Wednesday, March 14, 2018

So What Will The Yankees Look Like On Opening Day?

Predicting the roster is not really my thing. Sure, I've done it in the past, but more often than not it's Daniel that makes these predictions and does a fine job. But here I sit on my day off from work and I couldn't help but think about what the team would look like on Opening Day.

For the record, before the Yankees even signed Neil Walker, I had a feeling that Miguel Andujar would start the year with the RailRiders. I was actually ready to say that Drury would be the Opening Day third baseman while Tyler Wade started at second base. But Brian Cashman surprised us all and nabbed Walker for much less than I thought they were going to give them a few weeks ago.

So here's what I have...

Starting Lineup
C-Gary Sanchez
1B-Greg Bird
2B-Neil Walker
SS-Didi Gregorius
3B-Brandon Drury
LF-Brett Gardner
CF-Aaron Hicks
RF-Aaron Judge
DH-Giancarlo Stanton

Bench
Austin Romine (C/1B)
Ronald Torreyes (2B/SS/3B)
Jacoby Ellsbury (OF) *If Ellsbury is not ready then I believe Tyler Austin will be on the bench instead.

Starting Rotation
1. Masahiro Tanaka
2. Luis Severino
3. Sonny Gray
4. CC Sabathia
5. Jordan Montgomery

Bullpen
Aroldis Chapman
David Robertson
Dellin Betances
Chad Green
Tommy Kahnle
Chasen Shreve
Adam Warren
Jonathan Holder

After writing that I thought... Do you realize the insane amount of talent that will start the season in the minors, particularly right there in AAA? Take a look at this list, with their projected landing spots on Opening Day (I used Mike Axisa's projections on River Ave Blues)...

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Miguel Andujar
Gleyber Torres
Tyler Wade
Thairo Estrada
Tyler Austin
Clint Frazier
Billy McKinney
Chance Adams
Domingo German

Trenton Thunder
Justus Sheffield
Dillon Tate
Domingo Acevedo

Tampa Tarpons
Estevan Florial
Albert Abreu

There are probably a handful of players you guys are upset that I excluded here, too.

I've actually gone beyond excited about this teams future and moved into awe-struck. Not only could the Yankees sign a player like Manny Machado or Bryce Harper for next season, but they have a ton of firepower in order to trade for young stars on top of that. Even then they will still have a very good farm system.