If John Ryan Murphy is named the backup catcher, Romine doesn't have any options left.

Over the offseason, the Yankees traded Francisco Cervelli to the Pirates, who appear to have an interesting fascination with acquiring former Yankee catchers. That brought the number of catchers on the 40-man roster down to four: Brian McCann, Austin Romine, John Ryan Murphy, and Gary Sanchez. Since Sanchez has never played at a level higher than Double-A, the backup role will come down to either Romine or Murphy. Who deserves that job and what will happen to Romine if he isn't named backup catcher?

In a recent interview, Romine stated that he not only wants to be the backup catcher, but he wants to show the Yankees that he wants it. In an effort to do that, Romine arrived to spring training early, and spent the offseason working hard to lose 15 pounds while concentrating on improving his lower body. That's all well and good, but it just doesn't really feel like there's much of a competition between him and Murphy. At his best, Romine has been mediocre when given the chance to play with the team. In 2013 he spent his longest stretch in the majors, and only hit .207/.255/.296 in 148 plate appearances. Over three different seasons, he's hit .204/.247/.281 with the Yankees. It's also been a few years since he had a great season in the minors. In Triple-A last year he hit .242/.300/.365 with six home runs in 81 games. Although Murphy also had a very similar line of .246/.292/.370 with six home runs in 51 games.

Despite their similar performances in Scranton last year, the Yankees have shown that they prefer Murphy over Romine. When Cervelli pulled his hamstring at the beginning of the season, the Yankees decided to call up Murphy who went on to hit .284/.318/.370 in 85 plate appearances. Murphy was sent back down when Cervelli finally returned from the disabled list, but when the roster expanded in September, Murphy got the nod again. It wasn't until Cervelli started to suffer from migraines that the Yankees called up Romine to be the third catcher.

Unfortunately for Romine, he is all out of minor-league options, which explains his drive to go all-out in an effort to make the team during spring training. If he doesn't make the team, he would be placed on the waiver wire. It's possible that he could clear waivers, but if he doesn't then the Yankees would be faced with a new predicament. Assuming that Murphy is the backup catcher and Romine is gone, who would be the backup if Murphy or McCann get injured? The only other catcher on the roster is Sanchez, who has yet to play a game in Triple-A. It would be nice to have Romine available in Scranton just in case. If the Yankees are worried that they could lose Romine, then they could give him the backup job and send Murphy to Triple-A, since he has an option left. At this point, though, it seems like it's Murphy's job to lose.

Do you think Romine has any chance at all to be named the backup catcher? Would the Yankees be okay with putting him on the waiver wire?

Remembering a career-defining stretch for #46

The Yankees recently announced that Andy Pettitte will be a part of their wave of new honorees in Monument Park in 2015. There are some that may dispute whether his career accomplishments warrant the same honor once bestowed upon the likes of Ruth, Gehrig, and DiMaggio, but it cannot be denied that Pettitte deserves to be immortalized as an all-time great Yankee pitcher in some way, shape, or form.

Like the other members of the "Core Four", Pettitte racked up a number of both Yankees and MLB records over the course of his career. On his way to five World Series championships, Andy won 19 postseason games, more than any other pitcher in baseball history. He's also the all-time postseason leader in games started (44) and innings pitched (276.2). With a career record of 256-153, Pettitte is one of only 25 pitchers to have a career record 100 games over .500. He's the only pitcher in MLB history to never have a losing record in a season while pitching more than 15 years. As far as where he falls in Yankees' history, he's the franchise's all-time leader in strikeouts (2,020), ranks first in games started (438-tied with Whitey Ford), and is third in wins (behind Ford and Red Ruffing).

Along the way, fans have been able to collect a wealth of great moments and memories. From his Game 5 start of the 1996 World Series to his final start in the last game at the old Yankee Stadium to the gem of a complete game he threw in his final career start in Houston to his emotional embrace with Mariano Rivera as he came to the mound with Derek Jeter to take him out of the game one last time, Andy had himself a hell of a career.

The memory that stands out to me and defines Pettitte's career is the string of starts in the 2009 playoffs when he became the only pitcher in history ever to start and win three series-clinching games in a single postseason (he also won the regular season game that clinched the AL East). The 37-year-old was a pivotal part of the three-man rotation that ended the Yanks' nine-year championship drought.

In the third game of the ALDS against Minnesota, with the Yankees ahead 2-0 in the series, Pettitte went head-to-head with former Yankee Carl Pavano, who was pitching with a chip on his shoulder. (No, not literally... this time.) Pavano struck out nine in seven innings, but Pettitte held his own as well, retiring the first 12 batters he faced en route to a win and their first trip to the American League Championship Series in five years.

In his first outing in the ALCS Pettitte pitched well, but earned a no-decision. It would be Game 6 when he continued his run of making the most out of series-clinching opportunities. In a fairly standard stellar start, Andy threw 6 1/3 inning, allowing seven hits, a walk and an earned run, with Joba Chamberlain bridging the gap to Mo for the save and the pennant.

He would get his first crack at the defending World Champion Phillies and their potent offense in a rain-soaked Game 3 against Cole Hamels. Pettitte didn't quite have his "A" game, as he surrendered three runs in the second inning, but he would later take matters into his own hands by driving in the tying run with an RBI single and scoring the go-ahead run on a Johnny Damon double.

Andy wouldn't have a chance to compensate with his bat if things went sour on the mound in Game 6, as the series returned to the Bronx with the Yanks up 3-2 in the series. The night has gone down in history as Hideki Matsui's, with "Godzilla" paving the way to victory with six RBI, and rightfully so. However, Pettitte got the job done starting on three days' rest for the first time in several years, securing his fifth World Championship.

Pettitte would go on to pitch effectively for three more seasons, separated by a brief retirement stint in 2011, but to me it felt like his swan song. All of the "Core Four" collected their share of personal records on their way out the door, but their biggest achievement will always be what they won together and how they contributed. Andy can say he contributed to all five of his rings, but perhaps never more than his fifth.

What do you think is the defining moment of Andy Pettitte's career?

Marlins' sluggers odds are at 8-1 according to Vegas, tied with Jose Abreu of the White Sox. Plus links on Reed Johnson, the new dynamics of the Marlins' lineup and a prediction by Bovada on how many games the Fish win this year.

Marlins News

With an apparent lack of gargantuan power from anyone not named Giancarlo Stanton in the National League, the Marlins' right fielder should hit the most home runs in the NL if he plays a full season. But where does he stand compared to American League players? Vegas likes his chances of pacing the whole league in round-trippers.

The Marlins' starting outfield is set for 2015 and Ichiro Suzuki will serve as the fourth outfielder. However, the competition for one of the bench spots just heated up as the Marlins have brought back outfielder Reed Johnson on a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

The starting lineup for the Fish this year will have various new dynamics to it. Dee Gordon will provide the element of speed, Michael Morse brings his power-bat to Miami and Martin Prado can be effective from any spot on the batting order.

After all of the off-season additions, the Marlins are confident that they can compete for a postseason berth in 2015. Bovada disagrees though, predicting that the the team only wins 81.5 games this year, good enough for eighth in the National League.

Roger Dean stadium, the site of Marlins home games during Spring Training, is offering early entry to watch batting practice on game days. If you would like to watch Giancarlo Stanton hit 500 foot bombs while standing on the same field, then $25 extra is all that it will cost.

Around the League

There were a lot of trades and signings involving National League teams this off-season, and there are numerous teams with high aspirations. Anthony Castrovince provides the final word on all 15 NL teams before pitchers and catchers report this Friday and he has encouraging things to say about the Marlins.

Was Alex Rodriguez's apology letter hand-written to make him seem more sincere? Either way, A-Rod has a point to prove this year - if he's able to win a starting spot that is. It seems to be DH or bust for Rodriguez after the Yankees locked up Chase Headley. Time will tell how he responds to third base being taken away from him.

Biogenesis "mastermind" Anthony Bosch was sentenced to 4 years in prison on Tuesday. Could we finally be nearing the end of the steroid-era in baseball?

The "ace" of the Yankees rotation, Masahiro Tanaka,  has begun throwing again after partially tearing his UCL and missing more than two months of last season. Tanaka avoided surgery after the injury, but it remains to be seen whether he starts on opening day.

At Fish Stripes

Baseball Prospectus ranks Marlins farm system as second worst in Majors - Fish Stripes

The Marlins' farm system has been seriously depleted in recent years after the big league call-ups of players like Jose Fernandez and Christian Yelich. Trading away prospects to contend now has also hurt the Fish after losing the likes of Andrew Heaney and Colin Moran.

Michael Morse: The Marlins' search for production - Fish Stripes

After a bad season from Garrett Jones, the Marlins were on the search for a new first baseman. They found what they were looking for in Michael Morse, but what can we expect to see from him in 2015?

Marlins will consider moving fences in - Fish Stripes

The talk of Marlins Park being too cavernous continues. With Stanton hitting 24 of his 37 home runs at home last year, there doesn't look to be an issue on the surface. Three years of data just isn't enough at the moment, but that doesn't mean that changes won't come in the future.

Marlins unnecessarily pursuing Francisco Rodriguez - Fish Stripes

Dan Jennings and the Marlins Front Office staff are still looking to improve the roster, with the bullpen now being the focus. High-profile free agents might not be the answer though, as Michael Jong writes.

Alex Rodriguez has issued an apology; Masahiro Tanaka played long toss; Ivan Nova could throw off a mound for the first time this week

ESPN New York | Andrew Marchand: The Yankees recently revealed that they would be honoring Andy Pettitte this season, and he sat down with Michael Kay to discuss that and his HGH usage.

CBS Sports | Igor Mello: Alex Rodriguez has issued an hand-written apology for the actions that led to his season-long suspension. He chose not to have a press conference, despite the Yankees offering that he could use Yankee Stadium.

NJ.com | Ryan Hatch: In addition to the website that he already launched, Derek Jeter is now teaming up with Sirius XM Radio for a weekly radio show to be broadcast Wednesday night's nationwide. Instead of having one host, there will be a rotation that speaks with the editors and contributors of The Players' Tribune.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Masahiro Tanaka reported early to spring training on Tuesday and played long toss. He's expected to speak to the media on Friday when pitchers and catchers officially report.

LoHud Yankees Blog | Chad Jennings: In other pitcher-related news, Ivan Nova might throw off of a mound this week for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.

Can Brady Lail be an asset the Yankees rotation down the road?

The Yankees selected Brady Lail in the 18th round out of high school in 2012. Lail quickly distinguished himself from the glut of other 18th rounders when he turned in a 2.33 ERA in the Gulf Coast League in his first full year as a pro.

Lail made the jump to full-season ball in 2014, and fared very well in the Sally League. He pitched to a sparkling 2.99 FIP in 18 starts with Low-A Charleston, which was enough to earn him a mid-July promotion to High-A Tampa. Lail held his own in Tampa, but saw his strikeout rate plummet from 24% to 16% and walk rate creep up (4% to 6%) following the promotion.

KATOH, my prospect projection system, is mildly optimistic about Lail's future, projecting him for 2.8 WAR through age 28. Although he managed an impressive 3.20 FIP as a 20-year-old in A-ball, KATOH's not sold that he'll be able to keep up the pace as he climbs the minor league ladder. The reason? Lail didn't miss many bats. Lail's more of a control guy, who's performance was mostly driven by a low walk rate. Limiting your walks is obviously a good thing, but a pitcher's strikeout rate is more predictive of future success. Here's a look at Lail's odds of reaching certain WAR thresholds through age 28. You'll notice that the odds of him accumulating more than a few WAR are very slim.

Lail's stuff isn't overwhelming, which likely explains his low strikeout numbers. Nonetheless, he has a very deep arsenal for a 21-year-old, and his ability to command and mix those pitches been enough to fool A-Ball hitters. Long term, Lail's upside probably looks a lot like Chase Whitley or David Phelps: A guy with three or four average-ish pitches, but none that are decidedly better than average. Put differently, his arsenal lends itself to starting moreso than relieving, but isn't quite good enough to make him a good starter. Lail has a decent chance of becoming a usable back-end or swing man, but is unlikely to be anything more than that. He's a low ceiling prospect, and is still at least a couple of years away from having any impact whatsoever.

A-Rod writes a handwritten apology to Yankee fans. The media tears into it like piranhas hungry for meat and bones. Yankee fans await news of Yoan Moncada. Pitchers and catchers report in Derek Jeter days.

Remember how yesterday we were talking about Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Willie Randolph? You know, remembering the good times after hearing about their numbers being retired? Well today's topic is a wake up call to one of the realities that is the 2015 season. Yesterday, Yankee player and noted super villain Alex Rodriguez released a handwritten apology to Yankee fans yesterday. The "hotter than hot" takes on the matter from the esteemed sports media conglomerate could probably be made into a powerful form of pepper spray or curry. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Thus far, this is still my favorite response to the matter.

"Dear, Joe Nathan Sorry that dinger I hit in Game 2 hit the back of the bullpen. That was unnecessarily harsh of me" pic.twitter.com/K7CndLmEDo

— Matt Keegan (@mkeegan17) February 17, 2015

All joking aside, here is a really nice piece about A-Rod that you should read. None of the pomp and circumstance or vitriol of most media hot takes. Just a very well written and very humanizing story about Alex Rodriguez.

Comments of the Day

I am getting excited. I want more. Give it to me, baseball!

/violently shudders

I doubt a bath in the waters of Antarctica would provide a colder shower than this image of Red Sox players.

GIF of the Day

"Mama is not the law. I am the law!" No really, the GIFs and Judge Dredd quotes are truly why we want Aaron Judge to be the real deal.

Honorable Mod Mention

The HMM goes to Waffles and myself for having the only two COTD posts from yesterday. Good job!

• On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your penmanship? (1 being "illegible weasel scratches" and 10 being "your planet needs you to write love letters to aliens")
• Condiments: Name your favorite and least favorite condiment!

I had to cheat on this one because I couldn't decide between the two. I love both of these remixes very much. For just a simple Game Boy game, it's amazing what great compositions came from The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Still one of the saddest endings to a Zelda game. As always, please link us your Song of the Day.

Feel free to use this as your open thread for the day. We are only two days away from pitchers and catchers reporting. Photos of workouts are on their way. Stay strong until then, PSAers. Unless the Yankees sign Moncada before then, in which case lose control!

"If I was a sea gull, I would fly as far as I could! I would fly to far away places and sing for many people!"

A-Rod's apology and the subsequent silly analysis, Monument Park additions, and the Yankees NRI draft.

The podcast is back, and of course Alex Rodriguez happened to be in the news! Good work, 2015. We also discuss the Yankees' recent additions to Monument Park, play a non-roster invitee drafting game, and spend too much time talking about Kyle Davies. Enjoy.

[0:39] #HandwritingHotTakes
[1:53] We love talking about A-Rod. Adore it, really.
[5:32] Yankees retiring numbers??? 'Tis an outrage!
[15:30] On the pseudo spring training competitions for second base, a starting rotation role, and who the Yankees will tab as the closer
[26:42] Players we are most excited to see in spring training
[33:29] NRI Draft! The Matts and I each selected three non-roster invitees who we think will last the longest in spring training. Enthralling!
[46:53] Yankee/Mitre of the Week: Still a thing, obviously
[53:06] /pours one out for the Giambino/

Podcast link (Length: 58:14)

iTunes link

RSS feed

Ivan Nova has been inconsistent his whole career, and that was before undergoing Tommy John surgery. But if he is healthy, his floor is a lot higher than people think.

Ivan Nova's career has definitely been a roller coaster ride. As a teenage prospect, he spurned advances from the rival Red Sox because he was a Yankee fan. His childhood team signed him in 2004, only to let the Padres snatch him up in the 2008 Rule 5 Draft. Two teams ended up making the same mistake by giving up on Nova, and the Padres sent him back to the Yankees.

During his first start, he accidentally let a pitch sail above the head of Toronto's then MVP candidate Jose Bautista before basically daring him to do something about it. In 2011 and 2012, he was wildly inconsistent, but managed to demonstrate an ability to get a decent amount of groundballs. After a rough start to 2013, he was sent down to the minors, before being recalled to start the June 23 game against the Rays. From that point to the end of the season, it looked like Nova finally put it together, with a 2.70 ERA in 116.2 innings.

Despite the encouraging stretch, Nova's .288 BABIP and 82.1% LOB% were both causes for skepticism. In 2014, he got shelled to the tune of an 8.27 ERA before doctors realized he had torn his UCL and needed Tommy John surgery.

Even without a surgically repaired elbow, Nova's true ability is very hard to pinpoint. His post-recall 2013 stats did have their question marks, but they also were also impacted by changes in his pitching style. Not only did Nova completely scrap his slider, he also began integrating a sinker, as shown by this chart from Brooks Baseball:

In addition to ditching his slider for his sneaky-good curve, which generated a 46.9% Whiff/Swing rate in 2013, his sinker was also very good. According to the Baseball Prospectus Pitch F/X leaderboard, Nova's sinker was 15th in Whiff/Swing rate and 17th in groundball to flyball rate among qualified starters. Ordinarily, a pitcher whose ERA jumps around like a House of Pain song is a huge question mark even without Tommy John surgery. But the fact that Nova's 2013 improvement coincided with adding a new, dominant pitch has to be factored into his projections.

Of course, part of his sinker's success should be attributed to hitters' lack of familiarity with it. Even if he completely recovers from Tommy John surgery, those numbers will almost certainly come back down to earth. But the fact that his sinker had the 20th-lowest average vertical movement is very encouraging, especially combined with the fact that only one of the 19 pitchers ahead of him threw the pitch with greater velocity. Keep in mind, a smaller vertical movement value means that his sinker dropped more than most.

Ivan Nova had a ton of forward momentum heading into 2014 which was robbed from him by his elbow injury. But if everything checks out on the medical side, it would not be surprising to see Nova become the front-middle rotation pitcher that the Yankees need him to be. After all, it's not like he is a stranger to the sleeper role.

Sports Illustrated | Jay Jaffe: A look back through Jason Giambi's major league career.

New York Post | Joel Sherman: After seeing how baseball forgave Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Manny Ramirez, and the many other PED abusers, why can't we forgive Alex Rodriguez?

LoHud | Chad Jennings: Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild says the team will explore using six starters to begin the season.

ESPN | J.R. Moehringer: Take a trip through Alex Rodriguez's time away from baseball and the process he goes through as he attempt to make a comeback.

Hardball Talk | Craig Calcaterra: Andy Pettitte questioned the notion that he "enhanced" his performance, but the distinction doesn't really matter.

Sporting News | Jesse Spector: News outlets actually consulted handwriting "experts" to show what A-Rod's handwriting says about him.

Free from his father's shadow, can this young hurler prove his strong 2014 was no accident?

Background

When the Yankees signed Jaron Long as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State back in 2013, it made waves for no other real reason than for the fact his dad, Kevin, was the Yankees' hitting coach at the time. The summer after graduating, he was dominating in the Cape Cod League when Yankees' amateur scouting director Damon Oppenheimer noticed him. He appeared in six games that summer between stints with the GCL and Tampa Yankees, pitching in just 10.2 innings.

2014 Results

In 2014, Long pitched impressively at each of the three levels he appeared in, doing his best to shake the label of being just "Kevin's Son." Starting the year at Class-A Charleston, Long pitched to a 1.64 ERA in 49.1 innings and exhibited strong control, issuing just eight free passes in that time. The Arizona native was used primarily as a reliever, but did start four games, foreshadowing his role in the organization later on in the year. Long was then promoted to Tampa, where he had made two appearances the year prior. Once again, it was a quick stop for Long, and after just six appearances, he was off to Double-A Trenton, where his campaign took off. In 11 games (ten starts), Long twirled a 2.35 ERA in 69 innings, winning seven games and relying on his strong command of the strike zone to mask his less-than-tantalizing repertoire of pitches (Interestingly enough, this was the same path throughout the organizational maze that Luis Severino took last year as well). One of the biggest issues for minor league pitchers is avoiding a drop off when promoted, but Long avoided that problem. His 1.012 WHIP and consistently strong ability to pitch in the strike zone without getting hit hard (just four home runs allowed in a total of 144.1 innings) stayed true with each progressive stint.

2015 Outlook

Long did not receive a non-roster invite to Spring Training, but that does not mean that his performance won't be closely monitored in 2015. Following up his great success in Trenton to end last season, the team's Double-A affiliate figures to be his starting point come April. However, should February and March go particularly well for the 23-year old, Triple-A wouldn't be out of the question either. Long throws a fastball, a curveball and a changeup, but none are considered a true "go-to" pitch. As he gets closer and closer to the Bronx, that could begin to fester as a problem, even though it clearly has yet to hinder his development. Long's breakout 2014 solidified his spot within the organization, and he can now continue to grow with his dad across town with the Mets. Look for the right-hander to do his best to prove the team wrong for leaving him off the Spring Training invitee list.

The Yankees held a second workout with Yoan Moncada in Tampa. There's still hope. It's been a long winter, but we are almost there. Pitchers and catchers report tomorrow.

According to this article from the New York Post, the Yankees held a second, secret workout out for Yoan Moncada in Tampa. There is still the issue of money and how much they are willing to spend for the young, Adonis-y Cuban infielder. Perhaps if they really like what they see, they might be able to work something out. That would be nice, as I would like the Yankees to sign him. At least we know the interest is still seemingly there. Get it done, Cash.

Comments of the Day

Jeterday Night Live would be even better with Mark Teixeira writing some of the skits.

That article about Alex Rodriguez was, as LTL said above, very humanizing. Bryan is right. Him destroying the baseball would be great for the Yankees.

GIF of the Day

No GIFs today. Sorry all you GIF fans out there

Honorable Mod Mention

There was no honor to be had from the Mods yesterday. Sorry all you HMM fans out there.

• Which is better for sitting around and relaxing: Sofa, Recliner Chair, Rocking Chair, Bean Bag, or other?
• Pizza/Chicken/Sandwiches: Tell us which you prefer to be hot or cold!

The original Legend of Zelda game dates back to 1986 on the original Nintendo Entertainment System. There have been many great compositions since then, like this piece from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Just as the series continues onward, so does the awesome music that spawns from the games. As always, please link us your Song of the Day.

Feel free to use this as your open thread for the day. Pitchers and catchers report tomorrow. Less than 24 hours to go, PSA.

Hurry back to us, baseball.

How will the top shortstop prospect in the Yankees system fair in 2015?

Background

Signed out of the Dominican Republic only three years ago, Mateo is already considered to be a top prospect in the Yankees organization. He hit a combined .379/.438/.816 with 53 stolen bases over two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and another year in rookie ball on his way to being ranked as one of the top 10 prospects in the system. Still only 19, many evaluators see a large amount of potential in the young shortstop, which has led many fans to expect great things from him before too long. While scouts love him and many expect him to be that elusive "shortstop of the future" we have been searching for for so long, there is still plenty of risk and many reasons to adjust lofty expectations before things get too out of hand because, in the end, he still needs to prove he can do it on the field.

2014 Results

Mateo made his American baseball debut last year when he reached the Gulf Coast League for the first time. He hit a decent .276/.354/.397 with 11 stolen bases, but he only managed to get into 15 games all year because of a wrist injury. It's hard to get a good read on only 65 plate appearances, but despite the missed time, good reviews still poured in. Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs rated him positively back in October, complimenting his bat speed and advanced approach at the plate, viewing him as an aggressive base stealer, and believing he has the ability to stay at his position as an above-average shortstop. Despite what could have been viewed as a disappointing season, positive scouting reports like this have kept evaluators and Yankees fans alike excited about his future. Who knew an injury-shortened year could be viewed in such a positive light.

2015 Outlook

Jorge Mateo could very well be the shortstop of the future, but at 19 years old and only 15 games into rookie ball, he needs to meet those positive scouting reports and show it on the field this year if he wants to remain in the top 10. He might have a certain amount of talent, but such high rankings with so little experience is a bold move on the part of many and could easily backfire just based on how often things like this happen when dealing with prospects. He still has plenty of time to prove it in his own way since he could easily find himself on any of the Gulf Coast, Pulaki, or Staten Island teams to at least start the year. He doesn't have to shoot through three levels in one season, but it would be nice to see his advanced abilities show up in the box scores on a consistent basis.

Hopefully 2015 will go well for him in order to explain why many teams are already inquiring on his availability. Since 2014 was a mostly lost year, this season the Yankees will let him get his feet under him with an eye toward 2016 as the year they really let him loose. McDaniel thinks "he could be a 270 - .280 hitter with 10-15 home runs a year, a good OBP and above average defense" so let's see him take the first step in proving that potential. I'm cautiously excited for what lies ahead.

What's your hottest take before Spring Training starts?

Well folks, you're almost out of time to get your hottest hot take in before the season starts. What do you think?

I think a lot of things.

I think the ovations for Andy, Bernie and Jorge on their respective days might be the most sustained cheering of the season. I think the fact that the front office is going to retire all three numbers in one year, rather than spreading them out a little bit, is a sign that they suspect they need to do something to shore up ticket sales.

I think CC Sabathia will be the first member of the rotation to hit the DL. That's not a wish, but it's a concession to his age and his recent history. I think we'll know by the end of spring training whether or not Masahiro Tanaka is going to be a force in his second season, or whether he'll be visiting Dr. Andrews. If he makes it through spring training, then I'll have legitimate hope that he'll stay injury free. I think the odds of Michael Pineda staying off the DL are slightly south of 1%.

My big prediction:

I think Carlos Beltran will lead the team in RBIs. I think that even faded as far as he has from his glory days, he's the best hitter on this underwhelming offense. I'm betting on him to lead a bunch of Yankee hitters in beating their projections (.259/.321/.434 for Beltran).

He was so obviously hampered by the elbow problem that cost him nearly half of the season. HIs BABIP was a career low .251 even though his LD% was only a few points off of his career mark. His contact rates and chase rates were right in line with his career pace. Because his injury was caused by a specific, unusual play, he's my pick to survive the 2015 Humbler.

Beltran's not been handicapped by a dominant shift like Tex and McCann, and his injuries aren't the signs of systemic breakdown like A-Rod's hips. While critics are sure to point out that 11 of his 15 homers came at Yankee Stadium, it's not like the rest of the AL East is particularly hard on hitters. While I am concerned that he hit homers 3 times more often as a lefty than as a righty, in this era of shifts and specialized relievers, there are very few "complete" hitters in the style I grew up with. I've got to believe someone will step up if the Yankees are going to do well this year, and I'm putting my faith in Beltran.

I think the Yankees are going to claw their way into the playoffs this year with fewer than 90 wins, and then all bets will be off.

Girardi ran out 142 different lineup combinations last season. The puzzle that is the 2015 team may call for even more.

We're on the cusp of Spring Training. This time of year brings optimism and hopefulness for fans of all 30 teams, and the Yankees are no exception. After all, the success of any team with as many question marks as these Yankees is predicated on hope. Hope that the pitching staff can manage to stay healthy. Hope that guys like Carlos Beltran and Stephen Drew can bounce back from their 2014 campaigns and find a semblance of their old form. Hope that Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury continue to provide the top-third of the order with a similar level of production as last year. Hope that after a season off, a 40-year-old A-Rod can contribute anything other than a headache to his organization.

Without this optimism, trying to configure what the lineup, and more specifically the batting order, might look like come April 6 can be a bit disconcerting. Inevitably a couple of guys will go down with injuries and a couple of guys will underperform, and there just doesn't seem to be very many safety nets laid out in case such emergencies occur. But hey, spring's almost here. We'll cross those bridges when we get to them, right? This is what I make of the Yanks' batting order as things currently stand.

Leading Off

The obvious candidates here are Gardner and Ellsbury. The two had oddly similar seasons last year, posting nearly identical slash lines while hitting for more power than we've come to expect (save for Ellsbury's 32 home runs in 2011). Jacoby, however, nearly doubled Gardner's stolen base totals despite Brett hitting first in the order over twice as many games as Ellsbury. Even if Gardner isn't as aggressive on the bases as he should be, my money is on Joe continuing to use him as his leadoff man.

Batting Second

If we were to go by "The Book", the second spot should be reserved for a team's best hitter, which means by default the Yankees lineup should improve over last year simply by having anyone other than Jeter occupying the slot. One thing we only saw a handful of times in 2014 was some combination of Gardner and Ellsbury at the top of the order, which would make for an enticing 1-2 punch of speed and power. Chase Headley, who sported a .371 OBP in his 58 games in pinstripes last season, is one of the few other viable options among the starters, despite his slight tendency to ground into double plays. Give this spot to Headley, if only to avoid back-to-back lefties at the top of the lineup.

Batting Third

This is the spot in the order Ellsbury called home 93 times last year, and it's where he'll likely be this year.

Batting Fourth

When he was healthy, Mark Teixeira spent most of his at-bats hitting cleanup. Unfortunately, he didn't do much with those at-bats. He's probably the closest thing they have to a slugger right now, though, and while the cleanup spot will likely see a rotating cast of Tex, McCann, and Beltran, Girardi has to have faith in Teixeira to be able to hit home runs and drive runs in.

Batting Fifth

As far as the fifth spot of the order goes, McCann is pretty prototypical. He doesn't have quite enough power to hit fourth, but he's an ideal fit for this role. He had a rough first season as a Yankee, but his second half gave reason to believe his numbers will trend upwards for 2015.

Batting Sixth

Rodriguez and Beltran. Beltran and Rodriguez. They're basically interchangeable for the sixth and seventh spots, and if these two can come anywhere near their respective 2012 numbers it will radically change the complexion of the lineup. I'm going to guess A-Rod bats sixth on Opening Day, but I think it's a coin toss.

Batting Seventh

This bottom third has potential to be a real black hole. Beltran got the bulk of his AB's as a designated hitter for the first time in his career last year. Perhaps returning to a primary outfield role will help him at the dish. It will also help if he can keep his right elbow free of any bone spurs, which is what seemed to throw him off last season.

Batting Eighth

Didi Gregorius/Brendan Ryan. New Yankees hitting coach Jeff Pentland is excited about Gregorius's potential as a hitter, but Brian Cashman anticipates he and Ryan to form a light-hitting platoon, at least for the early part of the season.

Batting Ninth

I'm going to go under the assumption that Stephen Drew earns the second base job. I'm not as down on Drew as I should be. Probably because after last season there's nowhere to go but up. Heck, if he can raise his average about forty points he'll be over the Mendoza line.

The 42-year-old Hawkins and fellow righty Adam Ottavino will anchor the back end of the Rockies bullpen in 2015.

Amid the myriad struggles throughout 2014 for the Rockies, the combination of LaTroy Hawkins and Adam Ottavino provided a decent amount of stability at the end of games. The team will be counting on them to do so again in 2015, and they will also be looking for a pair of lefties to bounce back from rough 2014 seasons.

The closer

There were some serious doubts when the Rockies signed LaTroy Hawkins to be their closer prior to the 2014 season, but many of the were assuaged with the solid performance Hawkins put together in his 20th big league season. Hawkins appeared in 57 games in 2014, finishing 48 of them and pitching 54 1/3 innings. He finished with a 3.31 ERA and 1.20 WHIP to go with 23 saves.

Hawkins struck out just 32 hitters in more than 50 innings, so it is clear that a big factor in Hawkins' success was his impressive ability to limit walks, issuing just 13 free passes all season. Hawkins has announced that the 2015 season will be his last, so the Rockies will be hoping for the 42-year-old Hawkins to repeat his solid 2014 campaign in his final year in the league.

The setup men

The primary setup man for Hawkins will likely be fellow right-hander Adam Ottavino. As a 28-year-old in 2014, Ottavino appeared in 75 games, pitching 65 innings with a 3.60 ERA, walking just 16 and striking out 70. That performance followed a 2013 season in which Ottavino pitched 78 1/3 innings with a 2.64 ERA, making him the Rockies' most reliable reliever over the past two years. If the ravages of age or injury take down Hawkins, it would likely be Ottavino that gets the first shot to replace him as Rockies closer.

Entering the 2014 season, the presumed closer-in-waiting for the Rockies was lefty Rex Brothers, who was coming off a 2013 season that saw him post a 1.74 ERA and save 19 games as a 25-year-old. However, things did not go as planned; the Hindenburg and the Titanic pale in comparison to the disaster that was Brothers' 2014 season. In 74 appearances last year, Brothers posted a 5.59 ERA in 56 1/3 innings, allowing 65 hits, seven of them home runs, while walking 39 and striking out 55. The good news for 2015 is that new bullpen coach Darren Holmesthinks he can fix whatever was wrong with Brothers last season. If he can do that and restore Brothers to the form he showed in his first three big league seasons, it will be a huge boost to the bullpen for 2015.

Brothers also wasn't the only southpaw in the Rockies' bullpen to struggle in 2014. After four strong seasons with the Yankees, Boone Logan signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal with the Rockies last winter. The first year of that deal was unfortunately a huge bust, as Logan made four trips to the disabled list and was limited to just 25 innings of work in which he posted an unsightly ERA of 6.84. Whether the struggles were because of injuries and a small sample size or something bigger will go a long way toward determining Logan's role in the bullpen in 2015.

MLB quality depth

The Rockies have brought a pair of non-roster invitees to spring training that have significant closing experience. Veteran righty John Axford has 116 career saves, most of which came with the Brewers, and he did save 10 games with Cleveland in 2014. Also of note is 40-year-old Rafael Betancourt, whose 57 saves in a Rockies uniform put him fifth on the club's all-time list. Betancourt was the Rockies' closer throughout 2012 and for a portion of 2013 before having Tommy John surgery.

Another interesting name that could find itself in the mix at the back end of the bullpen at some point in 2015 is Jairo Diaz. The 23-year-old who came from the Angels in a trade for Josh Rutledge made just five major league appearances in 2014, but struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. He also struck out more than 13 batters per nine innings with a 2.20 ERA at AA Arkansas in 2014.

On the farm

It is hard to project late-inning relievers coming out of the minor leagues because so many of them at the big league level are converted starters (for example, Hawkins and Ottavino), but here are a look at a few guys in the upper minors that could plug a hole in the back end of the bullpen if need be.

One of the first names on that list would be Scott Oberg, the Rockies' 15th round pick in 2012. He has 61 saves in his minor league career, including 15 last season at AA Tulsa. The Rockies could also turn to a pair of newly-acquired arms in Jorge Rondon and Austin House, both of whom have impressive minor league numbers. Lefty Kraig Sitton could also be a late-inning bullpen option out of the minors.

The 29-year old right-hander could head to Los Angeles and pitch out of the Dodgers' bullpen.

Los Angeles is looking to add to its bullpen before the start of the regular season, and according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers are "showing interest" in free agent right-handed reliever Joba Chamberlain. Chamberlain has spent every season, with the exception of 2014, as a member of the New York Yankees.

Chamberlain, 29, posted a 3.57 ERA and 3.16 FIP in 63.0 innings pitched with the Detroit Tigers last season. He also saved five games, and has proven to be a valuable right-handed relief option late in games. Chamberlain left 72.7 percent of runners on base in 2014, and has a career 3.68 ERA and 3.16 FIP.

While the Dodgers had not been seeking bullpen help, the organization was forced to explore possible veteran options after learning closer Kenley Jansen needs foot surgery and may be out for the first two months of the season. Earlier in the week, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported the Dodgers could be interested in Francisco Rodriguez, who is looking for a one-year deal worth $10 million. Rodriguez was thought to be considering a two-year deal, but Los Angeles may only be interested in K-Rod as a short term closer or reliever.

Although he is one of only a few durable and experienced right-handed relievers still available on the market, Chamberlain has not drawn a notable amount of interest this offseason. Los Angeles announced on Tuesday that Jansen will be out for eight to twelve weeks, according to Michigan Live's James Schmehl, and the Dodgers could also still be searching for middle relief help. Schmehl also notes the Dodgers had shown little, if any, interest in Chamberlain this offseason, however have been forced to adjust their outlook following Jansen's injury.

Rosenthal reported earlier this month that Chamberlain remained "available by choice" and turned down offers from teams he was not interested in joining. The Marlins had also been linked to Chamberlain, however MLB.com's Joe Frisaro noted Miami is not interested. Chamberlain will likely receive a one-year deal with a low base salary from a team hoping he can thrive as he did in the first half of 2014. Detroit may only be interested in Chamberlain if he were to accept a minor league deal, and since he wants a major league contract and Los Angeles needs a temporary closer, the Dodgers are likely the favorite to sign him in the coming weeks.

Baseball America's Top 100, a six-man rotation, Yoan Moncada's second workout, and more.

Baseball America: The prospect rankers at BA released their Top 100 Prospects, led by Cubs slugger Kris Bryant. They placed top Yankees prospects Luis Severino and Aaron Judge 35th and 53rd, respectively. Greg Bird did not make it, but he is still #GregBird and glorious. On the official MLB Network countdown of BA's Top 100, they also said that whenever he signs, Yoan Moncada will rank 10th overall. Do that, Yankees.

FOX Sports | C.J. Nitkowski: Since the Yankees are considering turning to a six-man rotation for the early part of the season, should teams be considering that more often?

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Yoan Moncada reportedly had a secret second workout with the Yankees. Are the Yankees closer to signing him than we think?

LoHud | Chad Jennings: Previewing Masahiro Tanaka's 2015 campaign and what the future might hold.

NJ Advance Media | Brandon Kuty: The Yankees will have four catchers from their 40-man roster in spring training. What will they expect from each of them?

Hardball Talk | Craig Calcaterra: The hypothetical idea of swapping the 2009 World Series title for Alex Rodriguez never re-signing to the Yankees is ludicrous. I would never give away that thrill.

After a cup of coffee last year, this fringe pitching prospect has a chance to contribute in 2015.

Background

Bryan Mitchell spent most of his early life in North Carolina. He attended high school in Reidsville, North Carolina, and then he was recruited by the University of North Carolina to play ball for the Tar Heels. When the Yankees drafted him in the 16th round of the 2009 draft he decided to rebuke UNC's offer and instead went pro after signing for a $800,000 signing bonus.

He spent the next four seasons slowly progressing from Rookie ball to High-A with pretty poor results. In any sample larger than 40 innings over that time, he never had a walk rate below four per nine innings, never had an ERA below 3.50, and the same could be said for his FIP. His strikeout rates were never spectacular either, but he continued to progress through the system and the organization seemed to like him.

Mitchell entered last season as a blip on the radar as scouts began to notice his above-average fastball and curveball, and the possibility of an average changeup. That sentiment largely maintained itself throughout the 2014 season until it was clear that the change just wasn't coming around. Mitchell has what appears to be a plus-fastball that can peak at 98 mph and an absolutely nasty curveball, but the changeup is poor enough that he may be relegated to the bullpen.

2014 Results

Trenton (AA): 14 G, 13 GS, 61.1 IP, 8.80 K/9, 4.26 BB/9, 4.84 ERA, 4.09 FIP
Scranton (AAA): 9 G, 8 GS, 41.2 IP, 7.34 K/9, 3.46 BB/9, 3.67 ERA, 4.44 FIP
Yankees (MLB): 3 G, 1 GS, 11.0 IP, 5.73 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, 2.45 ERA, 3.22 FIP

As previously mentioned, until 2014 Mitchell had pretty poor results and still managed to move up the ranks. So it was particularly fitting that in 2014 that his results weren't all that impressive either before he finally managed to reach the big league level. His strikeout rate was decent at Double-A, and even at Triple-A given the sample size, but he still had a lot of trouble commanding the strike zone–45 walks in about 100 innings is not great... at all.

Despite his statistical struggles, the Yankees organization truly believed that his stuff was good enough to warrant a call-up and he made his major league debut on August 10th. He made his first big league start on September 12th, getting credited with the loss as he pitched five innings on two earned runs, six hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. For a fringe prospect who was pretty unspectacular throughout his minor league career, even reaching the highest level is a pretty big achievement.

2015 Outlook

If there is a year for Mitchell to truly break out, it's 2015. Even though the fifth starter spot is in the hands of Chris Capuano, I would reckon that Joe Girardi would have no problem handing that role over to Mitchell if he proves himself. And of course, the inevitable injury could force Mitchell into spot starts of some kind, so he will absolutely get an opportunity.

I am admittedly not a huge fan of Mitchell (as a starter) despite his stuff, but I do think the Yankees see something of value in him. If anyone remembers, Brian Cashman turned down a trade of Mitchell for Dustin Ackley, and Ackley is about a two-win player at a position of need, with three years of team control to boot. He's no star, but Ackley is an actual major league baseball player, and Mitchell is but a hope. If the organization finds Mitchell to be more valuable, then it certainly piques my interest. There's a good chance that Mitchell reeks as a starter, but two plus pitches in a relief role can be valuable in its own right. Considering how shaky the rotation is, Mitchell's success--or possible lack thereof--could prove crucial this season.

The countdown is over. Pitchers and catchers report today. Rejoice, for baseball is back!

Ahem... BASEBALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!

Now that I removed that from my system, you may all rejoice fellow PSAers. While actual baseball is not being played just yet, pitchers and catchers report today. Baseball is back in spirit. Hopefully we will begin to see and hear how the Yankees plan to put the 2015 team together. Hopefully we will see them sign Yoan Moncada very shortly. Perhaps they can buy us some peanuts and cracker jacks.

Comments of the Day

River Ave U decided to bring the house down with a baseball rendition of One Day More.

Needless to say, it was a rousing success.

Can we still blame him if this happens?

Ryan's blastin, outlastin. Kinda like Shaft, so you could say he's shaftin!

That would be quite a thing to see.

There are times when I'm concerned about some of you. This is one of those times.

This lineup suggestion was popular. Can't say I really disagree with it. Although I'd rather see Refsnyder or Pirela over Drew.

GIF of the Day

Move along. Nothing to see here.

Honorable Mod Mention

John wins the HMM for his bold stance which will either prove he's a mad genius or will guarantee that every other member of the PSA Staff has a better chance to win the upcoming season predictions post!

• What's more exciting to watch: Really great pitching or really great hitting?
• What is your favorite thing to do when you're on vacation somewhere other than your home?

This has always been one of the most beautiful song entries from The Legend of Zelda series. I thought it'd be appropriate for today, seeing as how baseball is back. I know I'm healing. As always, please link us your Song of the Day.

Feel free to use this as your open thread for the day. We did it, everyone. We made it. I'm proud of you all.

Believe in your strengths. Believe!

Is Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings ready to break out in 2015?

Chris Owings was an under-the-radar fantasy shortstop heading into 2014, but inconsistent playing time led to an underwhelming rookie performance. Splitting time with Didi Gregorius, Owings racked up only 287 plate appearances in the desert, hitting .305/.343/.368 with six home runs, 34 runs, 26 RBI and eight steals.

Following Gregorius' offseason trade to the Yankees, Owings is cleared to be the Diamondbacks everyday shortstop in 2015. Owings did injure his shoulder in June, leading to offseason surgery in October, but he should be ready for Opening Day, according to recent reports. The lone possible threat to Owings is 24-year-old Nick Ahmed, who was acquired in the Justin Upton deal.

If Owings proves healthy in spring training, the 23-year-old shortstop should see a nice bump in preseason rankings. Owings is currently being drafted as the No. 15 shortstop, according to NESN.com's NFBC ADP, going after Asdrubal Cabrera and J.J. Hardy. While Cabrera and Hardy have been doing it much longer, Owing's upside makes him the intriguing pick. In the Fake Teams Consensus Rankings, we ranked Owings as the No. 16 shortstop, with a high ranking of 12 and a low ranking of 25.

Steamer is very conservative in its projection for Owings in 2015, giving him a line of .251/.281/.379 over 406 plate appearances with eight home runs, 38 runs, 39 RBI and nine steals. ZiPS is more optimistic, projecting a line of .276/.309/.410 over 518 plate appearances with nine home runs, 61 runs, 49 RBI and 16 steals. I tend to side more with ZiPS; I see Owings being a potential 10/15 threat.

In six minor-league seasons, the 2009 first-round pick (41st overall) hit .291/.319/.438 in 494 games with 48 home runs and 58 steals. In a full season at Triple-A Reno in 2013, he lit up Pacific Coast League pitching to the tune of .330/.359/.482 with 12 home runs, 104 runs and 20 steals.

Despite his high on-base percentage at Triple-A, Owings refuses to take a walk. In 135 games at Triple-A, he walked just 22 times. Last year in Arizona, his walk rate was 4.8 percent, well under the league average. At the major-league level, it will be that much harder to sustain a high batting average without showing more discipline (his contact rate was 78 percent last season), I see Owings in that .265-.275 range.

Still, there are very little shortstops that provide 10/15 upside. Only three shortstops (Ian Desmond, Jimmy Rollins, Alexei Ramirez) accomplished the feat last year, while a couple more came close. It isn't 100 percent clear where Owings will fit in Arizona's lineup, but he's likely to start somewhere in the bottom third without strong on-base skills. If that's the case, Owings' counting stats will be affected some.

Entering 2015, I see Owings as a potential starter in 14-team leagues, but a better fit for the middle infield slot in standard formats. I thought I would come out of this exercise liking Owings more, but questionable on-base skills, injury questions and an imperfect spot in the Diamondbacks lineup make him difficult to trust at least initially. He's still a great target in the later rounds, with the potential of being only a handful of shortstops giving you 10 home runs and 15 steals.