Predictions for the Yankees 25 Man Roster: Offense

The offense got a little bit of a shakeup during this year's winter meetings as the New York Yankees acquired Starlin Castro to play second base. The Yankees, unofficially, sent their utility man Brendan Ryan to the Cubs along with relief pitcher Adam Warren in the deal. Also Dustin Ackley will likely be sent to the bench while Robert Refsnyder is probably destined for the minor leagues on Opening Day. What does that leave the Yankees, offensively speaking, on the active roster for Opening Day 2016?

C: Brian McCann

1B: Mark Teixeira

2B: Starlin Castro

SS: Didi Gregorius

3B: Chase Headley

LF: Brett Gardner

CF: Jacoby Ellsbury

RF: Carlos Beltran

DH: Alex Rodriguez

BN: Gary Sanchez

BN: Pete Kozma

BN: Dustin Ackley

BN: Aaron Hicks

Those are my predictions and there aren't likely many predictions that are going to make you turn your head. I don't see Brett Gardner being traded with all the talent available on the free agent market, specifically outfielders, and the bench will likely be made up of Hicks, Sanchez and Ackley. The only surprise I guess you could say is Pete Kozma making the roster but it shouldn't. Kozma can play shortstop and third base and was called a Brendan Ryan clone when acquired. Why wouldn't he take his roster spot now that he's traded? Especially since the Yankees have two open spots on the 40 man roster.

Those are mine, what are yours?

Article Revisit: Yankees Need A Fourth Outfielder

A few weeks back we discussed the need for a fourth outfielder in New York after the injury to Carlos Beltran and Ichiro Suzuki coming back down to Earth. We mentioned, once again before anyone else, that Alex Rios would be a good fit that could fit into the Yankees plans and budget. Now that the rumors around Rios joining the Yankees are in full tilt let's take a look back at where it all began, right here on TGP:

Going into the 2014 season the New York Yankees had too many outfielders and not enough positions to accommodate. Here we are at the end of July in the same season and the Yankees don't have enough outfielders to make a real run at a division title or a Wild Card. You really can't predict baseball Suzyn.

The Yankees started the season essentially with Brett Gardner as their left fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury manning center, Carlos Beltran as your right fielder, Alfonso Soriano as your full time designated hitter, and Ichiro Suzuki on the bench. Three months later you still have your mainstays in Gardner and Ellsbury but a bone spur has Beltran limited to DH only starts, Soriano is not on the team anymore, and Ichiro is essentially your every day right fielder.

The problem is Ichiro is a singles only hitter and has been exposed lately as an every day player. The Yankees don't seem comfortable with Beltran in the outfield at all this season and Ichiro is not going to cut it everyday, the Yankees need an outfielder. Since the Yankees won't call up Robert Refnsnyder and seem unwilling to call up Zoilo Almonte, Adonis Garcia, or Jose Pirela New York may instead turn their attention to the Texas Rangers Alex Rios.

Rios, at the time of writing this, is batting .302/.330/.405 with only four home runs and 16 stolen bases. Rios defense has actually been better than Ichiro's this season and his right handed bat would compliment the lineup well. The biggest issue is a six team no trade clause that is written into Rios' contract that includes the Yankees. Rios is in the last year of a monster deal but there is a team option for the 2015 season worth $13.5 million with a $1 million buyout.

The Yankees and the Rangers start a four game series tonight in Yankee Stadium and will play seven times before the trading deadline which is a perfect showcase for Rios and the Yankees. Will the Yankees make it happen? Stay tuned...

MLB.com: Severino & Sanchez Make Top 100

MLB.com has released their mid season Top 100 prospects list for all of Major League Baseball and two familiar Yankee faces made the list in Luis Severino and Gary Sanchez. The Twins Byron Buxton was listed in the top spot and was followed by the Cardinals Oscar Tavares list most prospects lists we have seen this season. The Astros prospect shortstop Carlos Correa comes in the third position and the Miami Marlins have three of the top seven prospects in all of baseball in Kris Bryant (#4), Javier Baez (#6), and Addison Russell (#7).

The Yankees make the list with Severino coming in at the 70th position and Sanchez coming in at the #76 position. In case you were wondering the Top Five Yankees prospects according to MLB.com right now are Severino, Sanchez, Eric Jagielo, Ian Clarkin, and Aaron Judge in that order. Robert Refsnyder is sixth and Jacob Lindgren rounds out the top 10.