Yankees Spring Training Preview: Position Battles

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Yankees Spring training is underway with full team workouts already started. With the roster given to Joe Girardi, the Steinbrenner have expectations of nothing short of winning the World Series. Joe will have some decisions to make with different positions as there are some players in camp that are fighting for a spot on the team. As of right now, the Yankees have 2nd base, 3rd base, back-up catcher, 5th starter in the rotation, and bullpen spots wide open to be filled before Opening Day on April 1st. Here we will break down each position battle and what our prediction is for the winner of each position:


2nd Baseman

Candidates:
Brian Roberts
Kelly Johnson
Scott Sizemore
Dean Anna

Breakdown:

Brian Roberts: Hasn't played a full season since 2009 and only played in 77 games last season. During those 77 games, he hit with a .249 average with 8 HRs and 39 RBIs in 265 ABs. Those stats are respectful for someone who hasn't played much even though they are no where near the stats of our former 2nd Basemen. If he is healthy, he can provide decent defense, slightly above average speed, and another switch hitter in the lineup.

Kelly Johnson: More known for being a utility infielder, he has played more games at 2nd base than any other position even though he is more thought of to be in the 3rd basemen competition. He won't provide a high average but the power will be there. In 118 games, Johnson hit 16 HRs and being a left handed hitter, his power numbers will go up. Has an average glove and can play every infield/outfield position.

Scott Sizemore: Once seen as a decent 2nd base option back in his Tiger days, now is competing for a spot on a major league roster after only playing 2 games in the past 2 years due to two ACL tears in his left knee. Has experience at 3rd base but not a likely candidate to be a starter right now.

Dean Anna: Traded to the Yankees from the Padres, Anna doesn't really have the prospect title due to being 26 and being thrown around in the organization since he was drafted in 2008. Projected as only a utility infielder, he had his best season last year batting .331 with 9 HRs, 72 RBIs, and had a .892 OPS. Considered an under-the-radar candidate, he can be considered as a backup infielder.

WINNER:
With all these candidates and if the Yankees don't sign anyone else, the winner will be Brian Roberts. He has the most experience and most success at 2nd base and as long as he stays healthy, he will be a better option than all of the other candidates but thats ONLY if he stays healthy.


3rd Basemen

Candidates:
Kelly Johnson
Eduardo Nunez
Scott Sizemore
Dean Anna

Breakdown:

Kelly Johnson/Scott Sizemore/Dean Anna (See 2nd base Competition(

Eduardo Nunez: Out of all the candidates, Nunez has been with the Yankees the longest. Nunez has been given every opportunity to show what he's got and unfortunately he has not been consistent with the glove but has shown he has been able to have a decent bat. During his time with the Yankees, Nunez has a career .267 average and has above average speed.

WINNER:
This one will be a little different but I believe the best solution will be a platoon role between Johnson/Nunez. Nunez can handle being put up against right handed hitters with his average at .277 while Johnson bats a much higher average against lefties with a .291 average. Granted it contradicts the normal lefty v. righty/righty v. lefty matchup but either way it will work.


Back-Up Catcher

Candidates:
Austin Romine
Francisco Cervelli
John Ryan Murphy

Breakdown:

Austin Romine: Formerly known as one of the top catching prospects in the Yankees organization, Romine brings a solid glove and arm but doesn't bring the bat that he was projected to have. Romine played in 60 games last year but only produced a .207 average and wasn't really anyone special. Still has the potential to be something good, but needs development.

Francisco Cervelli: Very well liked in the clubhouse, Cervelli provided good leadership behind the plate and decent defense as well. Wasn't known for his bat but still sports a .271 career average which is a bonus. Has had clutch moments at the plate and had secured the starting catcher job last year until he got hurt and then suspended.

John Ryan Murphy: You may know him as JR Murphy and you may have also know him as another top catching prospect the Yankees have. He is considered to be a solid all around catcher with a more offensive minded approach. Still in need of development but has decent potential as well.

WINNER:
With the starting job going to McCann, the job will go to whoever goes out and has a solid spring training and shows he can carry himself behind the plate and at the plate. When all is said and done, I see Cervelli getting another chance at the big leagues with Romine being next in line.


5th Starter

Candidates:
Michael Pineda
David Phelps
Vidal Nuno
Adam Warren

Breakdown:
Michael Pineda: After being traded to the Yankees along with Jose Campos for Jesus Montero, Pineda was viewed as the future for the Yankees rotation and to be a solid #2 behind CC. Unfortunately injuries have delayed his first start with the Yankees. Now he is back, he is healthy, and according to reports, his fastball is working its way up. Expect to see what we saw of him back in 2011 if not better soon.

David Phelps: One of the young pitchers the Yankees have, Phelps has been flip-flopped back and forth from the bullpen and the rotation. Had a down year last year, but showed promise back in 2012 with a 3.34 ERA in 11 starts out of 33 games. He is going for both the 5th starter and the long-relief role.

Vidal Nuno: Had a little taste of the big leagues and actually put up some good numbers in 5 games. Pitching to a 2.25 ERA despite not striking out many by striking out 9 in 20 innings. He was successful in all stops in the Yankees minor league teams and has a legitimate chance at cracking the rotation. He doesn't have dominant stuff either but he will locate his pitches and the way he delivers the ball will deceive batters.

Adam Warren: A successful 2013 season as a reliever and a spot starter has put him into serious contention. Finishing the year with an ERA of 3.39 in about 70 innings of work, Warren has shown he has been becoming more successful at the MLB level. Warren has always had success at each level in the system as a decent starter with an ERA of 3.31 in 4 seasons in the minor leagues. Has a decent fastball at around 92-94 mph with developing curve and circle change. Probably is viewed as the primary long reliever.

WINNER: As long as things go according to plan, expect to see the Yankees go with Michael Pineda as the #5 starter. Having so much potential and finally being healthy, the Yankees want to see him finally pitch in a Yankees uniform. Warren and Phelps will probably be relegated back to the bullpen and Nuno will be put in the Triple-A rotation.

With the bullpen, the Yankees will be trying to catch lightning in a bottle by filling it with young pitchers and non-roster invites. The Yankees have some pretty intense battles ahead of them and with that it will make for an interesting spring training not only for the battles but to also see where our player development has taken our prospects. Stay tuned for more updates.

Building Up The Yankees Farm: International

The Yankees future is changing fast. With the Yankees spending close to $500 million this offseason to Derek Jeter announcing his retirement after the 2014 season, the upcoming seasons will show a Yankees team that is not a familiar sight to many fans. Though when you look at teams like the Cardinals, Pirates, and Athletics, they have very bright futures because they don't have to go out and buy the best players. They have been able to develop their teams through their farm system. 

Yankees don't have the greatest farm system in baseball. According to Keith Law's Farm system rankings, they are ranked 20th. The Yankees have prospects that have high ceilings down in the bottom of the system, but no one knows how they will pan out. So this year, Ownership plans on helping bring young talent to the farm through a spending spree out in the international market, and there is plenty of potential major league players that the Yankees are looking at.

The Yankees have had some success in going out in getting international prospects such as Gary Sanchez, Ivan Nova, Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, and Jose Tabata (Despite some not being on the team anymore). They also took a highly regarded prospect in Leonardo Molina who has the potential to be an elite outfielder. So they feel by going out and developing young kids from International countries, they can have success in the future.

Here are a few to that the Yankees have taken notice of:

Aledmys Diaz- SS

Highly regarded as one of the top prospects out in the international market, Diaz has the potential to be one of the top shortstops in the game. Diaz is known more for his offense with a long swing with power potential and also with great plate discipline having 139 walks to 107 strikeouts from 2008-2012. Diaz in 2011-12 batted .315/.404.500 with 12 HRs in 270 at bats.  His defense is in need of work though he does sport an above-average arm. He should command about $30 million from a team and the Yankees are out there looking to find a SS to eventually take over for Jeter

Odrisamer Despaigne- SP

While pitching with Cuba for eight seasons, Despaigne pitched to a record of 51-39 with a 3.65 ERA, with his final season pitching to a 2.58 ERA. He has a innings total of 957.3 innings in the span and has been considered a workhorse. He may not blow you away with above-average stuff, but he is considered a decent pitcher who may end up in the bullpen and performing well there. Yankees have scouted him and may be seen as a back-end starter or a middle reliever if given the chance to sign.

Dermis Garcia- SS/3B

According to scouts, some see Garcia as the top overall prospect to be signed on July 2nd. He has plus raw power with very balanced swing mechanics. Garcia also holds his own defensively but may end up outgrowing the SS position and moving to 3B. He has an average throwing arm and speed but that will change with maturity. As of now rumors have it that he has a verbal agreement with the Yankees so we will see if that stands.

There are plenty more prospects out there that the Yankees will be trying to sign on July 2nd and the future will only look brighter as these young international players develop.

The Illustrious 5th Starter Position- Who's Got Next?

      Lets be real.  The Mets' starting rotation is all about the future.  We know that Zach Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, and Rafael Montero will eventually be fixtures in what's poised to be one of the finest young rotations in the major leagues.  But Harvey will be sidelined for most if not all of the upcoming season, and both Syndergaard and Montero will start the year in the minor leagues.  Wheeler (7-5, 3.42 ERA) is only entering his first full season in the bigs.  So its safe to say the rotation of the 2014 Mets is in flux.  Sure, they signed Bartolo Colon (18-6, 2.65 ERA) to a 2 year, $22 million dollar deal in the offseason and retained Jon Niese (8-8, 3.74 ERA) and Dillon Gee (12-11, 3.62 ERA).  But the 4 man rotation is long dead (unless you're Colorado, and lets face it, no one wants to be Colorado), and the Mets have no established 5th starter.  The list of candidates is dreary, but someone has to reach out and grab the job this spring.  Lets take a look at each one and what they can bring to the team in 2014.

Jenrry Mejia- 1-2, 2.30 ERA

      Mejia has been a source of both great promise and great disappointment for Mets fans over the past 6 years. At one point considered the closer of the future, Mejia has struggled through injuries and multiple demotions. He appeared to find a niche in the rotation last year, making 5 strong starts and posting a 27/4 K/BB ratio over 27.1 innings. However, bone spurs in his pitching elbow ultimately ended Mejia's 2013 season in August, once again putting his future with the team in jeopardy.  Although currently the favorite to secure the final rotation spot, his injury history and erratic performance in the past have cost Mejia the opportunity to lock it down.

Carlos Torres- 4-6, 3.44 ERA

      Torres was one of the more pleasant surprises of 2013, splitting his time in the majors between the rotation and the bullpen.  Posting a 1.11 WHIP and a 75/17 K/BB ratio, Torres was relied on heavily, especially after the injuries of Matt Harvey, Jeremy Hefner, and Mejia.  Unfortunately, Torres is 32 and has never pitched a full season at the major league level, let alone spend an entire season as a full time starter.  Of the pitchers on this list, I think its safe to label him as the most unlikely to win the job, but a spot in the bullpen seems almost a certainty.

John Lannan- 3-6, 5.33 ERA

      The veteran Lannan is the only member of this group that was not a member of the 2013 club.  He's also one of the most experienced pitchers of the group, and the only southpaw, which offers significant advantages to a rotation currently featuring only one left-hander (Niese).  However, he's coming off of the worst season of his career, which included a trip to the minor leagues.  Lannan has only eclipsed 200 innings once in his career, so durability is certainly a concern.  Additionally, his 38/27 K/BB ratio raises concerns regarding his control.  I would consider Lannan a longshot to land the job, but his experience and left-handednes have earned him an opportunity to compete for it this spring.

Daisuke Matsuzaka- 3-3, 4.42 ERA

      Dice-K rebounded nicely nicely last season from an awful four year stretch in Boston.  His .227 batting average against was 80 points lower than his previous season with the Red Sox, and he seemed to get stronger as the season progressed.  Matsuzaka is also the only pitcher in this group to post a season of 15 or more wins, which he did in back to back years in 2007 and 2008.  But once again, durability is an extreme concern.  Matsuzaka has only posted 30 starts once in his career, his rookie year, and turns 34 later this year.  Like Lannan, I would consider Dice-K a longshot to win the job, especially considering his tendency to start the year slowly.

Cory Mazzoni- 5-3, 4.36 ERA (minors)

      Mazzoni is the dark horse in this race.  The forgotten man among the Mets' arsenal of young arms, Mazzoni was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2011 draft.  He posted a 10-6 record with a 3.93 ERA over both A and AA ball in 2012 before struggling through an injury-riddled 2013 campaign.  His peripherals are very strong, averaging over 10 strikeouts per nine innings and walking just 2.6/9.  Mazzoni's injury history and lack of experience will weigh heavily against him, but an outstanding spring could very well catapult him into a starting job.

And the winner is...

      So, who gets the nod?  Terry Collins certainly has an interesting decision on his hands.  Jeremy Hefner filled the 5th spot for much of 2013, but he's expected to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season due to Tommy John surgery so I left him off this list.   In the past when lacking an established 5th starter, the Mets have often played to their early season schedule by carrying only four starters, and scheduling them around off days.  However, this April will feature both a 9 game road trip and 10 game homestand, neither of which include an off day, so it appears that strategy won't be implemented.  Of course, spring training performance is going to factor into the ultimate decision, but as of right now I'm going to give the nod to Jenrry Mejia.  Despite managing just five starts, his performance in 2013 far outshines those of his competitors, and his elbow problem appears to be behind him.  Of course, the option to sign yet another veteran free agent remains.  Names like Chris Capuano, Joe Saunders, Clayton Richard, and even Johan Santana have floated around, but in the end I think Mejia has earned an opportunity to begin the season in the starting rotation.  What he does with it remains to be seen.

Replacing the irreplaceable: Who should replace Jeter?

Photo Credit: AP Images

It's strange to even be considering this. The Yankees will need to find someone to replace the irreplaceable Derek Jeter, but how do they go about doing this? You can't have just anybody playing the position held by Jeter for 20 years. At the moment, there aren't many plausible options. But regardless, the shortstop search needs to begin now.

First of all, I'd like to express my disagreement with anyone who says Eduardo Nunez should be Jeter's replacement. In 152 career games at short, Nunez has committed 30 errors and posts a fielding percentage of .940. That's well below average for a shortstop. If Nunez were to earn a permanent role, I'd feel much better if he was to play second base, where he posts a .981 fielding percentage in 20 career games.

An obvious option to "replace" the Captain would be Stephen Drew. An above average defender, Drew could provide the Yanks with a cheaper, but still talented, replacement. Along with his decent defense, Drew offers a productive bat. With the World Champion Red Sox last season, he hit .254 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI's. They aren't the greatest numbers in the world by any means, but they're good enough to provide the Yankees with some production from the shortstop position. His OPS of .777 last season made him an above average hitter, according to Bill James' classification.

Drew is a free agent as we speak, and is still having trouble finding a home. Scott Boras, Drew's agent, is known for having his clients sign late in the off-season, but the market for Drew is small. The Mets, one team with some interest in him, have now said that a signing is unlikely and the Red Sox won't be bringing him back with Xander Bogaerts most likely becoming the full-time shortstop in Boston.

The asking price for Drew is pretty high, being that he's a Boras client. But he's looking for a multi-year deal with an opt-out clause after the first year. This is simply perfect for the Yankees. If they can bring Drew in to play second base for the 2014 season and then play shortstop in 2015, the Yankees solve one of their issues for this year and the following years of a potential contract. This is exactly why I think Drew should be the Yanks' shortstop in 2015, and second baseman in 2014.

The Yankees traded for Brendan Ryan last season and re-signed him this offseason, but there's simply no chance that he'll be the starting shortstop in 2015. There's no doubt in the world that he's an incredible defender, but his offense, or lack-there-of, simply isn't going to get it done.