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.