yankees pitching prospect that will remain a starter at the next level.

7. Jorge Mateo

Age on Opening Day: 19 (Born June 23, 1995)
Height: 6'0" Weight: 188 lbs.
2014 statistics: (Rk) 15 G, .276/.354/.397, 5 2B, 0 HR, 11 SB, .750 OPS

Tanya - #4: All the hopes and dreams for a homegrown shortstop currently rely on Mateo. He’s really far away, but he’s got the tools to make it happen. Hopefully he proves himself worthy of all the hype as he continues to progress through the system.

Andrew - #7: Even though Mateo is seemingly forever away from the majors, he has as an incredibly high ceiling with speed that maxes out the scouting scale at 80. To make things better, he's actually a shortstop. My kingdom (blogdom?) for a real shortstop prospect.

Jason - #10: The consensus is that Mateo is one of the best young shortstop prospects in the game, but I find it difficult to declare someone a top prospect after only appearing in 15 games at the rookie level. Give me a full season of production and maybe I'll move him up, but as of right now I've just seen too much disappointment from young, low-level players to not remain conservative here.

8. Jacob Lindgren

Age on Opening Day: 22 (Born March 12, 1993)
Height: 5'11" Weight: 180 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AA/A+/A/Rk) 19 G, 25 IP, 2.52 ERA, 0.92 FIP, 17.3 K/9, 4.7 BB/9

Tanya - #8: Lindgren had an outside shot at being the first of his draft class to make the majors after taking the minors by storm last season before he ran out of innings to give. He may not start the 2015 season in the big leagues, but The Strikeout Factory will almost certainly be there before too long.

Andrew - #8: The man with the greatest nickname in the minors, Lindgren has ridiculous strikeout potential that he was already showing off late in the season in Tampa and Trenton. I'm willing to write off the walks as a side effect of throwing nearly 80 innings last year between college and the minors, but it will still be something to track. If he truly does have even modest control, then watch out, big leaguers.

Jason - #9: He might be considered major league-ready, but there's also some concern about his control. Lindgren can probably get MLB hitters out now, but sometimes it's better to let them take their time than rushing them up before they're completely ready. If everything goes well we should be seeing him in the Bronx in 2015, but it doesn't have to be in April.

9. Luis Torrens

Age on Opening Day: 18 (Born May 2, 1996)
Height: 6'0" Weight: 175 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A/A-/Rk) 62 G, .256/.331/.383, 14 2B, 3 HR, .714 OPS

Tanya - #9: He’s really young and really far away from the big leagues, but Torrens’ stock continues to rise as Sanchez’s continues to fall. It might be time to hitch our wagons to him for our next hope of a homegrown catcher coming out of the farm.

Andrew - #9: Some would argue that Torrens is actually the most intruging catcher in the Yankees' system at this point, given Sanchez's decline and murky future behind the plate. While far off, scouts have liked what Torrens has demonstrated behind the plate, and he hit quite well in Staten Island. If he can handle full-season ball, then the Yankees might have a gem here.

Jason - #8: Many see him as the catcher of the future, but at 18 years old, it's impossible to see where he is fated to end up. He disappointed in 2014 when he struggled and hurt his shoulder, but he was 3.5 years younger than the average player in the league. At the moment he's more of a project, but the talent is there and we just have to wait and see how fast he can tap into it.

10. Eric Jagielo

Age on Opening Day: 22 (Born May 17, 1992)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 195 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A+) 85 G, .259/.354/.460, 14 2B, 16 HR, .813 OPS

Tanya - #11: Jagielo has had to battle some unfortunate injuries since being drafted by the Yankees in 2013. There was hope that he’d be able to take over third base duties in New York after being selected out of Notre Dame by the time that there was a vacancy at the position, but that didn’t happen with the Yankees inking Chase Headley to a new deal this offseason. There’s still plenty to like about Jagielo and his future, but there are some concerning questions there as well.

Andrew - #10: Armed with a power bat, the sticking point for Jagielo is whether or not he has the defensive skills to remain at third base. Even though the early returns aren't promising, he still has plenty of time to improve, both in the field and at the plate, where he could stand to make improvements to his strikeout-prone swing.

Jason - #7: Out of the the three 2013 first rounders, Jagielo has to be the disappointment of the trio. Strikeouts and underwhelming reports on his defense have put him in a bad place to start 2015, but a strong season could both quell concerns and keep him in the top 10.

11. Tyler Austin

Age on Opening Day: 23 (Born September 6, 1991)
Height: 6'1" Weight: 220 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AA) 105 G, .275/.336/.419, 20 2B, 9 HR, .756 OPS

Tanya - #12: There is hope that Austin’s resurgence in the second half of last season was a sign that he was finally past the effects of his wrist injury. Considering that the big league team is rolling with Carlos Beltran in right field to start the season, Austin’s services might be required before too long.

Andrew - #12: He lives! A second-half surge (.336/.397/.557 in 33 games after the All-Star Break) offered some hope toward Austin's future. Remember, not so long ago, he was among the top 100 prospects in baseball. His future might yet be a little more than just fourth outfielder.

Jason - #11: After a year and a half of disappointment, it would seem that Tyler Austin yet lives. He seemed to put his injured wrist behind him in the second half of the year to revive his prospect status and maybe even make him a major league option at some point this year.

12. Domingo German

Age on Opening Day: 22 (Born August 4, 1992)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 175 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A) 25 G, 123 1/3 IP, 2.88 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 8.3 K/9, 1.8 BB/9

Tanya - #10: It’s nice when the other player in a trade immediately moves into the system’s top 10, which was the case when the Yankees swapped David Phelps and Martin Prado for Nathan Eovaldi, Garret Jones, and German. He’s got pretty nice minor league numbers, and can hang his hat on striking out Kris Bryant and Joey Gallo in last year’s Futures Game.

Andrew - #11: German isn't quite as attractive a prospect as Severino or Clarkin, but that's just fine. He was still a very nice inclusion in the Martin Prado trade, and it will be fun to see him and Clarkin compete for the system's attention next year on the same team.

Jason - #17: So far, he's had a solid go in the minors thanks to his velocity, but with only one plus pitch it's easy to see why some scouts view him as a future reliever. He should hit Double-A this year, so we'll see how he adapts to better competition.

13. Jake Cave

Age on Opening Day: 22 (Born December 4, 1992)
Height: 6'0" Weight: 180 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AA/A+) 132 G, .294/.351/.414, 28 2B, 7 HR, .764 OPS

Tanya - #13: Now that names like Mason Williams and Slade Heathcott have fallen out of favor, Cave finds himself among the most promising outfield prospects in the system. He split time between Tampa and Trenton last year, putting up a .764 OPS for the season. Former Thunder manager Tony Franklin compared Cave to Brett Gardner, which is obviously pretty high praise.

Andrew - #13: As Cave keeps getting promoted, he keeps hitting. There's definitely something to be said for such consistency, and he could find himself on the doorstep of the majors in Triple-A in very short order.

Jason - #12: He was outshone by Aaron Judge, but all he did was hit and it got him into the top 10 on MLB.com. If he can cut back on his strikeouts and/or add power to his approach, he could be considered a top-10 prospect across the board, but right now he could kind of go wither way.

14. Ty Hensley

Age on Opening Day: 21 (Born July 30, 1993)
Height: 6'4" Weight: 220 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A-/Rk) 10 GS, 30 2/3 IP, 2.93 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 11.7 K/9, 3.2 BB/9

Tanya - #15: Hensley has been an exhibit in Murphy’s Law since being drafted by the Yankees, but he should finally be able to get into non-short season level games this year. Hopefully the brutal assault he suffered this offseason doesn’t keep him from being able to finally really show what he’s got as a professional.

Andrew - #16: Due to injuries, Hensley has made just four starts above Rookie Ball, but the strikeout numbers offer validation to the Yankees taking him with their first pick in the 2012 Draft. Like Torrens, I'm anxious to see what Hensley can do playing throughout a full minor league season.

Jason - #15: Drafted as an ace in waiting, Hensley has had an unlucky three years in professional baseball. He's starting to get old, so another lost season will take him out of the top 20 for good. Hopefully he'll be able to finally show us what he can do.

15. Bryan Mitchell

Age on Opening Day: 23 (Born April 19, 1991)
Height: 6'3" Weight: 205 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AAA/AA) 21 GS, 103 IP, 4.37 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 8.2 K/9, 3.9 BB/9

Tanya - #20: Best case scenario, Mitchell steps in as 2015’s Shane Greene. The results from the minors have been mixed to this point, but he’ll be the among the first to get the call if a starter goes down in the Bronx.

Andrew - #14: The Shane Greene comparisons are unavoidable at this point after Greene's stunning rise from "OK prospect" to "legitimate MLB starter" in 2014. Mitchell finds himself in a similar place to where Greene was after 2013, and he has an even more impressive repertoire than Greene. However, can he be as consistent? We can only hope--he's the next intriguing starting prospect in line should one of the Yankees' main rotation cogs go down.

Jason - #13: If anything, Bryan Mitchell has proven to be unreliable. Most of his professional career has consisted of immense talent without showing it on the field and yet he somehow made it to the majors in 2014. The Yankees are going to need him to be the next Shane Greene, and while I've never been a big believer in him, I'm confident that he can give us something worthwhile right now.

16. Miguel Andujar

Age on Opening Day: 20 (Born March 2, 1995)
Height: 6'0" Weight: 175 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A) 127 G, .267/.318/.397, 25 2B, 10 HR, .715 OPS

Tanya - #14: Andujar has the potential to be something special, which he showed by really coming through with the bat in the second half of last season at Low-A. The high error total is a bit troubling, and I’m probably lower on him than most because of it, but he could certainly prove me wrong and put it all together.

Andrew - #15: Analysts feel like Andujar is on the cusp of breaking out, and it's hard to blame them for their optimism considering the way he ended 2014 with the bat. However, the same defensive questions at third base linger with him as they do with Jagielo. It would certainly be exciting to see this high-potential prospect take off.

Jason - #18: While he's still very young, there's a lot to like when projecting for the future. He has the potential to be a solid starter with the raw power, defensive skills and bat speed to make it, but anything can happen over the span of his minor league career.

17. Ramon Flores

Age on Opening Day: 23 (Born March 26, 1992)
Height: 5'10" Weight: 150 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AAA) 63 G, .247/.339/.443, 17 2B, 7 HR, .782 OPS

Tanya - #18: He probably could have been in the majors last year if it weren’t for an injury, but he seems more like a fourth outfielder than a long term starter on a team like the Yankees. Those fourth outfielders can be important, though, and Flores would likely do well if he was needed to step into a bigger role temporarily.

Andrew - #20: I'm not particularly impressed by Flores, but I'd say he has a better chance to be decent in a bench role than, say, Zoilo Almonte or David Adams were over the past couple years. There's certainly value to a decent homegrown role player, so perhaps Flores fills that sometime in 2015.

Jason - #14: An ankle injury ruined his chance to push his way onto the scene, but it doesn't seem like his ankle will be a longterm problem. If Chris Young is the only thing in his way, he might crack the majors if he can pick up where he left off.

18. Austin DeCarr

Age on Opening Day: 20 (Born March 14, 1995)
Height: 6'3" Weight: 218 lbs.
2014 statistics: (Rk) 11 G, 8 GS, 23 1/3 IP, 4.63 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 9.3 K/9, 2.7 BB/9

Tanya - #19: He might be a starter or he might be a reliever, and the difference might hinge on whether or not he can develop his changeup into a quality pitch. At only 19 years old, he is probably going to move through the system slowly, hopefully finding a way to get that third pitch in working order.

Andrew - #19: The Yankees' most exciting pick of the 2014 Draft, DeCarr can already throw mid-90s with a hard curveball, so those pitches could be the start of an intriguing repertoire. It will be up to him to build on them though, or he might end up in the bullpen.

Jason - #16: It's a little early to judge him one way or another, but scouts see promise in him, despite the fact that he struggled with his command at times and only possesses two good pitches at the moment. He might end up being another starter-or-reliever pitcher that the Yankees have known well over the years, but we'll have to wait and see how he handles a full season.

19. Tyler Wade

Age on Opening Day: 20 (Born November 23, 1994)
Height: 6'1" Weight: 180 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A) 129 G, .272/.350/.349, 24 2B, 1 HR, .699 OPS

Tanya - #17: Wade gets the nod over fellow shortstop prospect Abiatal Avelino on this list because he was simply better in 2014. He has some exciting tools and basically anyone who might be able to play shortstop in the future is a little exciting at this point.

Andrew - #18: Wade doesn't have nearly the upside of Mateo, but he's a little closer to the higher levels. If he can improve on his decent 2014 in Charleston, then he should have little difficulty breaking the Top 15 next year. The Yankees have to have some prospect pay off at shortstop eventually, right? I can dream.

Jason - #20: For me, this spot was going to either Wade or Abiatal Avelino, but since Wade had a better 2014, the rank went to him. He isn't very exciting numbers-wise, but evaluators like him because of his potentially plus-speed and because he has the tools to stick at shortstop.

20. Brady Lail

Age on Opening Day: 21 (Born August 9, 1993)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 175 lbs.
2014 statistics: (A+/A) 24 GS, 134 1/3 IP, 3.62 ERA, 2.87 FIP, 7.8 K/9, 1.7 BB/9

Tanya - #16: He’s not overpowering by any means, but Lail has proven himself to be pretty solid. He got a chance to face High-A hitters at the end of last season and did quite well with it, so hopefully he continues to show good command as he moves up to face more difficult competition.

Others receiving votes

Leonardo Molina

Age on Opening Day: 17 (Born July 31, 1997)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 180 lbs.
2014 statistics: (Rk) 53 G, .193/.267/.260, 10 2B, 1 HR, .528 OPS

Andrew - #17: Adding the 17-year-old Molina to a top prospects list is entirely based on what the scouts think of him. Obviously, the Rookie Ball numbers weren't impressive, but the fact that the Yankees brought the 2013 international signee stateside at the mere age of 16 speaks volumes about what they think of him. Definitely keep your eyes on him in 2015.

Tyler Webb

Age on Opening Day: 24 (Born July 20, 1990)
Height: 6'6" Weight: 225 lbs.
2014 statistics: (AAA/AA/A+) 48 G, 68 2/3 IP, 3.86 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 12.1 K/9, 2.9 BB/9

Jason - #19: Right now, Webb has the upside of a future left-handed closer, and before Lindgren was drafted, he was the talk of the relief prospect town. His numbers don't look too good thanks to the small sample size that comes with being a reliever, but there's a real chance he could reach the majors in 2015.

The rumors are starting to circulate. Should the Yankees pursue James Shields?

I have stayed away from commenting on James Shields so far this off-season because the Yankees have made it clear that they're not interested in any big year, big money contracts. Yesterday, however, our very own Tanya Bondurant posted about a new rumor that the Yankees might be pursuing Shields after all. Could it be possible for the Bombers to get Shields at a discounted price now that it's February and spring training is right around the corner? If so, should they be taking a look at the 33-year-old "Big Game" righty?

First of all, let's review the market for Shields. Unfortunately for him, it seems that the demand for his services had taken a complete nosedive until very recently. Every other big name pitcher has already signed, and most teams are settling for in-house or less expensive options, like Francisco Liriano (Pirates), Edinson Volquez (Royals) and Ervin Santana (Twins) for their rotations. It's also hard to drum up a big salary demand when all of the big teams, like the Red Sox, Dodgers and Yankees, have stated publicly (at least up until this latest rumor) that they don't want to meet your demands. Also, with a possible international draft looming, and many teams just shifting focus away from free agency, teams are seemingly more hesitant than ever now to give up draft picks, which any team that signs Shields will also have to do. Teams are probably also looking at Shields' age and innings totals (hasn't dipped below 200 innings since his rookie year) and thinking that they don't want to commit to any kind of long term deal for him anyway.

This all means that Shields, who was looking to cash in on his first free agency (he had previously signed an extension with the Rays in 2012 before being traded to Kansas City last year), is now looking at a significantly lesser contract. At the beginning of the offseason, it seemed the California native would probably end up signing a five year, $100+ Million deal, and now he might be lucky to get four years and $70-80 Million (I know, poor him!).

As far as the Yankees go, I understand that their offseason plan has been to get younger and cheaper. I also understand that, when I look at contracts like those of CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, it makes me want to vomit, and I'm not even the guy who has to pay them. I can totally see why the Yankees wouldn't have any interest in signing Shields to a five-year deal – or a four-year deal even. But what if? Just what if... the price for Shields has dropped even further? What if word has come down that Shields is willing to sign for three years and $50-60 Million. Doesn't he become that much more enticing then? Now, instead of paying him $20-25 Million per year until he's 38, they'd be paying him $15-20 Million until he's 36. Doesn't that seem so much better? The move wouldn't block any prospects for more than a couple of years, nor would it put another albatross around the neck of the payroll. They'd be out from under the deal the same year they send A-Rod packing. Having Shields in the rotation would provide stability, as well as another top of the line type guy, and could propel the Yankees back into the post-season.

With rumors flying that Shields might sign by the end of the week, I hope Cashman's at least got his swim trunks on under his suit. The water might be starting to look mighty fine. What do you guys about the Yankees possibly adding Shields?

MLB makes a change to foreign policy, Jeter was interested in the Bills, Ivan Nova's return to the mound

Daily News | Wayne Coffey:  Ivan Nova isn't sure when he'll see his first real action since his Tommy John surgery last April, but he's feeling optimistic, both about his health and the outlook of the team.

Yahoo! Sports | Jeff Passan: Major League Baseball has made a change to its foreign policy, removing the requirement for Cuban players to obtain a license before signing with an MLB team. This opens the doors for Yoan Moncada to free agency.

CBS New York | Sweeney Murti: In the lead-up to spring training and Opening Day, it's inevitable that every Yankee player will be asked to give their opinion on A-Rod's return. On Tuesday, Dellin Betances gave his by saying the team will welcome Rodriguez back "with open arms."

The Buffalo News | Tim Graham:Derek Jeter has made it no secret that he has interest in owning a pro team; we just assumed it would be a baseball team. News out of Buffalo suggests that Jeter previously expressed some level of interest in the purchase of the Bills.

The 33-year old veteran could still possibly land in Miami.

Miami has been linked to James Shields since December, and the club appears to still be in the hunt. The former Kansas City Royal is expected to sign with a team before the end of the week, and according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, the Marlins are still interested.

The front office is in the process of finding out if a deal with Shields is possible. MLB.com has confirmed the Marlins and Shields continue to have ongoing conversations, but it is unclear if they are the front-runner.

While some outlets have reported the Marlins have not had a chance to sign Shields from the outset, the 33-year old veteran would be an upgrade to the front of the rotation that will not feature Jose Fernandez until the second half of the season. Since Shields has yet to sign, a four or five year deal worth $70 or $80 million may be enough to land one of the top free agent arms. However, the Marlins have to be willing to invest.

Shields reportedly would like to pitch on the West Coast, and as a result, the Marlins may not make sense. The Padres may be the best available option for him, however a young core that improved by 15 games in 2014 may rightfully be attractive to Shields. The opportunity to make half of his starts at spacious Marlins Park could also lure Shields to Miami.

Although he could get costly, Shields has proven to be durable throughout the course of his major league career. He has pitched at least 200 innings in each of the last eight seasons, but his age has raised several questions. Frisaro notes a three year deal would be ideal for the Marlins, who also took a chance on Mark Buehrle at 33 before trading him to Toronto.

Miami added a top arm in Mat Latos, however Latos will be a free agent after the season. It is still unclear if Dan Haren will pitch for the Marlins in 2015, as he would still like to be traded to a Western team. Financially, the Marlins will owe Latos either $9.4 or $10.4 million next season, and the outcome of his arbitration case may determine if the Marlins strongly consider signing Shields.

The Yankees, Cardinals, Padres, and Dodgers are all still interested in Shields. But at the right price, he could easily be a Marlin.

The Yankees potentially have a dynamic duo at the top of rotation. Or they have an injury-riddled pairing headlining a shaky staff. What should the Bombers expect in the coming year?

Heading into the 2014 season, there were two hurlers in the Yankees' Opening Day rotation that had not thrown a single meaningful pitch for the franchise: Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda. One promising, yet simultaneously concerning, season later, the Bombers will turn to those two to try to steer the team towards the playoffs for the first time in--gasp--two full campaigns. In many ways, 2015 comes down to the health and success of the two-headed monster known as "Tanakineda."

Before we break down just what exactly constitutes realistic expectations for "Tanakineda" in 2015, consider this stat when thinking about how truly important a strong top of the rotation is: from the time Joe Torre took over as manager until 2012, a time span in which the Yankees failed to miss the postseason just once, the average combined WAR of the top two starters on each year's team was 9.6. The last two years? Just 6.75. The difference of nearly three wins at the top of a rotation makes a incredible difference, especially in the era of the second wild card. (Side note: would you have guessed that the highest WAR from a Yankee starter in that period belong to Andy Pettitte in 1997 with 8.4?).

"Tanakineda" led the Yankees' rotation in 2014 with a combined 5.8 WAR. That is troublesome if you're a Yankee fan, as that puts the duo's performance just slightly ahead of Jon Lieber/Kevin Brown's 5.6 in 2004. Clearly, Tanakineda would've posted a higher figure had they registered more than 33 combined starts, but that's the point--they didn't, and there is certainly evidence that 2015 could bring more of the same. Every single pitch Tanaka throws this year could be the last one before surgery, and Pineda's track record of having a helluva time staying on the mound has been well documented.

However, in those 33 starts the two right-handers made a year ago, it was evident that extreme potential is there. Like, "Best 1-2 Punch In the Division And Maybe One Of The Best In The League" potential. In the first month of the season, the only extended stretch of the season in which it was at 100%, Tanakaineda pitched to a 2.11 ERA in 55.1 IP and a .957 WHIP. Common sense tells you it would be impractical to project two starters to pitch to that level over an entire season, and those with their respective heads on straight don't expect that insane level of production from the duo in '15. With that said, an ERA bump of 1.30 and a WHIP increase of .2 would still leave Tanakineda with impressive numbers this coming year.

New York enters 2015 with a serious number of rotation question marks for the third consecutive spring. Does C.C. Sabathia have anything left in the tank? Which Nathan Eovaldi did the Yankees acquire: the one who showed real promise in '13 or the one who led the N.L. in hits allowed last season? How many wins can the team realistically pencil in for Chris Capuano/Ivan Nova? A strong and, arguably more importantly, physically healthy year from Tanakineda would go a long way in masking other glaring problems in the rotation.

The best-case for Tanaka would be a full year of what we saw before his UCL tear: a dominant starter who is one of the best hurlers in the American League, if not the entire sport. That version of Tanaka was the AL East's best starting pitcher, and that sort of production would help bridge the gap between the Yankees and the top of the division more so than any other player on the roster. The ace of the Yankees' rotation (and yes, he is, unquestionably, the ace) has the potential to be a 5.0+ WAR candidate based off what we have seen of him 20 starts into his career. Worst-case? Well, remember what I said about every pitch being potentially the last one before surgery?

The award for "Short-Sample Size Player of the Year" would have gone to Pineda last year if not for Tanaka. In nine of his thirteen starts, Pineda went at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer. The Dominican righty has been superb whenever he's been on the mound in his Major League career, but as we all know, that has not been all that frequent. Pineda's short-term success in '14 is unlikely to occur over a full season (his 206+ ERA would've qualified as the 30th best season ever with enough innings), so the regression is really the question at hand. ZiPS only projects Pineda to throw a total of 80.7 innings, and if that is the case, then the performance barely matters. If we see Pineda in a career-high amount of starts, which would be 29 or more, then anything north of a 3.5 WAR would be huge for New York ending its postseason "drought."

The potential of Tanakineda is a great representation of what makes the 2015 Yankees so intriguing. If everything goes right, it could be really fun to watch. Two 26-year olds taking the mound twice every fifth day and twirling gems? Fresh faces to lead an organization into a new era? A strong season from Tanaka would help, in part, to justify the exorbitant spending spree of last offseason, and one from Pineda would solidify the Yankees as the winner of "The Trade." If both are healthy (huge if, obviously) Pineda's performance seems to be a little more of a variable than does Tanaka's, but what we've seen from Pineda would indicate he is quite capable of being consistently lights-out.

This year's version of the Yankees have as wide a range of individual player outcomes as any team in the past two decades. Tanaka and Pineda head that list, with possibilities ranging from "All-Star" to "league-average pitcher" to "guy the camera zooms in on when talking the broadcasters are discussing an injury-plagued roster." Given that the rest of the roster figures to be all over the place, the more consistent Tanakineda is, the closer the Yankees will be to the top of a wide-open AL East.

The Yankees have announced their list of non-roster invitees, the players who will be in big league spring training who are not already on the 40-man roster. For the first time in awhile, the team signed only a minimal amount of free agents and will instead mostly rely on internal minor league prospects this year for a total of 26 additional players.

The players signed to minor league deals include RHP Scott Baker, INF Cole Figueroa, INF Jonathan Galvez, C Juan Graterol, INF Nick Noonan, C Eddy Rodriguez, as well as reliever Andrew Bailey. The internal invitees include starting pitchers Luis Severino and "Vicente" (Jose) Campos, and when you include Baker and Bryan Mitchell, they will have very little in the way of rotation depth. Relievers Jacob Lindgren, Nick Rumbelow, Tyler Webb, Nick Goody, and James Pazos all have a shot at making the major league roster, while Diego Moreno and Wilking Rodriguez likely don't. The position players include top prospects Aaron Judge, Rob Refsnyder, Greg Bird, and Jake Cave, but also intriguing power bat Kyle Roller. They have also invited Cito Culver (lulz), Slade Heathcott, and catchers Trent Garrison, Kyle Higashioka, and Francisco Arcia.

As always, we will be keeping track of which players have the best shot at making the major league roster as we go through spring training. Right now I am identifying four 40-man roster spots that can be cleared if the designate any of Jose De Paula, Chris Martin, or Brendan Ryan for assignment, as well if they trade Austin Romine, since he will be out of options this season. Refsnyder might have an outside shot at making the team, since Stephen Drew allows the Yankees to take their time with him, but any spots that open up will be going to relievers like Lindgren, Rumbelow, and Webb. Leaving off Eric Jagielo and Ian Clarkin is not a huge deal, since they still have plenty of time in the minors ahead of them. At the moment, the only noticeable absence I see is the lack of Mark Montgomery, which essentially confirms just how far he has fallen in the eyes of the Yankees.

Yoan Moncada and James Shields are still available. Baseball is slowly approaching. Pitchers and catchers report in 15 days.

It has been a whole day since Yoan Moncada was made available to sign, and so far the Yankees have not done so. Thankfully, no other team has signed him either. James Shields still remains unsigned as well. While we still await the arrival of baseball, the Caribbean Series is currently underway. Good luck on finding it though.

Comments of the Day

Well the NY Powerball is at $360 million last time I checked. Or, perhaps the Yankees could take out a Money Yoan. (I cannot believe no one made that joke)

Speaking of lottery tickets...

GIF of the Day

Both Semser and myself felt that going all in on Moncada was the answer.

Honorable Mod Mention

The lack of honor yesterday was astounding. Especially for this one mod who got duped by a fake Twitter account yesterday. Because I care, I'mNotGoingToSayHisName

• Click this link and read this list. Out of those 24 iconic dishes, which do you want the most right now? Follow up, which have you already tried?
• Which Yankee hitter needs to have a bounce back season more than any other?

I mean, it's Sports Theme Week. These two Queen songs pretty much have to be included. This link even has both songs combined, since they're pretty much intertwined with the sports world. As always, please link us your Song of the Day.

Feel free to use this as your open thread for the day. Baseball needs to hurry on back to us.

I've done my sentence.

Because sometimes, there's not enough hype

To complete the thought with Tuesday's post on overrated Yankees, I spent some time thinking about players since the 90s whose time in pinstripes is underrated by the media and most fans.

Wade Boggs

It's easy to think less of Boggs' time in pinstripes, but who really compares to peak? He was older, and well past his glory days in Boston. I mean, this was a guy who hit .352/.443/.480 for the '80s and played a consistently above-average to excellent third base. Considering how often slugging and Gold Gloves go together, it is frankly stunning that he didn't win his first Gold Glove until age 36 (when he hit like his old self during the strike shortened '94 campaign). He didn't play a ton of games (averaged 120 with a high of 143) in the Bronx, and his slugging declined steadily. But he was a solid 3-4 win player every year except for his last one, and he rode a horse around the Stadium to celebrate.

Bobby Abreu

You might notice the theme of my list of underrated Yankees is on-base percentage. I might be biased (ok, I am biased, but it's a bias I believe in), but I think the best thing a baseball player can do as a hitter is not make an out, and that's what OBP measures. As a hitter, Bobby Abreu was one of the Yankees' best for the two and a half seasons he played with the team. Unfortunately, Abreu's apathetic defense earned him a ton of grief (most of it well-deserved), but I don't really blame Abreu for that. The Yankees should have made Abreu a DH, but with Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui on the team, Abreu was never the team's biggest problem in the field. In another era, he'd have a Yankeeography and a ring.

Nick Swisher

I look back on Nick Swisher's time with the Yankees with a little bit of disappointment. There was that championship in 2009, and that was fantastic. Please don't misunderstand me. However, I expected the Yankees to pick up another ring in 2010 or 2011 or 2012, and they couldn't quite do it. And I think most people think Swisher is a big reason why: .165/.277/.297 in 47 career postseason game isn't exactly a glowing recommendation. If Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams get bonus points for their postseason record, then surely Swisher gets demerits. He does, but not as many as most people might think. Swisher was never hurt, took pitches, played hard, and did whatever was asked of him defensively, whether that was playing the outfield or giving Mark Teixeira a day off that first. Of course I wish he was a better all-around player (I wish we were all better versions of ourselves), but I think too many Yankee fans have made him the scapegoat of the Yankees' postseason failures. Nowadays, I wish we had postseason failures to complain about. Though I am glad they didn't resign him. Enjoy Cleveland!

Who do you think has been the most underrated Yankee of your lifetime?

Here is the working list of New York Yankees prospects. It is large.

Here is the working research list of New York Yankees prospects. I started with 65 names and have that cut down to 54 plus one who needs to be written up and traded to the Braves, listed below. I need to cut at least ten of these guys.

The hard part with this system is finding the right balance between long-distance prospects like the big group of July 2nd players they signed last summer and other prospects who don't have as much upside but are much closer to the majors. I need a representative sample from both categories, but I simply don't have room or time to hit all 55 of these guys.

Should we even bother with Mason Williams at this point?

New York Yankees55 players

Angel AguilarSS
Jonathan AmundarayOF
Miguel Andujar3B
Tyler AustinOF
Abiatal AvelinoSS
Manny BanuelosLHPanalyze and trade to braves
Johnny BarbatoRHP
Dante Bichette3B
Greg Bird1B
Chris BreenOF
Danny BurawaRHP
Diego CastilloSS
Jake CaveOF
Ian ClarkinLHP
Austin DeCarrRHP
Juan DeLeonOF
Jose De PaulaLHP
Bryan EmeryOF
Ramon FloresOF
Michael Ford1B
Dermis Garcia3B
Wilkerman GarciaSS
Domingo GermanRHP
Nelson Gomez3B
Slade HeathcottOF
Ty HensleyRHP
Eric Jagielo3B
Aaron JudgeOF
Gosuke Katoh2B
Brady LailRHP
Jacob LindgrenLHP
Chris MartinRHP
Jorge MateoSS
Bryan MitchellRHP
Leonardo MolinaOF
Jordan MontgomeryLHP
J.R. MurphyC
Roger Murdock    airline pilot
Michael O’NeillOF
Alex PalmaOF
Mark PaytonOF
Brandon PinderRHP
Jose PirelaINF
Jose RamirezRHP
Rob Refsnyder2B-OF
Kyle Roller1B
Nick RumbelowRHP
Rick Vodkaup
Vic Riunitemiddle
Gary SanchezC
Luis SeverinoRHP
Chasen ShreveLHP C+
Caleb SmithLHP
Miguel SulbaranLHP
Luis TorrensC
Tyler WadeSS
Tyler WebbLHP
Mason WilliamsOF