Hamels Is the Best of Scherzer and Shields

             Max Scherzer and James Shields are the best pitchers on the free agent market, but are they worth the payday? The former CY Young winner Scherzer is a definite ace, and boy does he know it looking for a 7-8 year contract north of $200M. He is probably worth what he is asking however the Yankees don't need an ace, so why pay for one? Shields would make more sense being more of a #2 starter with the ability to take over and be an ace. He is looking for a more reasonable 4-5 years between $100M-$120M. Now he is really worth it during the regular season proving to be a real workhorse. However his only problem is that he is a terrible postseason pitcher with a career 5.46 ERA in 11 games. With how much Shields costs the main point of signing him should be to get to the postseason. He would do a great job getting them their however he would do a terrible job pitching for them when they get there. With both of these pitchers having their ups and downs which one is the best? Which one would be best for the Yankees to sign and have in the rotation in 2015? The answer is neither of them, the answer is Cole Hamels.

Cole Hamels has been on the market for some time. All of the trades involving him have seen to just fall right through. This is probably because the Phillies GM is Rubin Amaro Jr who is known for overvaluing his players and asking too much for them, if the Yankees where to trade for Hamels it would cost top prospects such as Gary Sanchez, Ian Clarkin, and Eric Jagielo. If the Yankees where to eat up the majority of the contract however the cost would be lower considering he has 4 years 90M left on his contract.

Hammels the best option for the Yankees?

Even with the cost of Hamels being high he would still be worth it considering the Yankees need for another strong starter. Hamels is a definite mix between Scherzer and Shields. He has the same ability as Scherzer being an ace, and is great in the postseason with a career 3.09 ERA in 13 games, plus he was the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP. He also brings the same workhorse quality that Shields brings with not having pitched less than 200 innings since 2010, and hasn't pitched less than 180 innings since 2007. He brings around the same cost that Shields has left on his contract with only 4 years $90M left on his contract. Hamels would be a way better option than Scherzer or Shields and he would fit perfectly into the Yankee rotation. 

Cole Hamels Is Willing. Are the Yankees?

              The Yankees are getting younger with every trade that GM Brian Cashman makes, but is a trade for Cole Hamels worth the prospects? The Yankees biggest need right now is a starting pitcher, and neither Max Scherzer nor James Shields seems to be a perfect fit for the Yankees. Scherzer wants "ace money" and they don't need an ace so why pay for one, and Shields has the right price but his terrible postseason record makes him a questionable target. Hamels is the best of both these pitchers, being that his postseason ERA is 3.09, he was a NLCS and World Series MVP in 2008, and the remainder on his contract is around the same amount James Shields is looking for. The problem with the Hamels trade doesn't seem to Cashman, but Phillies GM Rubin Amaro Jr. He is known for overvaluing his players, which typically ends in the deal falling through, remembering the Marlin Byrd deal that fell through last year because Amaro Jr wanted to get top prospect Aaron Judge in return. So expect to see top prospects given up if the deal does go through such as Gary Sanchez, Eric Jagielo, and Ian Clarkin. 

Scherzer Is the next Sabathia

Scherzer the future CC Sabathia?

           With all of the buzz surrounding Max Scherzer, GM Brian Cashman is still going against signing him. The Yankee fan base seems to be for it as they believe that he will solidify a flimsy rotation, and he probably will. However looking at this in the long run, it will be another failed contract. Just look back to 2009 when the Yankees signed former CY Young winner CC Sabathia to a 8yr/$182M contract. Now fast-forward to the 2014-2015 offseason and there is former Cy Young winner Max Scherzer who is looking for a 7-8 year contract north of $200M. If the Yankees sign Scherzer they might win a World Series like they did with Sabathia but with 3-4 years left on the contract he could will most likely start to break down and become the new CC Sabathia. Even though Scherzer has about 1000 innings less than Sabathia when signed with New York, he is the type of pitcher that relies on a mid-90's fastball to carry him. Now even with a 1000 innings less than Sabathia, when he reaches his mid-30's he won't be able to keep his fastball in the mid-90's. He will have the same having to adjust to a low velocity problems Sabathia is having eventually, and considering how much he relies on his power pitches he won't be able to make the adjustment. Just look at his former teammate Justin Verlander. He has the exact same pitching style as Scherzer and he has been terrible his last two season. Signing Scherzer would be a terrible deal in the long run.

Why Trading for Tulo Is a Mistake

         Many Yankee fans want to see Troy Tulowitzki starting at shortstop Opening Day for 2015. But doing that would be a big mistake and waste of prospects. With how often Tulowitzki is injured it makes no sense to add yet another injury prone player to the infield. It would be perfectly fine to have Didi Gregorious at shortstop considering he is young, has a lot of potential, and is a defensive wiz. But having risking having Tulowitzki at shortstop is just a heart attack waiting to happen, he has averaged only 88 games in the last three seasons. Now is it worth it to have only a little over half a season worth of production, for giving up the best prospects we have like Luis Serevino and Aaron Judge? I don't think it is, even if he is going to give the best numbers in the league for that half season it would be better to be average for a whole season than great for half. 

Will Eovaldi Perform?

Can Eovaldi perform to his potential?

             Being the main player in the trade that sent Martin Prado and David Phelps to the Marlins in exchange for Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Jones, and Domingo German, can Eovaldi turn things around and realize his potential to be a number 2 starter and possibly even an ace. He has been compared to Angels ace Garrett Richards who turned things around last year going 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA. If Eovaldi can make that same change then the rotation will be a big turn around and could be the best in the division. Eovaldi's fastball averages mid to high 90's, his change-up and cutter are mainly the problem and hitters bat over .450 against them. His slider is his best pitch and hitters bat .214 against it. The main reason Garrett Richards was able to have his success was he eliminated the use of his change-up which was the pitch that Eovaldi said he will continue to use. If Eovaldi wants to perform to his potential he will need to make changes to his approach.

Sabathia Just Needs to Be Average

Can CC Sabathia make a comeback?

            With CC Sabathia coming off two bad years, and a shoulder injury the Yankees need him to be healthy all if not the majority of the 2015 season. But he doesn't need to be the dominant ace that he was in 2012, but an average workhorse that can put up a 3.65 ERA and 180-200 innings. If he can do this, then he would be perfect for the 2 or 3 spot in the rotation. If he can make a comeback and dominant like he used to then great, it would be perfect to have a top 1&2 combos like the Mariners or the Dodgers. However the odds of that happening are very slim, even though Sabathia says "I can still dominate." One of the things that could possibly happen is the last two years have been him adjusting to his lowered velocity and working on a two-seam, sinker, and more breaking balls. If so then he should look better than he did before. One option for Sabathia is if he is unable to comeback and pitch a whole game is moving him to be a long-relief pitcher out of the bullpen.

Yankees Should Sign Emilio Bonifacio

       

Bonifacio right for the Yankees?

   With Marin Prado gone the Yankees have lost their main utility man. Emilio Bonifacio would be a perfect fit for the Yankees considering he can play almost anywhere. Bonifacio can do almost anything consisting of pinch hitting, pinch running, defensive substitution, and start in place of players to give them the occasional day of rest. With Bonifacio being able to play all of the Yankees questionable positions like SS, 2B, RF, 3B, and CF. Now not all of those positions need to be filled but a couple of them are played by injured prone players such as Jacoby Ellsbury, Chase Headley, and Carlos Beltran. Considering how durable Bonifacio has been able he would provide good insurance in case someone was to get injured.

Overview of Yankees Rotation with Improvements

                 At the beginning of the offseason the Yankee rotation was the weakest part of the team. But has it changed with the moves that GM Brian Cashman has made? Or is it still the spotty question mark it was going into the offseason?

1. Masahiro Tanaka:

2014: 13-5/2.77 ERA/136.1 IP/144 SO

Masahiro Tanaka was the talk of the baseball world in first half of the 2014 season before he was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL, and was out till the end of the season with the exception of 2 starts. Tanaka is definitely the Yankees ace, no doubt about it but the real question is if he can recover to what he was before he was injured, and if his UCL will fully snap after just pitching a couple games. If he is able to this it will be a big turning point for the rotation; however the Yankees should work on shortening his workload from the going 7-8 innings he pitched last year.

2015 Prediction: 17-11/2.65 ERA/ 219 IP/ 233 SO

2. Michael Pineda:

2014: 5-5/1.89 ERA/76.1 IP/59 SO 

Michael Pineda has never seemed to be able to stay healthy since he was traded for top Yankee prospect Jesus Montero in 2012. Last year was his first season pitching for the Yankees; it was short, and filled with pine tar talk, but was still hopeful. He managed to post an impressive 1.89 ERA in that small amount of time; however the Yankees shouldn't place their hopes on him to be healthy for all of the 2015 season.

2015 Prediction: 15-12/3.56 ERA/176 IP/146 SO

3. CC Sabathia:

2014: 3-4/5.28 ERA/46.0 IP/48 SO

I'm not worried about CC Sabathia in the slightest. Now his glory days are over, and I doubt that he will ever return to full for, but I think that he will come back and put up solid average numbers, perfect numbers for the middle to lower end of a rotation.

2015 Prediction: 11-12/3.89 ERA/189 IP/158 SO

4. Nathan Eovaldi:

2014: 6-14/4.37 ERA/199.2 IP/142 SO

Eovaldi is a guy with a bunch of talent and nothing to show for it. He was acquired in the trade that sent Martin Prado and David Phelps to the Marlins. He manages to show his talent in small spurts throughout the season however he is not consistent. If the Yankees manage to turn him around and get him to his full potential then he could possibly be their number 2 or 3 starter.

2015 Prediction: 14-12/ 3.54 ERA/196 IP/173 SO

5. Chris Capuano/ Ivan Nova:

2014: 3-4/4.35 ERA/97.1 IP/84 SO

2014: 2-2/8.27 ERA/20.2/12 SO

Chris Capuano will likely compete for the rotation in Spring Training with Manny Banuelos. Whoever wins the rotation spot might have to give it up after Ivan Nova is done rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery. But that is dependent on the rest of the rotations ability to perform; it might make sense if the rotation is doing well to temporarily move Nova to the bullpen.

2015 Prediction: None considering that there are multiple people able to win the rotation spot.

Options

Manny Banuelos: If Banuelos managed to get back to the potential he had before his Tommy John Surgery, then there is no doubt at all that Banuelos should win the 5th rotation spot. His ceiling was predicted to be in the 2nd or 3rd rotation spot.

Brandon Beachy: Very low risk high reward type of free agent. If he were to pan out it would greatly benefit the Yankee rotation and strengthen it. With how injury prone Beachy has been the Yankees could most likely sign him to a 1 year deal

James Shields: Shields would be the most expensive of all these options but he would be worth it. Shields would easily be in the number 2 spot in the rotation and allow some flexibility and insurance to the rotation if Masahiro Tanaka were to get injured or not fully recover from his partially torn UCL. Shield's high ground ball rate would be an advantage in Yankee Stadium which is what the Yankees need.

Cashman Needs to Commit

            With the Chase Headley signing Yankee GM Brian Cashman showed that he is taking a certain route to get to the World Series. Now this isn't anything new, being that Cashman pushed out prospects Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela for a 31 year old 3rd baseman that is past his prime. But what Cashman needs to show is that he is fully committed to this path, and not just going to do it halfway. This is what he is currently doing, Cashman managed to spend $500 million in free agency last year, and now when the rotation is at it's worst he is going on a small budget? Now I know that I really sound like a Yankees fan because I am complaining about a budget, but when you commit over $500 million to get to the World Series then not even make a splash in the most worrisome spot in the team but sign a 3rd baseman to a four year $52 million deal which was not even fully needed it shows some cause for worry. Now I am not saying that pitchers need to come from free agency, but they need at least one from somewhere, whether its via free agency or trade they need someone. They just boxed out two prospects, maybe flip one of them for a pitcher. All I know is that going into the 2015 season with all the problems the current rotation has will be a mistake. I hope I am wrong and everything works out but at thins point it is a major cause for worry.

Yankees Should Pursue Mike Leake

           With the Yankees rotation in disarray due to injuries and the loss of pitchers Shane Green and Brandon McCarthy, the Yankees need to look towards adding a solid piece to a flimsy rotation. But where could the Yankees get this piece? Should it be via trade or free agency? I think that there are good options in both places but the best option might be on the trade market.

           Mike Leake, who pitched 214.1 Innings with a 3.70 ERA, is a solid young pitcher that would bring durability and a high ground ball rate to the rotation. Those two things would fare very well with the Yankees considering all the question marks that the rotation currently Leake would be great to fill the 3 or 4 spot in the rotation. His ground ball rate reaches around 52% which with the Yankees short porch in left field it is great to have pitchers that can keep the ball on the ground. Leake also pitches at Great American Ballpark which is even more of a hitters ballpark than Yankee Stadium which should cause less worry in the transition about a huge jump in ERA.

           Even though the Reds have traded away 2 of their 5 pitchers already, if they were to get a good deal for Leake it probably wouldn't matter considering they will most likely loose Leake next year anyways to free agency. The Yankees have some good prospects to give without giving away their top prospects like Luis Servino, Aaron Judge, and Rob Refsnyder. Gary Sanchez and Ian Clarkin might be more suitable considering that Leake would only be a one year buy.

The Yankees Whole Offseason Could Change If Robertson Resigns

         With the Yankees whole hesitation towards signing big name free agents like Max Scherzer and James Shields, it could all change quickly if Robertson were to resign with the Yankees. If Robertson were to resign with the Yankees, the Yankees would loose their first round draft pick for the 2015 draft. This could open the door for the top pitchers who have draft picks attached, because the Yankees would have less to loose, and as we all know it doesn't take much for the Yankees to go free agent crazy.

Mistakes the Yankees Should Avoid during Winter Meetings

Brian Cashman

          Brian Cashman has done plenty of things right this Offseason, such as acquiring Didi Gregorious from the Diamondbacks, and signing Andrew Miller to bolster their bullpen. But with tomorrow being Day 3 of the Winter Meetings, what should they be avoiding?

1. Signing Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer

            Now with the Yankees about to get a first round draft pick in the 2015 draft, should the Yankees really give that up for another 30 year old free agent? To me if there is any pitcher on the market that is worth it, its Scherzer. However with that being said the Yankees need to explore the options before jumping into a long term deal. Even though Scherzer has had better numbers than the other big name options like Jon Lester and James Shields, people seem to be forgetting that if the Yankees were to sign one of these elite starters they would most likely not be the Yankees ace. If Masahiro Tanaka is able to return as dominant as the first half of the 2014 season, then there is no doubt that the pitcher signed would be fill the #2 spot in the rotation. Even though the rotation would be stronger with Scherzer filling that role someone like Jon Lester might be the better overall option considering he is not attached with a draft pick and it would add another lefty to the rotation besides CC Sabathia.

Chase Headley 

2. Signing Chase Headley

           Right now one of the worst possible things the Yankees could do right now is sign Chase Headley. Now I know that currently the infield is a problem for the Yankees, but is having Martin Prado who with the Diamondbacks was pretty much their regular third baseman really that much of a problem? The way I see it is signing Chase Headley would move Prado to second, which would restrict prospects like Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela from reaching the majors. Now if I recall correctly, many Yankees fans last year were screaming for Refsnyder to come up and play 2B, and now that feeling has changed because now there is a 31 year old  3rd baseman that has below average offensive numbers? Now I get that we had Headley for the second half of the season but that was also when there wasn't anyone able to play RF besides Ichiro and Carlos Beltran so Prado was playing in RF a good amount of time. Also Derek Jeter was at SS and he needed to DH a decent amount of the time. Now with the OF full and with their being a good current infield the Yankees don't need to make anymore additions to the infield unless they manage to get some electric 3B/2B player like Ian Kinsler or Manny Machado, but I very much doubt something like that would happen so with the current options I say stick with the infield we currently have.

Cashman Becoming the GM the Yankees Need

Next elite in out of the Yankee bullpen? Or biggest bust of the
off-season?

       The Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman is turning into the GM the Yankees really need at this point. Cashman has been known as the GM who has really taken advantage of the Yankees budget, and given away large contracts like candy. But since the 2014 trade-deadline Cashman has really become a good GM with all the moves that he has made, such as acquiring players Martin Prado, Brandon McCarthy, and now most recently Justin Wilson. Not to mention the signings of many of top 2014 international prospects.
       The move to acquire Justin Wilson from the Pirates was one of the best moves he can make this off-season, while getting rid of injury-prone catcher Francisco Cervelli. Now don't get me wrong, I like Cervelli, however it was nice to get rid of a catcher that has only played 112 since 2011. Not to mention he was also apart of the Bio-genesis scandal in 2013 to which he was suspended 50 games.
       Justin Wilson is a giant question mark though. After coming off a terrible 2014 season, but showing elite potential in 2013 he could either be a huge upside in the bullpen, or one of the worst 2014-2015 off-season moves for the Yankees. It was also nice to be able to get another lefty reliever in the bullpen to counteract against the short right field porch.  

Yankees Interested in Elvis Andrus?

        New reports have shown that the Yankees are "intrigued" by Elvis Andrus possibly replacing Derek Jeter at shortstop. Andrus had a down 2014 slashing .263/.314/.333, however it is possible that could be an affect of the injury plagued season that the Rangers had. Even though he played 157 games it is possible that the injuries could have affected Andrus's morale which lead to the down performance. Another reason is just simply a down year, many players have them and hopefully Andrus can regain his form in the coming 2015 season. Hopefully that is the case if the Yankees do make an attempt at a trade for him.

Could Andrus end up in pinstripes?

Pros:
       One of the good things about Andrus is that he is young. Being only 26 it would be good to add some youth to the Yankee lineup, being that currently there are no starting position players under the age of 30. He would also be able to hit in the #2 spot in the lineup in replacement of Jeter instead of Brett Gardner  Another good thing is that his trade value has lowered after the 2014 season with his down offensive numbers, and his large eight-year $120 million contract that takes effect in 2015. Andrus is also a solid defensive shortstop with a career .971 fielding percentage.

Cons:
       The cons of Andrus are his last years offensive numbers were a career low. Though his career has been very good before this season it is still cause for worry. Also although it helps his trade value, Andrus's contract is still very large, and with Alex Rodriguez returning from his suspension it will really increase the overall team salary if Texas doesn't eat up a big chunk of the contract.

Final Note:
       I believe that the Yankees should take a chance on a trade for Elvis Andrus as long as it does not involve prospects Luis Servino, Aaron Judge, or Rob Refsnyder. Even though Andrus is young his 2014 season shows that the Yankees should give up their best prospects for a player that has possibly hit a brick wall, even though I doubt that is the case.

Yankees Eyeing Alexi Ramirez?

The Yankees are looking at the White Sox Alexi Ramirez but is it the right move? Should the Yankees take a chance on the 33 year old All-star?

Ramirez had a great 2014 season slashing .273/.305/.408. Now the offensive numbers are good, nothing bad but yet nothing great. The good thing about Ramirez is he is an above-average defensive shortstop. It would also give the Yankees a chance to bring up their own shortstop options as a backup to Ramirez to get a feel for the Major Leagues without being a full time starter for 2015. Not to mention Ramirez only has 1yr/$10 million left on his contract with a team option for 2016.  This would be a very manageable contract for the Yankees without disrupting any flow of upcoming prospects.

Verdict: I believe that the Yankees should take a chance on trading for Alexi Ramirez as long as they don't overpay by sending over to many top prospects for a 33 year old veteran. 

Grading the Depth of Each Position with Solutions Pt.1 Rotation

Starting Pitching 

Projected 2015 Starting Rotation

1. Masahiro Tanaka: After the partially torn UCL right before the Allstar break, Tanaka was shut down for rehab until September to were he went 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA. Now hopefully that is because Tanaka has not pitched since July because loosing him again would be a huge hit to the team. To me it was a mistake for the Yankees not to have Tanaka get Tommy John Surgery right away because after loosing Tanaka already for over half the season; loosing Tanaka for another year when the UCL finally does snap will be another year lost on his 5 year $155 million contract.

2014: 13-5/2.77 ERA/ 136.1 IP/ 144 SO

2. Michael Pineda: Another injury-prone year for the former Rookie of the Year, but can the Yankees rely on him to go the entire season? This is the second year he has missed playing (for the most part this year). To have a successful rotation the Yankees will need Pineda to go at least 160-170 innings in the 2015 season.
2014: 5-5/1.89 ERA/ 76.1 IP/ 59 SO

3. CC Sabathia: After another disappointing season for CC Sabathia it will be hard to rely on him as a set spot in the rotation due to his recent injuries. Though Sabathia is still confident can he keep going?
2014: 3-4/5.28 ERA/ 46 IP/ 48 SO

4. Ivan Nova: Nova has always been a very consistent starter, being able to get the wins but a higher ERA. He hit his stride in the 2013 going 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 87.1 ERA. However he had missed the 2014 season due to Tommy John Surgery.
2014: 2-2/8.27 ERA/ 20.2 IP/ 12 SO

5. David Phelps: One of my favorite starters in the rotation because he was able to switch from the bullpen so easily with the injury plagued rotation. Hopefully he will be able to go back to the bullpen if the Yankees can  pick up another starter off a trade or free agency.
2014: 5-5/4.38 ERA/ 113 IP/ 92 SO

What are the Options?

Max Scherzer: Scherzer would be a great option to back up Tanaka in the rotation. It could potentially be one of the best one two combos in the American League. It would also provide some security in the rotation in case Tanaka's UCL fully snaps.

2014: 18-5/3.15 ERA/ 220.1 IP/ 252 SO

Jon Lester: Lester is my favorite option because he is a lefty. With the short porch in left field the Yankees need an effective lefty in the rotation to counteract lefty's in the lineup. The only problem I have with Lester is his numbers haven't been as shut down as they were this year. His ERA was average but he is a workhorse who can eat up a lot of innings.

2014: 16-11/2.46 ERA/ 219.2 IP/ 220 SO

James Shields: Shields is another option because he is a workhorse. He is also a pitcher with a high ground ball rate at 47.20% which would fit the Yankee mold very well.

2014: 14-8/ 3.21 ERA/ 227. IP/ 180 SO

Brandon McCarthy: Brandon McCarthy I believe would make the most sense to bring back to New York. After coming to New York at the Trade Deadline he went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA. Not to mention having a very high ground ball rate at 55.28% would be perfect for New York.
2014: 10-15/ 4.05 ERA/ 200 IP/ 175 SO
With New York: 7-5/ 2.89 ERA/ 90.1 IP/ 82 SO

Francisco Liriano: This is a bit of a surprise to me as well but I feel that Liriano would be one of the best free agent pitching options for New York. Liriano had the eighth highest ground ball percentage in baseball at 56.07%. Also he is a lefty which is very good to have in New York as well. However lefties hit a .270 against Liriano while right handed batters hit .206. The only good part about that is lefties hit only three home runs against Liriano versus the ten right handed batters had against him.
2014: 7-10/ 3.38 ERA/ 162.1 IP/ 175 SO

Yankee's Coming Alive in Second Half

            In the first two games of the second half the Yankee's have come alive beating the Reds in the first two games of the series. David Phelps went 6.1 IP, 6 H,  3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, and got the win against the Reds with a final score of 4-3. And today Brandon McCarthy pitched a great game going 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO, and got the win against the reds with a final score of 7-1

Yankees Targeting Edwin Jackson?

                 The Yankees need pitching, they have already aquired Brandon McCarthy from Diamondbacks for Vidal Nuno. Now there are rumors that the Yankees are interested in Cubs starter Edwin Jackson. Now Jackson would come extremely cheap considering that he is 5-10 with a 5.61 ERA. But his groundball rate is 41.9 and last year is was 51.3%. Which is a good thing for Yankee stadium considering its right field short porch. This move would be perfect for the Yankees, considering that he would come cheap, and the Yankees wouldn't need to give up the few good prospects that they have.

Who's Left on the Market Before the Trade Deadline?

          It is no doubt that the Yankees are short on pitching since the loss of their ace Masahiro Tanaka. But who is still left on the market? Well we know that Jason Hammel and Jeff Samarjiza have been traded to the A's for the A's top prospect Addison Russell. I believe that one of the problems with the players that the Yankees are looking for is they are looking for stars. When really it would just make sense to find a decent pitcher that will 7-8 innings so that their bullpen doesn't get over worked but they also need impact pitchers that will win games but can the Yankees afford those guys?

So lets analyze the remanding options.

David Price: This is a real unrealistic option for the Yankees but it can still be gone over. David Price is currently at his top but are the Rays willing to sell just yet? They are just 9.5 games out of a division that really just isn't doing that well right now. On the other hand Price is 8-7 with a 3.42 ERA and 152 strikeouts so it would make sense for them to sell when he is at the top of his game. But it would be unlikely for the Yankees to get him considering that they don't have a deep farm system and it wouldn't make sense for them to to trade him within the division.

Tommy Milone: I think that this would make more sense considering the A's extra pitching. He is currently in with the Sacramento Rivercats the A's Triple AAA team because of their recent acquisitions of Jeff Samarjiza and Jason Hammel. He was 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 95 innings pitched. The Yankees should be able to afford him considering the fact that the A's would have no room for him because even when they loose Jason Hammel next year they would be getting Jarrod Parker and A.J Griffen.

Cole Hamels: This one would make a lot of sense considering the Phillies need of almost everything and lack of farm system. It has already been expressed that he is on the trade market and he is having a great season with currently being 3-5 with a 2.91 ERA. I'd say Peter O'Brien, Manny Banuelos, Francisco Cervelli would do the job considering that they could use a back up catcher and young talent.

Ian Kennedy: Ian Kennedy is my personal favorite considering that he is a above average pitcher that can eat up innings. Kennedy wouldn't come too expensive, he is having a decent season going 7-9 with a 3.47 ERA. I think it would be a good idea for the Yankees to make an attempt to reacquire Ian Kennedy. 

Shelby Miller: Shelby Miller isn't really an expressed trade candidate but it would make sense to go after him. Especially since he is having a down season being 7-8 with a 4.29 ERA. I think that this would be the time for the Yankees to make an attempt for him, especially with the Cardinals loosing their Allstar catcher Yadiar Molina. The Cardnials will be looking for a Major League ready catcher. Maybe a trade involving young catcher J.R. Murphy who has had some Major League experience and is only 22.

If the Yankees could get at least one of these pitchers it would greatly help out their rotation. Especially if they regain Masahiro Tanaka in a couple weeks it would greatly help out their postseason hopes. 

Yankee Pitching; What are the Options?

          The Yankee rotation is in trouble, it is being held on the shoulders of Masahiro Tanaka who has put up outstanding numbers in the 2014 season going 8-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 11 games, not to mention also 88 strikeouts, which not to bad for his first season in the Majors, but can the Yankees just rely on Tanaka; the new Yankee starter Chase Whitley has shown promise with a 2.37 ERA in 4 games, the only problem is he averages less than 5 innings a game. This rotation just isn't working because I'm sorry to say but you just cannot win games with David Phelps and Vidal Nuno starting. They belong in the bullpen because they are not doing well in the starting rotation. So what are the options?

Options

Adam Warren: Warren has yet to make a start this season but he has been dominating in the bullpen. In 33 appearances he has a 2.57 ERA with 30 strikeouts. He was one of the contenders for the number 5 spot in the beginning of the season along with Vidal Nuno, Michael Pineda, and David Phelps. Well Nuno and Phelps didn't work and Pineda is on the 60-day DL, so why not give Warren a chance? If it is a matter of taking another great arm out of the bullpen switch him with Phelps who does better in that role.

David Price and Jeff Samarjiza: I'm mainly showing Price and Samarjiza because they is one thing, an option. I don't believe that this will happen do to the Yankees lack of trade chips. Their farm system is weak, their major league talent is either needed or have a no-trade clauses in their contracts, and with what the Rays and Cubs are looking for in return it just won't happen.

Injury in Yankees Pitching Staff

CC Sabathia

Injury Status: 15-day DL, Right Knee

Expected Return: July

Michael Pineda

Injury Status: 60-day DL, Right shoulder

Expected Return: Early July

Ivan Nova

Injury Status: Out for season, Tommy John Surgery

Expected Return: 2015

The Proven Ace. Can CC Sabathia Continue?

Can CC continue on as the Yankees Ace?

        CC Sabathia had a lot of hype this off season. But coming into the 2014 season does CC Sabathia have anything to show for it. Sure he had a good Spring but after already throwing two games his ERA is 7.50. Now what does this say, something is obviously not working. Sure he is slimmed down but was that really the issue? How long can he remain the Yankee's ace? At this pace it will only take a couple more games.

       There are already others more suited for the job. Hiroki Kuroda has been able to keep the runs down but it is unknown if he can go a whole season without breaking down again. Michael Pineda has shown promise but again it is to early to see if he can hold onto his success, I mean after all he has only pitched one game. Either way it is to early to pass judgement, even on CC Sabathia, however he does need to pick up the pace. Otherwise Masahiro Tanaka will already have the spot as the Yankees ace before CC Sabathia's time is up in New York. But, with Tanaka's skill you never know, he has already fanned 18 batters in his first two games. Sure there has been some mistakes here and there but it is his first year and he is still adjusting.

Best Potential Move the Yankees Can Make Before Opening Day

Nick Franklin? Possible fit in Yankee Stadium?

          The Yankees still have a couple holes to fill in their roster. Now when you think about the best move the Yankees could make before they begin Opening Day? Signing Stephen Drew or Ervin Santana? Nope, at least I don't think so. I think they need to make a call to the Seattle Mariners and attempt a trade for the 22 year old Nick Franklin.

       It would be a good idea for the Yankees to keep Franklin in mind, sure he only hit .225 with 12 home runs, but you need to remember that he plays for Seattle who has a drop dead ballpark that gives the full advantage to the pitcher. Where as Yankee Stadium is the exact opposite. Don't forget that Franklin is also a switch hitter which really does well in Yankee Stadium. Even if he doesn't pan out it's not like you would be taking away the spot from a superstar. I would take a chance on this young talent over Brian Roberts who never can stay healthy. One thing that is interesting about Franklin though is that in the 43 games he played before the All Star break he managed to slash .268/.337/.458 while after he played 60 games and hit .194/.280/.333 , now I think that shows that he has much potential. With the Yankees in need of a second baseman, why not take a chance on Nick Franklin?

Reviewing the Brett Gardner Extension

            Now a lot of people are skeptical about the new Brett Gardner extension 4 years/$52 million. But I believe he is worth it, and I will show the reasons why I think he deserves this good new extension.

      Gardner has always been thought of as a secondary outfielder until he was able to prove himself last year with the multiple injuries throughout the Yankee team that enabled him to show his true potential. His hitting improved substantially in 2013 with Gardner slashing .273/.344/.416, now sure that's not insane but its still good production.

    Another thing you can't deny if Gardner's good glove. Gardner has one of the best gloves a left fielder can have, especially considering the fact that he has the speed of a center fielder. These are the reasons he deserves the extension he was given, also remembering the he is a great clubhouse guy, and that's the person you want on your team.

Why the Yankees Should not Sign Ervin Santana

    Now maybe its because I am a little biased against Ervin Santana, but I believe that it would be a big mistake for the Yankees to sign Ervin Santana.

   1. The big problem I have with Ervin Santana is the season before he goes to free agency he suddenly has a breakout season. Then expects a $100 million plus contract, you cannot expect him to continue to do well especially in Yankee Stadium which is a hitters ballpark.

   2. Even if Santana is going to go all out pitching for his next team, that doesn't change the fact that he is a fly ball pitcher, and in Yankee stadium that does not mix. Its a recipe for a high ERA which the Yankees already have enough of with CC Sabathia's last season and Ivan Nova's regular season ERA with the exception of last year when he only threw in 23 games.

    I just think that Ervin Santana would be a major risk, and the Yankees already have enough risks. While they have missed out of the solid cheaper options like Jason Hammel and Bronson Arroyo, it might end up working out for the better trying out the in house options like the quickly advancing Michael Pineda. Even some of the lower options like Adam Warren, David Phellps or my personal favorite Vidal Nuno.

Projected 2014 Starting Rotation With Predictions

1. CC Sabathia 16-10 3.84 ERA/ I believe that the Sabathia makes a decent recovery from last years horrid season for him. He does enough to hold his ace position with the Yankees but still does not regain his former glory.

2. Masahiro Tanaka 14-9 3.89 ERA/ I think Tanaka has a similar first season as Yu Darvish with a decent ERA and strikeouts but has his breakout season in 2015. 

3. Hiroki Kuroda 12-8 3.46 ERA/ Kuroda should do well and have his regular consistency for his possible last season before retiring. 

4. Ivan Nova 14-10 3.92 ERA/ Nova is a decent pitcher a will put up his normal high ERA with high wins.

5. Michael Pineda 12-10 3.26 ERA/ Michael Pineda is my personal favorite in the rotation and I think he will put up great numbers for a stellar season with the Yankees. Enough to move him up in the rotation for the 2015 season.

Biggest Offseason Yankee Loss

      Now when most people think of the biggest Yankee loss of this offseason, they think Robinson Cano, but when you think of the cost, performance, and even attitude. Do you still think Cano?

      Even if so, I think differently. When I think of the biggest loss its hands down Curtis Granderson. He is a very undervalued player because of his injury in 2013 but remember this is the player who hit 43HR is 2012 and 41 in 2011. Also managing around the ballpark of a .250AVG he is the biggest loss, Sure he is 33 years old, but he got a $60 million dollar deal over 4 years. I would definitely take that over Jacoby Ellsbury's 7 year $153 million dollar deal. Now this does not mean that Ellsbury is a bad player, he is a all star when he is healthy. But I would rather take the safer deal with Granderson. But you could also make the argument about Granderson's injury, but I'm not going to consider him injury prone because he got hit in the hand with a fastball while up to bat. Not to mention he is also one of the best clubhouse guys in the game. Again this is not to bash Jacoby Ellsbury because he is a great player and I believe that he will do well with the Yankees and give them the needed offense and defense to push them towards the postseason. But if i had the choice to sign either of them with the same deals that they obtained, I'm choosing Curtis Granderson.

Predicting MLB Part 3 AL West

AL West

1. Oakland Athletics: The A's have in my opinion the best team in baseball. Not only to they have a great team but I believe that they have the spirit and eagerness to win themselves a World Series. They have great starting pitching, the best bullpen, and good offense with Josh Reddick, Yoenis Cespedes, and Josh Donaldson leading the team. The only thing I can think of that the A's could use some improvement in is 2nd base.

2. Texas Rangers: Now the Rangers might be the most deadly offensive teams with now obtaining Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo-Choo. The only problem they have is they have terrible pitching, besides Yu Darvish they don't have anyone to win games for them on the mound.

3. Seattle Mariners: With the additions of Robinson Cano, Corey Hart, and Fernando Rodney the Mariners are starting to become a great team. However they still have a long ways to go. There is still a lot of holes and lack of offense on the team. Their main plus is their starting pitching especially with Taijuan Walker coming up in 2014.

4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: The Angels have big problems on their team with large contracts and failed players. Besides Mike Trout and CJ Wilson no one else has been pulling their weight. Albert Pujols has been hurt, Josh Hamilton hasn't been preforming. This team has a long ways to go before they become playoff contenders.

5. Houston Astros: The Astros are a very weak team, I think however these will be some of the last years we will be hearing this. Their farm system is strong and with people coming up the team could be a postseason contender within the next five years.  

Predicting MLB Part 2 AL Central

            Now that I have already showed you my AL East predictions I will now move on to the AL Central predictions.

AL Central

1. Minnesota Twins: Now the reason I put the Twins up on top is because of their pitching depth. After the signings of Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes they show the potential to be a number one team. Plus they have just enough offense to win enough games to put them up on top, and over Detroit.

2. Detroit Tigers: Now between Minnesota and Detroit it is very close,  but I think the Tigers are a worse team this offseason by trading away Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals. However I think that they will get more production from Ian Kinsler than Prince Fielder. Also Detroit has one of the best pitching staffs in the American League. It will be a close race but I think that they will have a few setbacks like Miguel Cabrera and his past injuries.

3. Kansas City Royals: The reason the Royals are placed third is because I believe that they are just a little better by signing Omar Infante. To the point where they can hop over the Cleveland Indians after their team worsened during the offseason, but not enough to pass the Tigers or Twins.

4. Chicago White Sox: Now the White Sox have had a lot of offseason moves with obtaining Adam Eaton and signing Jose Daniel Abreu. I think this is just the start of a great team, but like almost every team it is going to take some time for it to settle in. But they have the potential to win the division.

5. Cleveland Indians: The Indians have had a horrible offseason with the losses of Scott Kazmir and Ubaldo Jimenez. With these losses I think it justifies their drop in the AL Central standings.

Predicting MLB Part 1 AL East

                Okay so far we have talked about the Yankees and what can be done. But what about the rest of baseball? Like division winner prediction and other offseason moves. What I will now show you is my Predictions of how each team will do in baseball.

AL EAST

1. Tampa Bay Rays: I picked the Rays finishing first in the AL East because of their depth. They have they have one of the best infields in the AL East with Escobar, Zobrist, Longoria, and Loney. Also have the strong outfield and pitching, they have been one of the only teams in the AL East to keep their overall team strength this offseason. Not counting the Orioles and Blue Jays because of their major holes as well in the 2013 season.

2. New York Yankees: I am predicting that the Yankees just fall short of the Postseason in 2014 due to the major holes that still linger in the Yankee roster, like 2nd and 3rd Base. Also trouble with finishing games going into the 8th and 9th innings due to the lack of bullpen.

3. Boston Red Sox: Now I am not being biased by putting the Yankees ahead of the Red Sox. They also just have so much to do and to fix. For starters I think they have the worst outfield in the AL East. Sure they have Daniel Nava but they still don't know if Jackie Bradley Jr. will do well or if Shane Victorino can repeat his 2013 performance. Also their starting rotation is a little iffy, like Jake Peavy and John Lackey. They are decent but can they keep it up? David Ortiz is the biggest question mark in the Red Sox roster, sure he had a stellar performance in 2013 but he is 39 years old. How much can his body handle? I just don't think the Red Sox will have a repeat of the 2013 season.

4. Baltimore Orioles: The only problem with the Orioles is their major lack of pitching. Their best and only starter is Chris Tillman (not meaning to be negative) otherwise they have nothing. Their bullpen is decent but a little bit below average. It is held up by Daren O'Day and Tommy Hunter but it is still very weak. If they can get more pitching they would be a top division team.

5. Toronto Blue Jays: The main reason they are last is very similar to Baltimore. They have very weak pitching, R.A. Dickey is unpredictable when he is supposed to be an ace, and their bullpen is very weak as well. But they do have a couple stars on the team like Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and Jose Reyes. But they still have a long ways to go.

Filling The Holes

     Even with the addition of the Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees are still not complete. The Yankees still must fill the remaining holes in their infield and pitching staff. With still much to be done what can they do? They have already done so much with spending about half a million dollars in free agency. But must they look into signing more people, or should they look at the trade options?


       With adding Masahiro Tanaka to the Yankees starting rotation, it looks much better than when they started off. But the entire starting rotation is still a bunch of what ifs. For instance can Tanaka handle the MLB and do well? Can CC Sabathia return to his former glory? Will Hiroki Kuroda be able to handle an entire season? Will Ivan Nova have a steady season like in 2013? And will Michael Pineda be able to come back from his injury? This is the main problem with not only their pitching staff, but the entire team. Derek Jeter, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mark Texeria, and Carlos Beltran are the big offensive what ifs. It could be a 2013 season all over again where everyone got hurt. But who do they have as backups that could start? Ichiro Suzuki, Brendan Ryan, Kelly Johnson? They cant have another team made of utility players, it just won't work.

       Not only that, but what are the Yankees doing to address their bullpen? Will they at least pickup someone like Fernando Rodney if David Robertson can't get the job done as a closer. Also the infield, I think they should pick up someone like Stephen Drew, or attempt a trade for Chase Headley so they wouldn't have to platoon two infield positions. There is so much to be done still, so don't be surprised if they Yankees are not a postseason contender in 2014, but there is still a good chance.

Which Pitchers should the Yankees Pursue?

         It is very obvious that the Yankees very much need to add to their pitching staff. Even with their additions of Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Brian Roberts they would not be a playoff contender if they do not land Masahiro Tanaka or another starting pitcher.

        As once before the Yankees offensive lineup is deadly again. Assuming that they can all stay healthy that part of the team should be okay for the most part. But if the Yankees go into the 2014 season with CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova, and Michael Pineda, they stuggle with winning games and being able to get to the postseason; adding Masahiro Tanaka would add some depth as a number 1 or 2 pitcher in the rotation. It has already been rumored that the Yankees have given Tanaka an offer north of $100 million. The biggest risks with Tanaka is that he has never pitched in the Major Leagues before, and being only 25 he has already pitched 1315 Innings in Japan. So if Tanaka were to be a total flop, it could officially be the worst deal the Yankees have ever made. However it is not expected, being that he shows similar traits to Yu Darvish, the Rangers CY Young finalist.

What Would Help the Most?  

           The biggest help would definitely be adding multiple starting pitchers, the main obviously being Masahiro Tanaka. But who could be brought into the Yankee rotation to fill the number 4 or 5 to add depth to the rotation. My favorite option would have to be Ubaldo Jimenez; though he has had a very up and down career, he has made many improvements and had a great 2013. Homer Bailey would also be a good option, especially if he could be obtained in a trade with Brett Gardner.

Have an opinion on the article? Leave a comment saying what you think.

Trading for Chase Headly the Best Option for 3B?

Trade for Chase Headley?

      Chase Headley and other Options. 

           With the Yankees in desperate need of a 3rd baseman, would offering the Padres a trade for Chase Headley be their best option? Currently the Yankees are planning on platooning the position along with SS and 2B with players such as Kelly Johnson, Brendan Ryan, Brian Roberts, Eduardo Nunez, and possibly Scott Sizemore. But the main person to be at 3B is supposedly Kelly Johnson, if a trade were to be made for Chase Headley it would make it so Johnson could move to 2B and less spread out their utility players.

         Right now the Yankees are the weakest positions at their starting rotation, 2B, SS, and 3B. The free agent market doesn't have enough to cover the Yankees needs in their positions, well actually it does but are the Yankees willing to go over their $189 million mark to fix those problems?

Who are the options?

         Chase Headley: Acquiring Chase Headley would fix a major issue with the Yankee in field, though I don't like him, Alex Rodriguez might have been the best option for the Yankees at 3B. Now Kelly Johnson will be spread out between 2B and 3B as i said before. Headley is a great defensive 3rd baseman and adds some pop to the bat, not only that but he would be able to play the majority of the season. Which obviously is better that switching off between utility players.

        Michael Young: Michael Young is an older player (age 37) but can still play the game well at 3rd. In the 2013 season he played 147 games hit .279 with a .335 OBP. He can be signed at a lower cost and take the pressure of the Yankee utility players.

      Stephen Drew: Drew would be more expensive and would have more range being able to play 2B and 3B. An excellent defender and an okay offense would solve most of the Yankees infield problems.

Trading For Headley?

      Trading for Headley really would not be as difficult as it might seem, a straight up trade, Brett Gardner for Chase Headley would almost benefit the Padres due to the difference in their salaries with Gardner only making under $2 million this both being their last year under contract. Though the Yankees would still add a prospect such as Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams, or JR Murphy.

How the Yankees Should Spend Their Extra Money With Projected Lineup

             With the Yankees being freed up of $25 million from Alex Rodriguez suspension, who should they pursuit to make their 2014 team the best it can possibly be? Which I will now show who should be the the Yankees top priorities.

        1. Masahiro Tanaka: This one is obvious with the Yankees in desperate need for starters Masahiro Tanaka is the best option that they have for a number 1/2 starter. Now Tanaka is in no way a sure thing, he has yet to pitch in the Major Leagues but he shows a lot of potential  with a 1.27 ERA and 24 wins and 0 losses.

         2.Grant Balfour: With a giant hole in the Yankee bullpen, Grant Balfour would fit perfectly in New York. He can handle the crowd he likes the energy, plus he is a great closer. Why shouldn't the Yankees go after him? He had a 2.59 ERA with 38 saves, this could fill the Yankees hole in the closer spot and keep David Robertson as their set-up man.

      3.Ubaldo Jimenez: If the Yankees could sign Masahiro Tanaka and add Jimenez to their starting 5 it could really add a lot of depth to their pitching staff. Almost fixing the problems the have with their starting 5. However Jimenez is a wild thing, last year he had a great season going 13 and 9 with a 3.30 ERA. His past 2 seasons he has had a 5+ ERA and the past 4 seasons he has had a 4.30+ ERA. I think that it was more of an issue of mechanics that have been fixed and that he would be a great pick-up for the Yankees.

     4.Eric O'Flathery: This is a guy that can really improve and add depth to the Yankees bullpen. Flathery did get hurt in the 2013 season but has been able to get the job done, he has a career 2.85 ERA with 245 strikeouts. Signing Flathery would very much improve the bullpen that they currently have.

     Now i will show the 2014 projected lineup, starting pitchers, and bullpen.

Projected Lineup                                             
1.Jacoby Ellsbury CF                                  
2.Derek Jeter SS
3.Carlos Beltran RF
4.Brian McCann                                                                            
5.Mark Texeria 1B                                            
6.Alfonso Soriano DH                                
7.Kelly Johnson 3B                                          
8.Brian Roberts 2B                                                                  
9.Brett Gardner LF

Starting Pitchers
1. C.C Sabathia
2. Hiroki Kuroda
3. Ivan Nova
4.Michael Pineda
5. Vidal Nuno
6.Adam Warren  
7.David Phelps

 Bullpen
1.Cesar Cabral
2.Prestine Claiborne
3.Matt Thornton
4.Dellin Betances
5.Jose Campos
6.Manny Benuelos
7.David Huff
8.Shawn Kelly SU
9 David Robertson C


                                                                 

Could Stephen Drew Fix all The Yankees Holes?

                We all know that the Yankees biggest hole besides pitching is their infield. The lack a 3rd baseman, Shortstop, and 2nd baseman. Sure they have Derek Jeter at SS but can he really play the field everyday, or even as a DH? With not even playing 30 games last season due to his injury and his age? Stepthen Drew could play SS and 3rd with Ryan taking the other spot, and Kelly Johnson/Brian Roberts switching off at 2nd. Sure he would be expensive but the Yankees will most likley past the $189 milion mark so why not blow past it anyways.

                  Not only do they need to stop with Drew but they could go after Masahiro Tanaka and say another starting pitcher to add depth to their pitching rotation. They really need a good reliever and a closer to strengthen their bullpen, great options such as  Eric O'Flathery or Joel Hanrahan.  For a closer they need to go after Grant Balfour or Fernando Rodney as well.
  

Should the Yankees Pursue Johan Santana?

Should Santana be a Yankee?

     Okay, we have heard news about Masahiro Tanaka, Matt Garza, and Ubaldo Jimenez. But with Johan Santana's past injuries, and a drop in performance in 2012 means that Santana would come cheap. Which would make it possible for the Yankees to sign another pitcher as well like Tanaka, Garza, or Jimenez.

     I think pursuing Santana is a no-brainer. He would not be very expensive, they could sign him to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Just look at his past stats besides 2012. His last season before 2012 was in 2010 when he went 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA, and for playing on the Mets that's pretty impressive. He has played with the Mets since 2008 so it shows that he can handle the New York crowd, he is only 34 so a 1 year deal would be perfect, and he will definitely cost under $7 million a season.This would be a very good pick up for the Yankees, so why not take a chance on the former best pitcher in baseball?

Reasons Why the Yankees won't have Multiple Dominant Years

Top Yankee Prospect Gary Sanchez

      Now don't get me wrong I am a huge Yankee fan, but with their current club there are a couple reasons why the Yankees will not have the asserted dominance that they used to have.

      The biggest reason of all is that their farm system is very weak. For once the Yankees need to stop being crowd pleasers and invest their money in their own players. The Yankees are to worried with their insane crowd of taking a dip for a couple seasons so they can make their own talent, and because of their lack for prospects they must keep pursuing top free agents and going over the $189 million mark. What happened to their great system that brought up players like the great Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, and as much as I don't like him Robinson Cano. Now their best prospect is Gary Sanchez and as good as he is he is ranked 27 in MLB prospects. They need to grow their own talent not only so they can improve from within but be able to trade for players such as David Price and Elvis Andrus.

     The other big problems is their entire pitching staff. Their current starting is very flimsy, CC Sabathia had a terrible 2013, you don't know what you are get out of him in the 2014 season. Hiroki Kuroda had a good first half, but completely fell apart in the second half. Personally I like Kuroda but he is not worth what they gave him. They signed a 40 year old pitcher to a 1 year $16 million contract. They need to stop overpaying their players, Matt Garza or Ubaldo Jimenez would have costed less than that. Especially since Kuroda is running out of gas. he will most likely retire before the season ends. Also their bullpen, one of the weakest in baseball, now sure they have David Robertson one of the best set-up men in baseball but what about their closer? Also the rest of their bullpen, most of their relievers have over a 4.00 ERA. These problems need to be fixed.

Taking a look at Masahiro Tanaka

Is he worth the it?

      Now sure Tanaka has amazing stats but looking more into to his career you need to ask the big question? Is he worth the risk?

      Now there is no doubt about it that he is an amazing pitcher as were many Japanese pitchers coming over that didn't seem to pan out in the MLB. Tanaka had a stellar 2013 season in the Japanese League, with a 1.27 ERA with 24 wins and 0 losses, and this is not his first good season either. Over his 7 year career he has posted a career 2.30 ERA with 95 wins and 35 losses.

The big question has come up before, is he better or worse than Yu Darvish. Now according to both of the players stats, Darvish would have to be assumed as the better pitcher. In the Japanese league he also played 7 seasons, posting a career 1.99 ERA with 93 wins and 38 losses. Now they are very close, but you wont know for sure till Tanaka starts in the 2014 season.

        Now there is a lot of upside to Tanaka including that he is only 25. But there is one thinng about Tanaka that should cause for concern. Being 25 he should have a lot of gas in his arm before it starts to wear down, right? Wrong, though he has not had any drop in his performance he has pitched 1315 innings with the Rakuten Golden Eagles. It can make you wonder how long does he have left before his arm starts to wear down. With the type of money teams are willing to spend it shows a lot of concern for him. Tanaka is expected to get over a $100 million dollar contract, big money for a pitcher who has pitched so many innings and no expectation of how he will pitch against MLB hitters.

Exploring the Closer Options

                     

         There are many different closer options for the New York Yankees. But  while the main proposition has been said to moving David Robertson the Yankees premier set-up man to fill Mariano Rivera's shoes it would mainly rob themselves of a great set-up man so that they can make him a decent closer. While instead of spreading out their bullpen lets look at some of the other closers that could make a fine addition to the Yankees.


        The person that I think would be the best possible option for a closer in the 2014 season would defiantly have to be Grant Balfour. Balfour can handle the crazy New York crowd and he has the energy to match it as well. Balfour finished the 2013 season with a 2.59 ERA and 38 Saves. The only thing that can arouse suspicion is he was originally to be signed by the Orioles but the deal was cancelled due to Balfour failing their physical. He has been tested by doctors after who claim that he is 100% fine, he seems to be okay but here is still room for worry.

         Fernando Rodney is also another person that would fit the Yankee crowd. Rodney had a decent 2013 season with Tampa Bay with having a 3.38 ERA and 37 Saves. The ERA kind of worries me being that it is considered high for a bullpen pitcher but the still gets the job done.