New York Yankees - 2010 Season Preview

The Yankees enter 2010 as the World Series Champions. While they should feel pretty good about themselves entering spring as a result of some prescient acquisitions and trades, they must compete with the reconfigured Boston Red Sox to win the pennant. Spring Training will determine the fifth starter, the members of the bullpen, and the starting left fielder, among other things. Let the battle for number 28 begin! Here is a preview of the 2010 New York Yankees:

Pitching

From one through five, the Yankees have the best all-around starting rotation in all of baseball. The Yankees still have CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte at the top of the rotation. While most teams in baseball would kill for that type of starting pitching, the Yankees are a distinct step behind the Red Sox top of the rotation, with Lackey, Lester, and Beckett. CC remains an absolute ace and one of the top three pitchers in baseball, and Burnett will bring dynamite stuff two out of every three games. Pettitte, however, must eventually age beyond effectiveness, and this year will finally bring the beginning of the end for the Texan southpaw’s career.

Additionally, the Yankees fourth and fifth starters would be number two or three starters for most teams in the league. The Bronx Bombers traded outfielder Melky Cabrera and pitchers Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who was the Yankees' third-best prospect, for Javier Vasquez, who will pitch from the fourth spot in the rotation. Vasquez had a great season for the Braves in 2009, but it is unlikely that he will repeat his sub-4.00 ERA in 2010. Throughout his career, Vasquez has followed dazzle with disappointment.

Competition in Spring Training for the fifth spot in the rotation will be heated and subject to much media coverage. Phil Hughes will fight fan-favorite Dunkin Donuts-spokeman Joba Chamberlain, and the other will report to the bullpen. Hughes was excellent last year as a long reliever - he showed confidence and a low 3.03 over 86 innings. Meanwhile, Joba seemed to lack the fire he displayed in 2008, his first season as a full-time starter. With a 9-6 record and a 4.75 ERA over 31 starts, Joba will have to show more to keep his spot from the younger Hughes in his first year without the infamous “Joba Rules.”

On a side note, remember Kei Igawa? He’s coming to spring training. While he didn’t throw a single pitch in big leagues last year, Igawa is entering the last year of a 5 year/$20M contract, so the club presumably wants to see if there is anything at all left in him to redeem value from a very wasteful deal.

Relief Pitching

UPDATE: Chad Gaudin was unconditionally released by the Yankees due to his struggles during spring training.

Mariano Rivera is back in his role as closer. Hopefully he will continue his dominant play as best closer of all time and first-ballot HOFer. His age has been raised as a concern during the past few Spring Trainings, but Rivera has proved us wrong with ERA in 2009 and 2008 of 1.76 and 1.40 respectively. His role is critical if the Yankees want to repeat this season.

Phil Coke played an important role in the bullpen for the Yankees last season, and they will undoubtedly miss him. His 4.50 ERA doesn’t show how important he was last year, especially when Joba was shaky. Fortunately, either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain and will be able to pick up some of the slack.

After Hughes or Chamberlain, Chan Ho Park was signed in February to a one-year deal after playing one season for the NL-champion Phillies. The remaining spots in the bullpen will go to some combination of Alfredo Aceves, Jonathan Albaladejo, Andrew Brackman, Wilkin De La Rosa, Christian Garcia, Boone Logan, Damaso Marte, Mark Melancon, Sergio Mitre, Hector Noesi, and David Robertson.

Infield

The Yankees have what might be the best infield in the history of the franchise. With future first ballot HOFer Derek Jeter at SS and if-not-for-the-steroids-HOFer A-Rod at 3B, the left side of the infield is excellent, but aging. Expect the Yankees to lock up Jeter with his final contract at some point this year, as his current ten-year deal ends this season. The only question for 3B will arise if A-Rod can’t stay healthy again this year. He had a great, albeit abbreviated comeback season after the steroids scandal this time last year and a hip injury.

Up the middle, Robinson Cano is one of the best 2Bs in the AL (at the top with Ian Kinsler & Dustin Pedroia). Cano is signed through 2013, but could be bought out if his increasing price isn’t worth it & the 2B prospects develop as expected. Mark Teixeira, who had a prolific first year with the Yankees, returns for the second year of his mega-contract, which lasts through 2016. Expect him to be the best 1B in the AL again this year - but don’t be surprised if he has another slow start.

World Series MVP Hideki Matsui signed with the Angels as a free agent after the Yankees chose not to resign him. While it will be sad to see this hard-working slugger leave town, especially to a rival like the team in Anaheim, he will be 36 in June. Surprisingly his hitting was not significantly down in 2009, but I suppose the Yankees predict his offensive production will drop soon. Additionally, the team wants the aging Jorge Posada to play DH so that he can rest yet still contribute offensively.

Also, even when Jorge is behind the plate, Nick Johnson will be a cheap replacement for Matsui. Johnson, another former Yankee, was signed to an incentive-laden one year/$5.5M deal. He will provide significant pop in the middle of the lineup.

Outfield

The Yankees chose not to resign free agent Johnny Damon, whose contract demands were too high for ownership. Consequently, Detroit won an average to below-average outfielder who still has an enviable bat with some power. He won’t repeat his home run total from last year, which was inflated by playing in new Yankee Stadium.

Additionally, Melky Cabrera was traded to Atlanta for Javier Vasquez & Boone Logan, so two of the three starting outfielders will be new for 2010. One of these two will definitely be all-star Curtis Granderson, who the Yankees acquired in a three-team trade with Detroit and Arizona. In return for Granderson, the Yankees gave up Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, and Ian Kennedy. This was a good trade - Coke was a very good reliever last year, but Granderson is a big upgrade in the outfield and Kennedy never was able to top his peers Hughes and Chamberlain. Just as important as his skill is Granderson’s leadership and character; his personality will mesh well with the improved clubhouse of 2009.

Brett Gardner will fight with veterans Randy Winn and Marcus Thames for the LF spot. Gardner is one of the hardest workers on the team and is very fast. Thames is back with the team for a second time on a minor league contract after six seasons with Detroit.

Nick Swisher will return and hopefully have a better season in 2010. His numbers were pretty good for a number 8 hitter. Hopefully his offseason appearance in “How I Met Your Mother” won’t effect his on-field performance in 2010. Besides his appearance on the small screen, Swisher is also well known for his charitable efforts, including the “Swish and Chips” dinner last year at a New York pub.

Catcher

Aging Jorge Posada will start behind the plate and Francisco Cervelli will back him up. The main backup catcher from last season, Jose Molina, was let go in the offseason. The Yankees probably want to give some of their plentiful young talent a chance to play in the big leagues.

In fact, the Yankees are loaded at catcher; four of the team’s top eight prospects are catchers, not including Cervelli. Anyone who says the Yankees don’t develop their own talent simply hasn’t paid attention. Posada is signed through 2011, which leaves just enough time for Jesus Montero to develop into the all-star he is supposed to become while playing in triple-A or behind Cervelli. Montero has defensive talent and has been an offensive stud in the minor leagues. Hopefully he can continue his success in the Bronx.