Saturday, May 21, 2016

State of the Yankees System Before the 2016 Draft


The MLB Draft comes around just once a year and every team looks to improve their team not only in the near future but the far future as well. Depending on the makeup of your farm system some teams will draft polished college players that need little to no development while some teams would rather take the chance to draft a High School pitcher to develop them their own way. What will the Yankees do with this draft and what positions do the team specifically need to focus on during the 2016 MLB First Year Players Draft?

Every team needs pitching and every team takes an absolute ton of pitching in the draft. We can ignore that because of this fact but for the first time the Yankees actually need some depth at the catcher position. Luis Torrens is yet to play this season after shoulder surgery last season and John Ryan Murphy is gone leaving New York with Austin Romine in the Major Leagues and Gary Sanchez knocking on the door. Torrens is far from a bust of a prospect but it wouldn't be the worst idea to get some more high-end talent behind the plate coming through the system. Donny Sands was recently converted from third base to the catching position but is considered to be extremely raw at the position and a long, long way away. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Yankees take three or more catchers in this year's draft.

The Yankees are pretty thin at the second base position aside from Thairo Estrada and Robert Refsnyder but I'm not concerned. Jorge Mateo is being moved to second base and the Yankees have so many shortstops they almost have to move a few of them to second base just to get them all enough playing time. A shortstop can convert to second base pretty easily since the throw to second base is shorter and the defensive mechanics and footwork is generally the same but the same cannot be said for the third base position. After New York traded Eric Jagielo, Rob Segedin and others this winter the team is extremely thin at third base which is only compounded by the fact that Chase Headley struggled for much of the season.

The final piece the Yankees will likely go after this June is the outfield, specifically the corner outfield position. They have Aaron Judge who looks destined to be the right fielder of the future but aside from him the organization seems littered with speedy and soft-hitting center fielder types like Ben Gamel and Slade Heathcott. Sure those guys are nice to have but the corner outfield position is a tradition source of power and the Yankees need that in the worst way.

2 comments:

  1. Over the bast few seasons, it was said that we had depth at catcher, which was good.

    It was traded for a fourth outfielder (and area of strength), Luis cessa, and Chad green. I don't get it.

    We could have gotten more. Should have gotten better. Any of the 3 would have been an upgrade over Travis d'arnou, and there's plenty there for us to explore. Say matz, montero, or conforto. Ya, the player that jumped from AA to the majors and is killing it. The Yankees drafted version of "major league ready" means they make then rot in Tampa until they switch to soccer.

    You can't complain about money, then refuse to take chances with young players. You can't have it both ways.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I could have probably said it better myself (I kid) but you saved me a lot of typing. Thank you.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)