There are more questions about the Yankees in 2013 than perhaps any year in the last 15 for New York. They're going to be without two, potentially three, starters on Opening Day, and they have two other starting spots filled with potentially sub-replacement level players. Warning signals are going off in the Bronx going into 2013.
Yankees on TOC
End of Season Postmortem
2013 Season Preview
You May Say I'm a Dreamer (11:30 AM)
2013 Burning Question (12:45 PM)
This Is My Nightmare (2:00 PM)
2013 X-Factor (3:15 PM)
Depth Chart (as of 3/1)
C: Chris Stewart
1B: Mark Teixeira
2B: Robinson Cano
SS: Derek Jeter
3B: Kevin Youkilis
LF: Juan Rivera
CF: Brett Gardner
RF: Ichiro Suzuki
DH: Travis Hafner
SP: CC Sabathia
SP: Hiroki Kuroda
SP: Andy Pettitte
SP: Phil Hughes
SP: Ivan Nova
CL: Mariano Rivera
New Faces
Travis Hafner and Kevin Youkilis, welcome aboard. Youkilis joining the Yankees is something that would have seemed unfathomable in the past, but here we are. As for Hafner, the team wanted a veteran DH, and by god, they've got one now. The Yankees also signed Juan Rivera to a minor league deal, only to see him get thrust into a much bigger role after Curtis Granderson got hurt last weekend. New York also brought in a couple of bench bats on minor league deals in Matt Diaz and Dan Johnson, and traded for reliever Shawn Kelley from the Mariners.
Departures
The Yankees lost a trio of outfielders to free agency, with all three getting vastly different deals. Andruw Jones went to Japan, Raul Ibanez got a one-year deal with the Mariners, and Nick Swisher got a four-year deal with the Indians. Bench bat Eric Chavez signed with the Diamondbacks, and starting catcher Russell Martin signed a two-year deal with the Pirates. As for the pitching staff, Rafael Soriano signed a two-year deal with the Nationals after a long wait this winter, and Freddy Garcia signed a minor league deal with the Padres. Derek Lowe is also still jobless after doing a decent job in relief with New York during the second half.
Impact Rookies
When people think of the Yankees and rookies, they probably chuckle to themselves, but young players could get more of a starring role on the team this season. Catcher Austin Romine might end up in the majors sooner rather than later, but a lost 2012 did him no favors. Dellin Betances could get a spot in the majors, likely the bullpen, if he gets his command under control.
Position Battles
Welp, Rivera and Diaz are going to be having a pillow fight for the starting left field job heading into the year with Curtis Granderson out for at least the first month of the season. Neither can hit righthanders, but hey, there aren't any other options! I could also see some battles taking place in New York's bullpen, with David Aardsma and Kelley battling for a spot in the pen.
Injury Concerns
Oh my, here we go. Granderson will miss all of April, and potentially longer, after breaking his forearm last Saturday. Alex Rodriguez is out until at least June after offseason hip surgery. Phil Hughes' spot in the Opening Day rotation is up in the air due to a bulging disc in his back. Derek Jeter's status for Opening Day is still a question after he fractured his ankle during the playoffs last year. Prospect Manny Banuelos will miss the season after Tommy John surgery last fall, and Michael Pineda will likely miss a solid chunk of time after surgery for a torn labrum last spring. There are also the perpetual injury concerns with Youkilis and Hafner that counting on either to stay healthy all season is a fool's errand. Ivan Nova also missed time last year with an inflammed rotation cuff, something that could rear its ugly head once again. Finally, there's Mariano Rivera, returning from a torn ACL suffered last May. But aside from all of that…the Yankees are looking pretty damn good!
Burning Question
Are the Yankees going to be healthy enough to contend in 2013, or is this the beginning of the end?
Best Case
New York gets a ton of production from Cano and Teixeira, Jeter plays 150 games, Rodriguez and Granderson both come back ahead of schedule and perform like they have historically, the pitching staff holds up, and the Yankees win the World Series to send Rivera and Jeter out on top of their sport.
Worst Case
Jeter's ankle is an issue all season, Teixeira's decline continues, Cano gets blinded by dollar signs as his impending free agency becomes a distraction, Granderson's forearm injury destroys his power, Rodriguez doesn't play an inning, and the Yankees fall to last place in the AL East.
Realistic Scenario
I can see the best case happening, the worst case happening, and something somewhere in between. It all comes down to health for the Yankees, though. If Granderson comes back and hits like a monster, the Yankees will be in decent shape. If Rodriguez comes back and can at least put together an .800 OPS in 80-100 games, the Yankees will be in better shape. It's really a tossup as to where this team ends up in 2013, and this could be the most interesting team to watch this season.
