His ability to play all over the field (potentially even at first base) will give Joe Girardi a lot of options this year.

After bringing in Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran to join Brett Gardner in the outfield, Alfonso Soriano will probably begin 2014 as the team's designated hitter. Soriano hit 34 home runs with a 112 wRC+ last season, so finding a way to keep his bat in the lineup is a smart move, and if he can replicate these numbers - or get somewhere close - the Yankees will have quite a heart of the order with him, Carlos Beltran, Mark Teixeira, and Brian McCann.

While his bat is what makes Soriano so valuable, his versatility might be the key to keeping that bat in the lineup. With an aging roster that has a number of players trying to rebound from injury, Joe Girardi will no doubt look to give Derek Jeter, Beltran, and Teixeira some games in the DH spot. Soriano probably won't be starting at shortstop any time soon but he can play multiple positions in the outfield, and has even worked out at first some this spring. This means that when Beltran needs a game off and Girardi wants him to DH, Soriano should be a perfectly serviceable replacement in right. Even though Soriano has primarily played left field in the past few seasons - where he's been an above average fielder - his speed and outfield experience should allow him to transition well to right field (he's even played there some this spring) while making sure his bat stays in the lineup.

Soriano will also provide some (albeit slight) insurance in case of a Jacoby Ellsbury injury. While an extended stay on the DL will seriously endanger Yankee playoff chances, if Ellsbury experiences some minor injuries (like the tightness in his calf that has been bothering him for the past week or so) Soriano's ability to take over in left while Brett Gardner shifts to center will allow the Yankees to still field a good outfield, both defensively and offensively. This shouldn't do too much damage to them in the short term (although again, a long-term injury to Ellsbury will be a tough blow to recover from). Shifting Soriano to the outfield in this scenario would leave a large hole at the DH spot (a hole that could be filled by Ichiro Suzuki or, gasp, Eduardo Nunez), a lineup with Ichiro and Soriano is still a lot better than the 2013 lineups that included both Ichiro and Vernon Wells.

As mentioned above, Girardi has even had Soriano work out at first and has alluded to him playing some there during the regular season. Girardi, when asked about the possibility, said, "I think he's athletic enough to do it. He's played that side of the infield before." With Teixeira recovering from injury and no real backup (except for starting third baseman Kelly Johnson) on the roster, Soriano looks to be a potential backup at first base. Caitlin has even floated this idea here at PSA. If he can manage it defensively, it will allow Teixeira some games at DH while keeping Soriano's dangerous bat in the lineup.

Since Soriano is one of the only right-handed hitters the Yankees have, and one of the team's main power threats, having his bat in the order makes the Yankees undoubtedly better. His versatility will let Girardi swap DHs out over the course of a long season, which will give Teixeira and Beltran the rest they need without sacrificing any of the offensive firepower that the Yankees will need to truly contend in 2014.

Spencer Silva lays out his bold predictions for the upcoming season.

Go Bold. The funny (maybe sad) part about the predictions that follow are that most of the players featured I'm crazy (read: delusional) about. These are my guys, my avowed targets. Only time will tell if they have my back too.

1. Nathan Eovaldi, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Andrew Cashner and Doug Fister all end the season as top 30 SP.

Eovaldi is the boldest pick here. Yes, the Marlins are owned by Lord Voldemort himself, Jeffrey Loria, but even so they've managed to assemble an excellent player development staff. Eovaldi pitches in baseball's most difficult Home Run park, averages a major league best 96.99 mph with the fastball, and calls the generally weak NL East his home. Put it on the books: 15 Wins, 3.00 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 175 k's. As I mentioned in my rookie effort on Tuesday, I'm all in on Ryu, Cashner and Fister. They all boast the tasty tandem of talent & circumstance.

2. Masahiro Tanaka, Mat Latos, Anibal Sanchez, and Michael Wacha all end the season outside the 40 SP.

I've avoided these guys in drafts like the plague. I think Tanaka needs a year to adjust to Yankees stadium, Major League hitters, the Major League strikezone and sharing a locker room with...Yankees. Apparently Latos has regained velocity from years prior, but I think the 0.60/HR9 from 2013 bordered on supernatural. Also, the Reds lineup isn't what it once was, meaning the Wins may not be as plentiful as they once were. Anibal's velocity/strikeout spike and career ERA performance after switching from the NL to the AL can only be described as enigmatic. I think he regresses on all fronts. Lastly, Wacha is a liability until he develops a league average breaking pitch.

3. Anthony Rizzo leads the NL in Home Runs with 38

Rizzo was one of baseball's unluckiest players in 2013. He doesn't strikeout a ton (16.8 K% in 2012, and 18.4 K% in 2013), especially for a power hitter, and his .258 BABIP (9^th lowest among qualified hitters) suggests the .233 AVG was fluky. If his overall contact rate increases to 70% or so, and he sustains better luck on balls in play, 30 HRs is a reasonable projection. But I'm not here to make reasonable projections. I say his luck swings the other way, making it rain all over Wrigley for an NL leading 38 dingers.

4. Matt Wieters puts together the elite season we've all been waiting for, slashing .275/.345/.500, a 90 RBI appetizer to go with a 28-homer entrée.

I'm a sucker for Wieters. I once believed he could divide by zero. In 2014, he figures out right-handed pitching and takes over the throne as the unquestioned #1 fantasy Catcher.

5. Marcus Semien is 2014's Matt Carpenter.

Gordan Beckham is terrible. Not only is he terrible, but he's also beginning the season on the DL. Semien, on the other hand, slashed .284/.401/.479 with 19 HR and 24 SB between AA and AAA last season. The door is open, and he's had an excellent spring. His scouting profile suggests he may not have more than league average skills, but I believe in a breakout. Semien is a good deep league buy, especially in OBP formats. Oh, and he'll be eligible at SS/2B/3b.

6. Albert Pujols returns to MVP form, ending the season as fantasy's #1 first baseman.

Last Sunday, Albert Pujols made me a believer. He hit a triple for the first time since 2010. He's been telling us all offseason he's healthy, that the foot feels 99.9% better. If there's one thing I know about a healthy Pujols it's this: he mashes baseballs. With the departure of Mark Trumbo, Pujols should also see time at DH, which will help him preserve his aging body. I think he plays 145+ games and goes .300/39/140/110.

7. Martin Prado out earns Ian Kinsler, who's being taken 5 rounds earlier.

I always get Prado. He makes a lot of contact, has multi-positional eligibility, and generally produces across the board. Owners soured on him last year due to a poor first half. However, for those of you who weren't paying attention, Prado exploded from July on to the tune of .324/.374/.490 and 136 wRC+. Kinsler, on the other hand, has been steadily declining in the power and speed departments, posting 3-year lows in both ISO (.136) and stolen bases (15). He won't be terrible, but a lot of his fantasy value will be tied to the amount runs scores atop Detroit's powerful lineup.

8. Mark Reynolds ends the season as a Top 10 first baseman in OBP formats, hitting 32 HR's in the friendly confines of Miller Park.

A few years ago this wouldn't have been so bold, but given Reynolds' horrendous output in 2013, it is. It was the first year in Reynolds' career he slugged below .400, hitting a measly (by his standards) 21 HR's in 504 PA's. I'm trusting ZiPS on this one, who projects him for a .234/.335/.474 with 29 HR's.

9. Justin Smoak, once the laughing stock of MLB first basemen, quits the switch hitting act and launches 30 HR, slashing .265/.365/.550.

Smoak has never hit better than .238 in a Major League season. But for all his badness, he hit 18 HR's in 357 PA's against RHP in 2013. Maybe Smoak gives up hitting from the right-side, evens out his platoon split, and becomes the above average first baseman scouts once thought he'd be.

10. Javier Baez is drinking Major League coffee by April 26^th, relieving Darwin Barney of 2^nd base duties, socking 25 long ones, albeit with a sub .300 OBP.

Javy Baez had a bizarre spring training: .280/.294/.640 with 5 HR's and 16/1 K/BB. Baez is an incredible talent, and after the display he put on this spring, it's only a matter of time before he's donning a Cubs uniform in Wrigley. The approach is rough, but with the Cubs still a couple of years away from contention, the sooner he gets used to Major League pitching, the better.

Last Time on Pinstripe Alley

• Alfonso Soriano and the value of versatility for the Yankees
• Why the Yankees will win the 2014 American League pennant
• Yankees 4, Pirates 2: Sabathia solid in win
• Spring Training Game Twenty-Nine: Yankees at Pirates
• Yankees make numerous cuts, including Preston Claiborne and Scott Sizemore
• Yankees' AL East competition: Previewing the 2014 Toronto Blue Jays

Yankees News

USA Today | Bob Nightengale: Scott Boras lost his grievance against Carlos Beltran after the All-Star left his agency back in 2011.

Beyond the Box Score | Evan Kendall: Alfonso Soriano is hitting more home runs as he gets older and playing in Yankee Stadium is only going to help.

LoHud | Chad Jennings:Eduardo Nunez, Dean Anna, and Yangervis Solarte talk about their spring as a final roster decision looms.

Pinstripe Pundits | Chris Mitchell: The Yankees could really use Brendan Ryan's glove this season.

The Times-Tribune | Donnie Collins: A look at the locks and potential candidates for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders roster.

ESPN New York | Andrew Marchand: How will the new starting lineup compare to last year's.

Sports Illustrated: Predictions for the playoffs and awards for the coming season.

New York Post | George A. King III: The Yankees still have too many questions despite all their offseason spending.

The Times-Tribune | Donnie Collins:Jim Miller is hoping to bring a more positive outlook to his time in Triple-A this year.

ESPN New York | Wallace Matthews: CC Sabathia might not have velocity, but he's still been effective, so which is more believable?

Examining where players without guaranteed spots on the Yankees' Opening Day roster stand in their quest to make the team after four weeks of spring training.

Spring training comes to a close after the Yankees' game tomorrow, and Joe Girardi will have likely already made his final decisions on who will be making the trip to Houston with the team. A vast majority of the players who started out with a chance to make the team out of camp have been cut, but Brendan Ryan's injury opened a door for one of the infielders to sneak onto the roster. Who has done enough after four weeks of spring training to earn a spot on the 25-man roster on Opening Day?

As always, here is the legend we used:

Keep in mind that all spring training players are not created equal. Some can bat 1.000 and still won't have a spot on the team while another could pick up one hit before the team heads north and would still have a spot on the Opening Day roster. The reality of each player's situation is taken into consideration in their ranking.

The backup catcher job has rightfully been rewarded to Francisco Cervelli after an extremely strong showing in camp this spring. Unless there is a last minute trade, of course, which has foiled Cervelli before. The difference is that a trade at this point would likely send him to another team in need of a catcher instead of to Triple-A for the season in favor of Chris Stewart. Austin Romine and John Ryan Murphy could also find themselves traded, seeing as right now the plan is for them to split time at catcher for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. The Yankees would probably prefer for them to play every day, which could lead them to pulling the trigger on a trade that would free up the necessary space for that to happen.

Ichiro Suzuki, for better or worse, is going to make the roster as the team's fourth/fifth outfielder. The veteran has been the topic of numerous trade rumors this offseason, all of them focused around the fact that the Yankees would be willing to eat some of the outfielder's salary in order to move him. Zoilo Almonte and Adonis Garcia each had highly impressive spring performances, but it's unlikely that any sort of spring training results could give them the spot over Ichiro. The Yankees will have to hope that he provides value as a defensive replacement or pinch runner until/unless they can find a team in need of an overpaid, over the hill outfielder.

The infield is where hope remains for those left in camp. Brendan Ryan opening the year on the disabled list means that there are one or two spots available, depending on how you view the status of Eduardo Nunez. If you think that Nunez is guaranteed a spot, and he probably is, then one of Yangervis Solarte, Dean Anna, and Zelous Wheeler is going to make the team. Anna's 40-man roster spot means that it will probably be him. The Yankees could always pull off a bold move and DFA Nunez to take Solarte, who has been a revelation this spring, but the team seems to have an inexplicable affection for Nunez that its fans just don't share. That being the case, it seems likely that Nunez and Anna will be given the two bench spots as backup infielders. Unfortunately for Solarte, that means that his impressive spring training results meant very little. It's tough luck for the guys who struggle to make an impression, only to lose out to the team's pet that really hasn't done much to deserve the status.

Do you see anyway that the team lets Nunez go before they head to Houston? Will the Yankees find a way to trade Ichiro at some point before the trade deadline?

Examining where players without guaranteed spots on the Yankees' Opening Day roster stand in their quest to make the team in the last week of spring training.

It's time again for our Making the Team Meter, where we see who has the best chance of making the Yankees Opening Day roster based on their performance and roster status. In our fourth and final installment, most of the players in camp have been cut, so it's down to just a few contenders. At this point, it's probably pretty easy to guess who might be making the team. Surprises could happen, so we're going to analyze it anyway.

This week the Yankees announced their final round of cuts before they make their decisions and it essentially brought the wide open bullpen race to an end. They have optioned Danny Burawa, Fred Lewis, David Herndon, Chris Leroux, Jim Miller, and Yoshinori Tateyama to the minors, though none were really expected to make the team. The most shocking cut they made was sending Preston Claiborne to Triple-A to begin the year. He's been terrible this spring, but it was kind of expected that he'd be in the lead for a bullpen spot all along. Now we're left with eight pitchers to fill one rotation spot and four bullpen roles. Who has the best chance to make the team?

As we all know, the battle for the fifth starter spot has been settled. Michael Pineda is now in the rotation, but that doesn't mean his competition has to miss out on any major league action. Joe Girardi has confirmed that David Phelps will have a role in the bullpen, though what he will be doing is as yet unknown. Adam Warren will likely have a spot on the team as well. One of these two will serve as the longman out of the bullpen. I would imagine that Warren would and maybe Phelps will be used as a middle reliever, but Girardi could switch things up.

The last competitor, Vidal Nuno, is slightly less likely to make the team, but there's still two spots left in the bullpen. One is certainly going to go to Dellin Betances after his dominating spring. Now that Claiborne has been optioned to Triple-A, the 6-foot-8-inch reliever really has no one left to compete with. The last spot will likely come down to Nuno or Cesar Cabral, ensuring that there will be a second lefty in the 2014 bullpen. Nuno has the ability to both start and relieve, but it's unclear if that will help him get a job or ensure that he remains in Triple-A to remain a starter.

There are still two more pitchers in camp, though it is highly unlikely either will be making the team. I find it interesting that Matt Daley is still in camp at this point. The Yankees obviously like him. They originally signed him before he was healthy enough to pitch, they brought him back in the offseason after they non-tendered him, and now he's the last Non-Roster Invitee left in camp. Not being on the 40-man roster really kills his chances of making the team, but it's certainly possible that someone (Eduardo Nunez? Dean Anna? Preston Claiborne?) could be designated for assignment to make room for him. Shane Greene is on the 40, though he won't be making the team despite his quietly solid spring. He only has so much Double-A experience, but it's possible that he will move up to Triple-A to be rotation depth in case of an injury.

When everything is all said and done, I believe the Yankees will have a bullpen of David Robertson, Shawn Kelley, Matt Thornton, David Phelps, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, and Cesar Cabral. Though I certainly won't be upset if Nuno makes the team instead. Despite all the talk about the Yankees bullpen being weak this season, it could actually turn out to be surprisingly valuable. They might lack high-octane impact across the board, but Phelps, Warren, and maybe Nuno are sure to bring some interesting versatility into the mix.

Could one of these guys buy the Islanders? Probably not but let's talk about them anyway.

When word broke last night that Islanders owner Charles Wang is in talks to sell his majority stake in the team, a buzz coursed through the hockey world.

The report came from TSN analyst Bob McKenzie, a trusted name in NHL news. Wang's stewardship of the Islanders has been highlighted by lots of losing, bizarre decisions and a consistent frugality that hasn't endeared him to a large portion of fans. Immediately, visions of saviors began dancing in everyone's heads.

But longtime Islanders fans know that the team has an ownership history like no other. Wang hasn't been a prince, but neither were the guys that came before him. Not by a long shot.

So who could be the mystery investor? And how will they eventually disappoint Islanders fans? Here's a handy list to get things started:

MIKHAIL PROKHOROV

Current status: Brooklyn Nets Owner/Russian Big Shot.

Wealth Level: Very, very rich.

Pros: Hobbies include spending money, making sure everyone knows he's spending money, letting them spend money and then spending more money than they did. Basketball enthusiast who was a backup center for the 1988‐89 Sacramento Kings.

Cons: Feels that acquiring players who were good 10 years ago is a solid plan to build a future winner.

BRETT & MICHAEL YORMARK

Current status: Brett is the CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and the Barclays Center, the future home of the Islanders. Michael is President and Chief Strategy Officer for Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports agency, which sounds important.

Wealth level: Pretty rich.

Pros: Brett is already well familiar with the Islanders business operations, having taken them over in 2013. Michael is already familiar with the NHL having previously been the CEO of the Florida Panthers for 11 years.

Cons: Based on the Pros, neither is very familiar with winning anything.

JAY Z

Current status: Business mogul, aspiring sports agent and occasional rapper.

Wealth level: Money Ain't a Thang.

Pros: Smart, driven and creative. Apparently from Brooklyn. Seems like a nice guy. Having his wife Beyoncé at games will blow away previous Islanders wives franchise best set by Hilary Duff from 2007‐09.

Cons: May be a friend or colleague of noted Islanders hater CeeLo Green.

MIKE BLOOMBERG

Current status: Former mayor of New York City, still has that news network thing going on.

Wealth level: Worked for $1 a year for eight years, is still rich.

Pros: Straight‐shooter who isn't afraid to spend money. Bilingual.

Cons: Good luck getting a large drink the next time you're at a game.

HANK & HAL STEINBRENNER

Current status: Owners of the New York Yankees and operators of a soon-to-be founded MLS franchise, sons of The Boss (not Bruce Springsteen).

Wealth level: Printing new money every day.

Pros: Long history in New York sports means they know what it takes to put butts in seats: winning, spending money and handing out enough giveaway crap to sink the Intrepid.

Cons: "Introducing new Islanders coach, general manager and captain, Derek Jeter."

ISLES FACEBOOK PAGE

Current status: Recently named team's first President of Hockey Operations.

Wealth level: Unknown, but ... well I mean, they don't appear to otherwise be employed.

Pros: Fast riser, rags-to-riches story. In just one week at the helm has already initiated franchise sale talks. The Islanders have promoted people with little experience before.

Cons: The Islanders have promoted people with little experience before.

NOBODY

Current status: Doesn't exist.

Wealth level: worthless.

Pros: The sale story is an elaborate hoax. McKenzie, man with a great sense of humor and a heightened flair for entertainment, just wanted to inspire the Islanders players and draw more interest to a drifting franchise while simultaneously reuniting with his estranged wife or, failing that, stealing the wife of the team's best player.

Cons: Could be used as the plot to Slap Shot 4, going direct to video next fall.

More from Lighthouse Hockey

Follow @LHHockeyFollow @SBNationNHL

• [Bits] Now shooting for the New York Islanders, Rob DiMaio
• Charles Wang in Talks to Sell New York Islanders Majority Stake?
• Tampa Bay Lightning 3*, New York Islanders 2 (*SO): 13-round shootout with all the rookies
• New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: John Persson recalled for Southleast survivor
• Rare Islanders Air: Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey approach 400 games club

Mark Teixeira's spring training hasn't been very inspiring, but that may be expected for a notorious slow starter that missed nearly all of 2013 recovering from a wrist injury and subsequent surgery. Wrist injuries have been known to linger and sap power from the bats of sluggers. However, it is concerning that Teixeira is admitting that he still doesn't trust that his wrist is 100% healthy over a year removed from the initial injury.

Although the Yankees' first baseman says that his wrist is feeling stronger, he doesn't feel fully comfortable finishing his swing without the expectation of pain. Teixeira admits that he's more concerned with protecting his wrist at this point than completing his follow through. Until he feels like he can finish his swing without thinking that his surgically-repaired wrist will experience discomfort, there could be a lot more futile at-bats from Teixeira like the ones that have led to his sub-.100 spring batting average.

Perhaps a bigger problem for the Yankees is that their backup first baseman is their starting third baseman in Kelly Johnson. Alfonso Soriano is an outfielder and DH with only a few reps under his belt at first base. Russ Canzler failed to impress in camp before being cut and optioned to the minors. If Teixeira has to miss any time, the Yankees are looking at starting the likes of Eduardo Nunez or Dean Anna starting at third base. The shaky infield picture becomes a degree or two shakier at that point, considering the injury concerns surrounding Derek Jeter and Brian Roberts as well.

It seems unlikely at this point that Teixeira is on the verge of actually missing time, but frustration ahead seems like a near certainty if he's going to be batted in the middle of the lineup until he feels more comfortable with his wrist.

The two Matthews join me for their first official podcast. Huzzah!

Ch-ch-ch-changes. The Matts and I talked about a wide variety of topics, from Michael Pineda to the bullpen & bench, and from baseball in the Running of the Balls to the esteemed Matt Barnicle. Best of all, the next time we record, the regular season will have begun! Hurrah.

[3:10] Michael Pineda to the rotation: yay or nay? Also assessing David Phelps' role and musing on contract extensions for players with minimal experience
[10:32] If you had to extend a Yankee right now, who would you extend? Ivan Nova or David Robertson?
[12:57] On the Montero/Pineda trade and true general prospect value
[16:10] Bullpen discussion; somehow Nunez comes up...
[23:01] Who goes on the bench with Brendan Ryan going on the DL? Also, analysis of Dean Anna's website.
[25:45] Pondering the idea of pulling a Baby Moses on Nunez
[27:21] MLB's Opening Day Australia series--thoughts, possible future international openers, and baseball's general international growth
[39:21] Is Mark Teixeira healthy? What can the Yankees expect from him? Plus, token Greg Bird discussion. Obviously.
[44:40] On the starting lineup and uncertainties, scary tales from 2013
[52:12] Back to some thoughts on the Yankees' bullpen (also helpful hint from Matt Ferenchick: look at the box score for Game 162 of 2011 once a week, just to marvel at the Yankees who played)
[56:51] Tweetbag: Yankees bullpen, recruiting Matthews around baseball to join the podcast, Michael Pineda innings limit question, podcast singing, the looming threat of Jayson Nix redux, the possibility of a trade for Didi Gregorius or Nick Franklin, and playoff predictions
[1:13:27] Yankee/Mitre of the Week

(Keep in mind that we recorded this before Thursday's cuts went down, so if there are any references to people already cut possibly making the bullpen, that's why.)

Podcast link (Length: 1:18:08)

iTunes link

RSS feed

Would taking Nuno over Cabral make any sense?

With only a few more days until Opening Day, there are still a few roster spots that need to be decided on. It was expected that Joe Girardi would announce his final bullpen to start the season sometime on Friday, and one idea might to stack up on as many starters as possible.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes lefty Cesar Cabral will not make the team and the final spot will instead go to Vidal Nuno. He bases this on the fact that the Yankees will play 13 straight games without a day off to start the season. Masahiro Tanaka is also not used to pitching every fifth day and Michael Pineda is coming off surgery, so he believes that more starting pitching is the answer.

It's just speculation at the moment, but I personally had Cabral making the team over Nuno because it's kind of bizarre to have a total of three potential starters just sitting around in the bullpen. Stuffing David Phelps, Adam Warren, and Vidal Nuno all in the bullpen seems to display very little confidence in the starting rotation right off the bat. There are certainly questions about theYankees' top five, but having all three kind of shows that they may not trust Tanaka and Pineda just yet. It would have made a lot of sense to send Nuno down and allow him to continue to work as a starter, just in case someone goes down with an injury.

What will they all be doing on a daily basis? Maybe Warren is the longman, Phelps could pitch in middle relief, but what does Nuno do? If he's just another LOOGY then why not use Cabral there? If you need another starter, then you can call Nuno up when you need him. Now it's unlikely that Phelps or Nuno will be kept stretched out enough to start on short notice. We've spent the last few days admiring the Yankees' starting pitching depth, but this move kind of does away with it. It would be nice if everyone could make the team, but in this case, it doesn't make sense for everyone to be here.

While it might theoretically help the Yankees if everyone pans out in the bullpen, it leaves The Triple-A rotation fairly thin. At this point, Shane Greene might be given a spot, but the rest would be taken up by organizational fodder, at least until Manny Banuelos is healthy enough to return to Scranton. What do you think?

UPDATE:

Dellin betances and vidal nuno make the team

— Daniel Barbarisi (@DanBarbarisi) March 28, 2014

The Yankees made a move Friday afternoon to add some depth to their Triple-A starting rotation with the signing ofAlfredo Aceves to a minor league deal. Aceves recently opted out of his contract with the Baltimore Orioles after it was obvious that he was not going to be making their team. With David Phelps, Adam Warren, and Vidal Nuno all making the big league bullpen, starters were needed to be one step away from the majors with the RailRiders. Shane Greene, Chris Leroux, Brian Gordon, and Bruce Billings will fill out Scranton's rotation alongside Aceves.

Aceves is, of course, no stranger to New York. He pitched 84 innings for the 2009 World Series winners before being released after a biking accident and catching on with the Red Sox in 2011. Aceves pitched 37 innings with a 4.86 ERA for Boston last season.

It's difficult to imagine Aceves getting an abundance of time in the big league bullpen this season with eight guys who can start games already on the 25-man roster. Still, as we saw last season, anything can happen. Aceves can opt out of his contract with the Yankees on July 1 if he isn't on the big league club by then. Bringing on Aceves as a bit of a safety net in case the worst happens in the Bronx can't be a bad thing, even if he ultimately leaves for a better chance elsewhere before actually returning to New York.

Is this good news for Solarte? Bad news for Nunez?

The Yankees were all set at shortstop with a now-healthy Derek Jeter as their starter and the slick-fielding Brendan Ryan as his backup. Unfortunately, as the 2013 squad can attest to, injuries happen. Ryan has seen limited action this spring after dealing with an oblique strain and now a pinched nerve in his back/neck. The plan was to bring him back in minor league camp so they could backdate his DL stint, however, it's probably going to take longer than they originally expected.

He's eligible to come off the disabled list on April 7, but Brian Cashman has confirmed that Ryan won't be ready to return to the majors at that point. He will likely have to return for extended spring training in order to prepare himself for the regular season. It seemed like the plan was to allow Dean Anna to fill in as the backup infielder until Ryan was healthy, but the severity of the injury could cause the Yankees to reevaluate.

There are currently two spots open between Anna, Eduardo Nunez, and Yangervis Solarte to serve as backup infielders. The easy choice would be to simply bring Nunez and Anna, since they're both on the 40-man roster, but it's possible that they're considering making a move in order to get Solarte on the team. If that were to happen, it means that either Ryan is going to the 60-day disabled list and will miss the first two months of the season, or someone is going to be designated for assignment. Candidates for a roster cut include Nunez and Anna, but could also end up being someone like Preston Claiborne now that he has been optioned to Triple-A after a lousy spring training.

The backup infielders are the only remaining roster decisions left to be made. All three of them can play second, third, and short (I'm using the term "play" lightly in Nunez's case), so versatility is not going to be a deciding factor. The bullpen and rotation have been finalized, so a holdup here could signify that a move is coming.

The Yankees send out Hiroki Kuroda to take on Kevin Slowey and the Miami Marlins tonight. This is the second-to-last spring training game of the 2014 season, so get excited, we're almost there.

The bench will include Francisco Cervelli (C), Jose Gil (1B), Eduardo Nunez (2B), Dean Anna (SS), Zelous Wheeler (3B), Yangervis Solarte (LF), Antoan Richardson (CF), Adonis Garcia (RF), with Tyson Blaser, Jake Cave, and Ali Castillo serving as replacement designated hitters. The bullpen will include Shane Greene, Cesar Cabral, Matt Daley, James Pazos, Tyler Webb, Jim Miller, Diego Moreno, and apparently Masahiro Tanaka! So that's fun.

This was a completely uneventful game and if you missed it, you didn't miss much, especially since you wouldn't be able to watch it anyway. The Yankees were no-hit by the Marlins again for eight innings tonight, but still managed to pick up the win anyway, thanks to some fantastic pitching from the Yankees' pair of Japanese starters.

Hiroki Kuroda allowed three hits while collecting four strikeouts and four ground outs in three innings. One of the hits was actually a Christian Yelich leadoff bunt single to start the game, so he didn't give Miami much. Masahiro Tanaka came into the game in relief and was even better. He struck out a grand total of 10 batters in six innings as the Marlins were only able to get three hits (and an Eduardo Nunez error!) off him while being incapable of laying off the slider. It would have been nice to see such a beautiful thing over and over and over again. Only two batters were able to get hits off him. Beautiful.

The Yankees actually took the lead in the fourth without even collecting a hit. Brett Gardner reached on a Donovan Solano error at short. After that he stole second, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira walked, and Gardner stole third, because he's awesome. Brian McCann grounded to first base and was able to get the run in.

The Yankees then went the next three innings without a baserunner before finally breaking out in the eighth inning. Kelly Johnson hit a leadoff double and was replaced by stupid Eduardo Nunez on the base path. He took third on a wild pitch and then scored on a Brian Roberts single to make it a 2–0 game. Antoan Richardson came in for Roberts and immediately stole second. He advanced to third on an Ichiro Suzuki grounder and then scored on a Yangervis Solarte single to increase the lead to 3–0.

Word is that, while Dean Anna has made the team, the Yankees haven't decided on their final bench player just yet. After seeing Solarte collect an RBI and Nunez collect yet another error, maybe it's finally time to make the right call. How 'bout it, guys? Please?

Last Time on Pinstripe Alley

• Yankees 3, Marlins 0: Tanakkkkkkkkkk
• Spring Training Game Thirty: Yankees at Marlins
• Brendan Ryan won't be ready to return after his DL stint
• Yankees sign Alfredo Aceves to a minor league deal
• Yankees spring training: Vidal Nuno makes team over Cesar Cabral
• Pinstripe Alley Podcast 40: Enter the Matthews
• Mark Teixeira admits that he doesn't trust his wrist is completely healthy
• Yankees spring training: Pitchers' Making the Team Meter - Week Four
• Yankees spring training: Hitters' Making the Team Meter - Week Four

Yankees News

The Star-Ledger | Jorge Castillo: Yangervis Solarte's opt out clause could make the last roster decision even more difficult.

New York Post | Kevin Kernan:Mark Teixeira still doesn't feel comfortable about his wrist.

SB Nation | Tyler Drenon: 30 teams, 30 photoshops.

It's About the Money | EJ Fagan: Pitch framing might make Brian McCann the most valuable signing of the offseason.

LoHud | Chad Jennings: Taking a look at the remaining players in camp.

Bombers Beat | Bryan Hoch: Projections for the Yankees' 25-man roster.

It's About the Money | Michael Eder: It's entirely possible that Michael Pineda is experimenting with some new pitches in order to get more ground balls.

ESPN New York | Andrew Marchand: Projecting how the Yankees' rotation and closer will do in 2014.

CBS Sports | Mike Axisa:CC Sabathia vs. Scott Feldman ranks dead last in pitching matchups on Opening Day.

Timesleader.com | Paul Sokoloski: Russ Canzler could be the hometown hero for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

New York Daily News | Mark Feinsand: Bud Selig calls Derek Jeter the ultimate ambassador for baseball.

Fox Sports | Rob Neyer: Ichiro Suzuki, Jason Giambi, Raul Ibanez, and even Brendan Ryan could all call it quits after this season.

LoHud | Chad Jennings:Dellin Betances, Vidal Nuno, and Dean Anna react to making the team.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner are the Yankees' two best stolen base threats; how often will we see them creating havoc on the bases in 2014?

The Yankees have made no bones about it: they like speed in their outfield. They've demonstrated so by signing Jacoby Ellsbury to a seven-year contract in early-December and then proceeded to sign Brett Gardner to a four-year extension a few months later. The speed these two provide won't just benefit the team defensively in the outfield, but it will certainly help the team on the base paths (in terms of stolen bases) as well; we just don't know how much exactly.

Jacoby Ellsbury stole a total of 52 bases (most in MLB) in 56 attempts (second-most in MLB) last season for the Red Sox. All told, Ellsbury had 267 total opportunities to steal a base, and he attempted to do so about 21% of the time (league average is 5.5%). That 21% stolen base attempt rate, however, isn't quite as high as some of the more aggressive base runners (Starling Marte: 56 attempts, 26% SB attempt rate; Jean Segura: 57 attempts, 26% SB attempt rate), but is still a very respectable clip. Besides, Ellsbury has been very efficient on the base paths, not just last year (93%), but throughout his career as well (84%); he has a pretty good idea of what he's doing out there. At the same time, though, I wonder if Ellsbury will try to run a little more this year given Derek Jeter's double play tendencies, but we'll see.

In comparison to Ellsbury, Brett Gardner stole only 24 bases (15th-most in baseball) and attempted to do so 32 times (20th-most in baseball). Gardner did have 224 opportunities to steal, but only did so 14% of the time. Gardner's seemingly passive approach on the base paths last season left fans up in arms and we never really knew exactly why he didn't run more often. Maybe because the Yankees didn't want to risk him getting caught, they could have given Gardner the red light more often so Robinson Cano, the team's only real power threat for a large portion of the year, could drive Gardner home. Or, there could have been some sort of injury we didn't know about and that could have been a reason why Gardner didn't attempt to steal more bases.

Sure enough, in an interview with Michael Kay a few weeks ago, Gardner did say that he dealt with some "dead legs" and "soreness" at times last year and that he had to play more often given the team's rash of injuries. Now that the Yankees' outfield is stacked this season, Gardner should be able to get a breather every now and then so he can be a little fresher as the year goes on. In Gardner's last full season prior to 2013 (2011), he attempted to steal a whopping 26% of the time (62 attempts, 240 opportunities). I'm not sure we'll see that kind of aggressiveness out of Gardner this year, but hopefully he'll come somewhere moderately close to that level.

For what it's worth, Ichiro Suzuki, the Yankees' third stolen base threat, attempted to steal in just 10% of his total opportunities (24 attempts, 231 opportunities) last year. This is down from his 15% stolen base attempt rate from 2011-2012, and, given he was 39 years old last year, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that he has run less. Now that the Yankees have a combination of Ellsbury, Gardner, Carlos Beltran, and Alfonso Soriano in their outfield, Ichiro is set to be the team's fifth outfielder and should be used as a pinch-runner late in games. If so, I would like to see Ichiro improve his stolen base attempt rate from last year's 10% clip to, perhaps, his 15% rate from 2011-2012. That shouldn't be asking for too much since his legs will be fresh from spending more time on the bench.

Sure, there are players like Ichiro (and perhaps even Soriano) who can steal a bag here and there, but Ellsbury and Gardner are the headliners when it comes to stolen bases. Ellsbury and Gardner are important not just for their ability to play strong defense in the outfield and get on base, but for their ability to steal bases; those two being aggressive (and having good success) on the base paths could go a long way towards the Yankees getting back to the postseason.

Fangraphs completed its annual "Positional Power Rankings" feature, so lets see how the Yankees stack up against their foes.

I will readily admit that I am a sucker when it comes to rankings. Whether it's seeing where my team ranks week to week on ESPN.com or the latest MLB video game, I'm hooked on the things. So I was eagerly awaiting Fangraphs' "Positional Power Rankings" for the upcoming season. Some of the projections that constitute the rankings should be taken with a grain of salt, but all in all they're an interesting measure of how the Yankees stack up against the rest of the league and use a hybrid of the projections from the ZIPS and Streamer systems to get there. But if you don't much care for fWAR, you're probably not going to get anything out of them at all since the ranking is solely a reflection of total fWAR at the position. For your convenience, I compiled where the Yankees ranked at each position in the exercise.

In case you're not familiar with the way these rankings are done, they're compiled using projections that include how much playing time players will get at the position in question. So second base doesn't look as terrible as expected due to Dean Anna getting a projected 200+ ABs there. So as I noted, they're definitely to be taken with a grain of salt.

The first thing that stood out to me is the downright generous ranking at first base. Mark Teixeira has the sort of track record that plays well with the projection systems, but I would be pretty surprised if he met his 2.7 fWAR expectations. Aside from that, the rest of the infield looks to be right where you would assume them to be. That's 3/4 of the infield expected to be worse than the vast majority of the league. Here's hoping that Derek Jeter has one more age-defying year in him. Unsurprisingly, catcher is the bright spot in the infield. That 5th place ranking could actually even be conservative if Francisco Cervelli has improved as much as his Spring and early 2013 play have indicated.

The Yankees look to have one of the best outfields in the league, and that's even with Carlos Beltran's cratered defensive projections. Considering anything hit his way will likely sail over the fence, that might not be of much concern. DH is obviously going to be some amalgamation of Alfonso Soriano, Beltran and anyone who wants a day off, so the Yankees are in good shape there since most teams don't usually plug in that much talent into the spot.

The starting pitching is going to be what drives this team for sure, and their 4th place ranking reflects this. The projections are interesting though, as they are very bullish for CC Sabathia (3.7 fWAR) and Masahiro Tanaka (4.4 fWAR) but bearish on Ivan Nova (2.2 fWAR) and Hiroki Kuroda (2.9 fWAR). So the ceiling for this staff could be even higher than 4th best in MLB and that's saying nothing of Michael Pineda's potential. Even with all the unknowns in the bullpen David Robertson is enough to make it a pretty good corps. Dellin Betances could be the key to elevating that ranking even further, but his inexperience doesn't add much to their overall projection.

These rankings seem to generally reflect what we already know: this infield has the potential to be really bad, the outfield should be quite good and the pitching looks like some of the best in baseball. So no groundbreaking stuff there. I suggest you peruse all of Fangraphs positional rankings as it's a fun way of gauging what the Yankees will be up against in 2014. And it will likely add to the pity you feel for the Astros.

One more spring training game to go.

Ivan Nova will get the start for the Yankees in the final game of spring training. Jacoby Ellsbury also makes his return to the starting lineup.

On the bench are Francisco Cervelli (C), Jose Gil (1B), Yangervis Solarte (2B), Dean Anna (SS), Eduardo Nunez (3B), Zelous Wheeler (LF), and Adonis Garcia (RF). Available to DH are Carmen Angelini, Ichiro Suzuki, Antoan Richardson and Roybel Herrera. In the bullpen are David Robertson, Matt Thornton, Shawn Kelley, David Phelps, Matt Daley, Vidal Nuno, Mark Montgomery, Danny Burawa and Fred Lewis.

Go Yankees, go baseball.

UPDATE:

Today's #Yankees vs. Marlins game has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 29, 2014

The Yankees' final spring training game against the Marlins was cancelled due to rain Saturday afternoon, but the team still has a decision to make. Eduardo Nunez and Yangervis Solarte were told after Friday night's game that they shouldn't pack to make the team flight from Tampa to Houston this afternoon. Instead, the team would need more time before Sunday's 3:00 pm deadline to make their decision.

Nunez currently has the spot on the 40-man roster that Solarte does not, but Solarte more than outplayed him this spring. If Solarte doesn't make the Opening Day roster, he has an opt out clause he can use to seek a better deal elsewhere. After the spring he's had, it's easy to believe he'd find it. The Yankees could simply be deciding which of the two they'd prefer to carry with them, or it could be even more complicated. Perhaps a trade is in the works and they don't want to finalize anything before they know definitively whether or not that's happening. Unfortunately, a trade would point to Nunez staying on the roster.

It's also possible that another player entirely is the subject of a trade rumor. The Yankees have been shopping some of their catching depth all spring training, possibly looking to unload one of the five catchers on their 40-man roster. Ichiro Suzuki has also been the target of trade rumors with the Yankees not being shy to admit that they'd eat salary in order to move him. All of these possibilities would open up a 40-man spot for Solarte if they happened before tomorrow's deadline.

Then again, there is also the possibility that the Yankees make a big splash and sign free agent Stephen Drew. They have been connected to the shortstop at multiple points this offseason and now the indication is that he'd be willing to accept a one-year deal to find a job. The infield picture being as shaky as it is simply makes going for Drew make too much sense. He has concerning splits against left-handers and away from Fenway Park, but another option brought into the fold couldn't hurt, especially for one season. If the team thinks something might be able to be worked out with Drew, it would make sense that they haven't given away their final roster spot.

What do you think the Yankees are up to right now? Who gets the final spot on the roster?

Team No Nunez has prevailed. Solarte makes the Opening Day roster!

Yangervis Solarte played himself onto the Yankees' Opening Day roster with an incredibly impressive spring training performance, beating out Eduardo Nunez for the final spot on the 25-man roster. The move was announced this afternoon after all other spots on the team had already been filled prior to Saturday's rainout against the Marlins. Solarte and Nunez were left in limbo last night until the decision could be made. Nunez has now been optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

To get Solarte onto the 40-man roster, which currently sits at capacity, the Yankees will need some sort of corresponding move before Tuesday's game against the Astros in Houston. It's possible that some kind of trade is pulled off before then, otherwise someone is likely to simply be DFA'd. There aren't a lot of obvious names that you'd think the Yankees would be in a hurry to part with considering that Ichiro Suzuki and Nunez are probably the two that deserve it most. Neither seems very likely to be dispensed with entirely at this point. It could be bad news for Zoilo Almonte or Cesar Cabral. The latter seems like the better bet, if it came down to those two.

It was reasonable to believe that the Yankees would go with Nunez over the unproven Solarte, simply because of their completely unfounded affection for the error-prone infielder. For all the talk of his potential and bat speed, Nunez had really done nothing to deserve the rope he'd received. He was more than outplayed by Solarte and the Yankees made the right decision, for which we are all grateful.

The Yankees bought almost the entire upper-tier of the free agent market, but it still might not be enough to bring them back to October.

Any consideration of the Yankees offseason has to begin with the fact that New York just missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The 2013 Yankees hung around in the wild card race for most of the season, thanks to a strong performance from their rotation and more than a little luck, but they were not a good team. They allowed 21 more runs than they scored, giving them a Pythagorean record of just 79-83. Injuries ravished the offense; they lost Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter for almost the entire season and Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez missed the majority of games as well. The group that took the field simply could not score runs. Yankee Stadium helped disguise just how bad things were, but by the park-adjusted weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+), the Yankees offense was 15 percent worse than average and the third worst offense in the game.

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The Yankees entered the offseason looking to do exactly what they did after the 2008 season- spend big to rebuild instantly. That plan was made more complicated by the looming departure of their best player, second baseman Robinson Cano, who hit the free agent market along with pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes. Still, the Yankees executed the only play in their playbook perfectly, committing more than $400 million dollars to free agents this winter. However, unlike their pre-2009 offseason, this buying spree has not made them the favorites and another October spent watching from the sidelines is still a strong possibility.

Additions: Jacoby Ellsbury, Masahiro Tanaka, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, Kelly Johnson, Brian Roberts, Matt Thornton, Scott Sizemore, Andrew Bailey

At some point, the Yankees decided that their money would be better spent bringing in as many of the top free agents available as possible instead of re-signing Robinson Cano. McCann was the first of the top free agents to sign with New York and he is arguably the most important piece to their overhaul. Yankee catchers hit just .213/.287/.298 in 2013. After watching Jorge Posada and Russell Martin man the position for years, New York could hardly be expected to live with the combination of Chris Stewart and Austin Romine for another year. McCann is a plus defender and his left-handed swing is a perfect fit for his new home park. Offensive production from the man behind the plate has been a hallmark of the modern Yankees dynasty and McCann is a worthy successor to that legacy.

The outfield received a face-lift in the form of free agent signees Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltan. Ellsbury brings elite speed, solid on-base skills and some pop to the leadoff spot and he has matured into an above average center fielder. His injury history is often cited as a concern, but colliding with other players is probably not going to be a persistent issue. Still, at seven-years and $153 million dollars, Ellsbury is a risky bet for the Yankees, long term. He has played poorly around those injuries and his ability to maintain his production as his speed fades is a serious concern. Beltran will need Ellsbury’s help in field now that his range is rapidly narrowing to a single point of light like an antique television set, but his bat still packs plenty of pop. Provide they all stay healthy, the outfield of trio Beltran, Elllsbury and Brett Gardner supported by Alfonso Soriano and Ichiro has the potential to be the best in the game.

With Ellsbury, Beltran, McCann and a host of buy-low infield replacements on board, the Yankees turned their attention to the rotation. They shunned the middling options available to them and held out for the only player with true impact potential. The Masahiro Tanaka saga wasn’t lacking in twists and turns, but like so many drawn-out, overwrought dramas, it ended predictably, with the Yankees tossing out the highest bid, a whopping seven-year, $150 deal. Tanaka is a difficult to project as any player in the game for the 2014 season, but since he just 25, the Yankees can live with an adjustment period this season if the final product is the top-of-the-rotation arm in they believe he will be.

Loses: Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Chris Stewart, Curtis Granderson, Travis Hafner, Joba Chamberlain

The Yankees signed four of the top five free agents this offseason, but they passed on the best player available. Robinson Cano led the Yankees in fWAR from 2009-2013, but his insistence on a massive 10-year deal was too much to ask from a team that was finally feeling the effects of handing out those kinds of contracts with abandon. Letting Cano walk is the right move in the long run, but with a porcelain figurine of Brian Roberts slated to be the everyday second baseman, the immediate results could be hard for fans to handle.

Apart from Cano, the players the Yankees will miss most in 2014 have not gone on to other teams, but to life beyond baseball. The addition of Tanaka should help ease the pain of life beyond Andy Pettitte, but the Yankees made little or no effort to replace the irreplaceable Mariano Rivera.Top setup man David Robertson will step into the ninth inning, but that simply pushes the hole one spot down the line. The 2014 Yankees bullpen is not lacking in options, with Adam Warren, David Phelps, Shawn Kelley and Dellin Betances all capable of serving key roles, but after years of having the only sure things in the game pitching the final frame, the Yankees have hardly any sure things to turn for any role in the bullpen this year.

Players to Watch

Everyone will be watching as Derek Jeter says goodbye to the game this season, but while the Yankees are celebrating his legacy, they desperately need him to play up to level of performance that has earned him all of these honors. Jeter has been incredibly consistent throughout his career, but he has never had to come back from an injury that cost him most of a season and trying to pull that off at age 39 is asking a lot of a player, even if that player is one of the greatest ever. The Yankees don’t need Jeter to be a superstar in his final year, but they need him to stay on the field and contribute average or better production one last time if the team is going to bounce back offensively.

Similarly, the loss of Mark Teixeira’s bat was huge last season and the Yankees need their switch-hitting first baseman to return and be a force in the middle of the lineup once again. Teixeira will turn 34 in April and even apart from the difficulty of returning from a serious injury, there are reasons to be worried about his production this coming season. From 2005-2009, Teixeira consistently produced batting averages on balls in play over .300, but in 2010 that rate dropped to .268 and it has not topped .250 since then. Since Teixeira walks at an elite rate, hits for prodigious power and strikeouts around the league average rate, he has managed to be productive despite this fall off. However, with fewer balls in play going for hits, there is not much room for decline in his skills. A loss of power (a reasonable possibility, given the wrist injury) or a jump in strikeout rate could create a difficult situation at first for the Yankees.

In the rotation, there are no shortages of question marks. CC Sabathia has lost several miles on his fastball and now has to adjust to pitching without the overpower stuff that made him one of the game’s top pitchers. Masahiro Tanaka will be adjusting to a new schedule and more imposing lineups. Hiroki Kuroda has been excellent over the past three seasons, but he is 39-years-old. There is tremendous talent in this group, but little depth and plenty of risk. Apart from Tanaka, the one player that could step forward and become a permanent solution for this aging rotation is Michael Pineda. The former-Mariner did not endear himself to Yankees fans following the trade that sent Jesus Montero to Seattle. He showed up for Yankees camp in poor shape and immediately injured his shoulder, putting him on the sidelines for the entire 2012 season and most of 2013. Now that he has won a starting spot out of camp, he has the opportunity to redeem himself. Pineda was one of the hardest throwing starters when he last pitched in the majors and while his upper-90’s velocity may never return, his fastball has looked strong enough this spring to play at the big league level. In 15 innings this spring he has a 1.60 ERA and 16 strikeouts against just one walk. He still just 25-years-old, so if he can overcome the injury and establish himself as a strong mid-rotation arm this season, the Yankees rotation will begin to look a good deal less shallow than it does now.

Best Case Scenario

The Yankees might be the most extreme boom-or-bust club in baseball this season. If the players they will slot into everyday roles this April can stay healthy through September, this team could easily battle the Rays and Red Sox for supremacy in the AL East. Buying low on guys like Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts could work out perfectly. Jeter and Teixeira might shake off their injuries and help power this new lineup to the top of the leaderboards. The rotation could be one of the most underrated in the game, with Sabathia and Tanaka forming a powerful one-two punch and Kuroda, Ivan Nova, and Pineda all pitching well-above average. The bullpen could be much deeper than it appears and Robertson could take the crown from Rivera and establish himself as the next great closer in theBronx. If all these pieces fall into place, the Yankees could return to the World Series for the first time since 2009.

What Could Go Wrong

Or everyone could get hurt. The free agent signings this winter didn’t make the Yankees a young team by any stretch of the imagination. The team they built this winter is incredibly talented, but it also extremely top-heavy. Two key position players are returning from injuries that cost them almost the entire 2014 season. Brian Roberts has not played a full season in three years. At age-30, Brian McCann has 8,820 innings behind the plate weighing on his knees. The backup plans for many of the big stars are cringe-worthy and many of stars are at an age when decline is the rule and not the exception. A few serious injuries or drastic declines and the Yankees dreams of competing in the AL East could vanish in an instant. The farm system has very few impact players near the majors and that fact not only makes it hard for this team to find internal upgrades, but it places them as underdogs in any mid-season trade scenario.

Final Thoughts

When the Yankees bought up all the best free agents back in 2009, they instantly became favorites in their division and one of the best teams in baseball. This season, that same strategy has earned them a PECOTA projection of 83 wins and a 30 percent chance of making the playoff, the seventh-best odds in the American League. The market this offseason didn’t offer the same kind talent that the 2009 market offered and that will probably continue to be the case in the future. If the Yankees are going to continue to make the playoffs every year, they will have to adapt better than they have so far. There is no reason they can’t use their overwhelming financial advantages to dominant a world where the best players rarely reach free agency. Letting Cano walk and signing a four-year, $54 million extension with Brett Gardner may be signs that they are adjusting some, but they still appear to be behind the curve. If the Yankees play to their projections this season and fall short of the playoffs again, another round of massive deals still might not be enough to turn things around. At some point, this team will need to embrace a new model or the unthinkable with come to pass; the Yankees will need a rebuilding year.