The Yankees made the playoffs every season sans one (injury marred season) from 1995-2012, a staggering 17 of 18 seasons. Injuries and age started to take their toll and while we were above .500 and competitive, 2013-2016 were years to say goodbye to aging stars and a time to renew. Most teams either rebuild from within which takes years of losing or spend like drunken sailors to stay competitive. The Yankees somehow avoided both fates. While our team is still bloated with the heavy contracts of yesteryear, those overpaid players are no longer the face or the heart of the franchise. In ARod's case, he isn't even playing anymore. Yet somehow, after picking in the back of nearly every draft for over 20 years now, we have somehow rebuilt in a way that has left us financially savvy while keeping our farm system stocked. The decision to finally give up on a season did pay dividends, but the only player acquired currently producing on the big stage is Adam Warren. But taking a look at this team and the depth or youth at every spot in terms of both big league options and high level prospects is staggering.
Catchers:
Gary Sanchez is 24 years old and is still controllable at league minimum through 2019. We have him under wraps until 2022. The guy is a sure fire middle of the order bat who also plays a damn good defensive game behind the dish as well. He is a major building block for this club going forward. Behind him we have Austin Romine, who is a solid defender and Kyle Higashioka at AAA who has power, but might be more a AAAA player. While our true depth beyond our starter isn't outstanding, the fact that our starter is controllable for 6 seasons and is 24 is awesome
First Base:
Greg Bird is also 24 years old and he is controllable through 2021. This kid stepped in during a playoff push and hammered HR's left and right before losing a season to a shoulder injury. He hammered the ball in ST before injuring his foot. He is currently on a rehab assignment. When the kid is going right, he is a middle of the order bat. He proved that when he hit 11 homers in 46 games as a rookie in 2015. The kid can play. There are plenty of guys who can fill in at 1b or could make a big name for themselves behind Bird long term, but Bird is 24 and isn't going anywhere any time soon. The best prospect name behind him is Chris Gittens, who is 23 yrs old and is just killing the ball in High A.
Second Base:
Starlin Castro seems like he has been around forever, yet he just turned 27 yrs old. His contract is controllable through 2020 as well. Behind him at the position is the 2016 second round pick Nick Solak, who has a .400+OBP in High A this year. There are a multitude of middle infielders, but Nick is the best pure 2b in the system behind Starlin
Shortstop:
Didi Gregorius also seems like he has been around awhile. He just turned 27 as well and is controllable through next season. Behind him are a stable of top flight prospects and a damn good utility guy in Torreyes. Gleyber Torres is a top 5 prospect in all of baseball. He's a 5 tool player who just turned 20. Gleyber can play all IF positions as well. Since Didi is locking this one down likely for awhile, Gleyber likely moves off the position. Tyler Wade is another good name in AAA. He doesn't have the power potential of Gleyber, but he is a bigger threat on the bases. He also takes a lot of walks and has consistently hit well in the minors. Another nationally known prospect is Jorge Mateo. The kid hasn't put it together as has been hoped, but his combo of speed and power potential has scouts projecting big things. He is one of the rare 80 speed guys
Third Base:
Chase Headley is a stiff. Ronald Torreyes is a good utility guy, but not a good 3b replacement. All the backups to Didi at SS make sense here, but there is a good young prospect in AA who has a bigger power profile than all of them. Miguel Andujar is only 22 and he is raking AA pitching. He doesn't walk much, but he is more a Castro like player with much more power potential. If there wasn't a glut of prospects in AAA, he'd already be there. I still think long term that this position ends up in the hands of Gleyber Torres before he moves back to SS after Didi moves on
OF:
We currently have Gardner in LF. He's playing at an AS level and is controllable through next season with an option for 2019. While he is older, he is very athletic. I think he might be trade bait, though.
Aaron Hicks has taken CF and won't give it away. He is only 27 yrs old and is controllable through 2019. The guy has become a GG caliber OFer and has blossomed as a hitter. If he keeps this up, he will be a hell of a player for us and we will all forget about Ellsbury.
Aaron Judge is a man amongst boys. He is 25 yrs old and under control through 2022. Needless to say, he isn't going anywhere.
We have Ellsbury ticketed to 4th OFer. He is a stiff. Behind him, though, we have two outfielders knocking on the door in AAA. Dustin Fowler is a cycle waiting to happen. While he doesn't walk as much as anyone would like, he looks like a high average 20-20 guy who could lock down a COF spot and make a good CF impression in a pinch. The best prospect is Clint Frazier. This guy is a top 20 guy nationally who looks to be a potential 30 HR guy in the majors with the potential to steal some bases as well.
DH:
Matt Holliday is having a career renaissance. He is likely to be asked back in a similar role, but we will see if he tests the market. We have a ton of talent that could take the role, but his leadership is said to be big
SP
Tanaka is better than he has shown and he proved that in Anaheim. I expect him to return to near the top of the rotation. I also think that the early season blip and history of elbow issues will likely cause him not to opt out this year. That means he has another 3 years with us.
Pineda is likely to head off to greener pastures in FA. While he is having a career year, we can replace him on the market with someone more reliable
Sabathia is having a career renaissance as well. He is also in his final year here and I find it likely that we try to let him move on unless he somehow maintains his sub 3 ERA.
Luis Severino is forgetting about 2016 and remembering his blistering end to 2015. He just turned 23, so he is very young. He is also controllable through 2022. This kid is the future ace of the staff and the future is now.
Jordan Montgomery has become our 5th starter, but he is showing he is more than that. He is 24 yrs old and controllable through 2022 and looks to be a future #3 or maybe #2 depending on the refinement of his location.
While I expect 2 holes to open this offseason, I do expect us to sign a starter and develop another. Yu Darvish looks to be the guy we sign. But in terms of development, we have options
Our best option who is ready is Chance Adams. The kid has dominated all levels of the minors and currently at 22 yrs old, is dominating AAA. His WHIP is under 0.9 and his BAA is .151 in AAA. He should be on the short list to enter the rotation in 2018. Behind him, we have guys like Chad Green, who has done very well for us in the pen. We also have Luis Cessa who did well last year for us. In terms of top prospects, we have Justus Sheffield in AA who is killing it. Domingo Acevedo is dominating AA as well. James Kaprielian is recovering from TJS, but he might be the best of them all.
Regardless, we have a young and highly effective new core. But what we also have is a deep farm at the same time. We have somehow stayed competitive and reloaded and now we are back on top.