You guys know me as the resident Yankee homer, but I anticipate that you'll notice an upbeat yet not terribly optimistic tune for my team in 2017. While I am very intrigued to see the youth movement in NY, I am also well aware of what a youth movement typically entails. I understand that this season is mostly a "bridge" with the hopes of developing the next set of all stars in NY, resetting our lux tax for 2018 and eventually jumping back into big money baseball for 2019. That being said, there is a LOT to analyze here, so here goes.

Catcher
Gary Sanchez is one of the biggest bright spots on a mixed up team of vets and rookies. He just turned 24 in December, so his year 23 season was absolutely insane, if not completely unexpected. Gary had been a guy who had enormous potential but had a bit of an attitude issue. Not making the Yankees out of ST seemed to set that attitude back where it needed to be. He was injured for part of the first half, but was promoted and absolutely exploded onto the scene. 20HR 1.033OPS in 53 games is stuff of legend. Other guys have had big debuts, but his was more pronounced and was definitely longer than your typical cup of coffee guys like Shane Spencer and Kevin Maas. Prior to 2016, he had topped out at 18HR in a season. In 2016, he had 30, with 2/3 being in NY. Now he didn't exactly come out of nowhere and he has shown the ability to hit for average in the minors as well, but I doubt he continues the MVP style pace he was on in 2016. My bet for Gary is a .275/.350/.470 season with 25HR and an absolute rock in the middle of the lineup. His defense was solid as well and he is looking the part of a guy who will likely man the tools of ignorance for a decade in NY. Our backup coming into 2017 will likely be Austin Romine to start. Romine is a solid defender with the skills to put the ball in play. He's your prototypical backup, but on his heels is Kyle Higashioka. Higa was a HS signee way back in 2008. He's always had great defensive tools, but never reached the lofty offensive potential he has until last season. After not hitting more than 8HR in a season in any of his many seasons in the minors, he smacked 21 between AA and AAA last yr. If the power remains, he might not just have a shot as a backup C in NY, but at some ABs as DH as well

1B
We lose a quasi HOF guy in Tex and have a myriad of options here. We signed Matt Holliday to be a DH, but he can definitely man 1b. We have Greg Bird coming back from injury. He filled in admirably in our postseason run in 2015 for Tex when he broke his leg, only to suffer a labrum tear that kept him out for all of 2016. He's healthy and back. He expects to be the LH portion of a platoon at 1b. This guy smacked 11HR in 157AB in 2015 and absolutely murdered RH pitching to the tune of a .915OPS. He has the tools to eventually take over the position, but coming off injury will likely be stuck in a time share until he proves himself. No idea what kind of line he will have since I don't know how healthy he really is. (We all hear guys say they are totally healthy and come out and look like a grandpa trying to play). But he has 30HR kind of power and the eye to be a high OBP masher. In the time share is Tyler Austin. Austin was once a major prospect before a wrist injury caused him to lose 3 seasons. He signed as a MiLB FA last yr back with NY and absolutely killed AAA pitching. He got promoted, was absolutely terrible in August and was dominant in Sept. What does he become? Who the hell knows, but he is a 25 yr old RH power hitter with the capability to drive the ball out to RF. In his SSS in NY, he had a near 1.100OPS vs lefties. He can also play 3b and COF if needed.

2B
Starlin Castro had a strange year in NY. Known more as a BA hitter, he jacked up and hit 20HR. His OBP was terrible as usual but with his renewed power, he was at least reasonable for his position in terms of production. He turns 27 in March, so we could expect more of the same, but with power surges, we know sometimes the player sustains and other times they fall off. Regardless, we could do worse at the keystone

SS
Didi Gregorius struggled for 3 months replacing Jeter in 2015. He was nearly replaced and the fans had turned on him. Then Girardi and Cash sat him down and told him they were sticking with him no matter what. That patience was rewarded. He hit well to finish 2015 and absolutely surged in 2016. He turns 27 in 2 weeks and is coming off a 20HR, .751OPS season. The defensive metrics didn't love him in 2016 like they did in 2015, but he has the stuff to be an elite defender and a perennial 3+ WAR player, especially if the D returns and the power stays. For a rebuilding team, we certainly have a lot of young and powerful talent from C, 1B, 2B, and SS

3B
Chase Headley is boring. For a month he was laughably bad. After that he was Chase Headley. He isn't a guy to hit 30HR like he did in a fluke year. He's a mid to low .700OPS guy with good D who doesn't excite anybody but at least plays steady enough to not worry about him. He somehow eeked out a 2.6WAR last yr, mostly based on defense. Watch for Gleyber Torres here. This kid is a top 5 prospect in baseball and has the goods to be a big league star. If we have to make room for the kid, Chase is probably the guy to go.

LF
Brett Gardner should have been traded. The elite speed is now above average. The elite D is now above average. The double digit HR power is now gone. He does bring a great eye and all around good set of skills. He's a table setter for a top notch team, but at 33 yrs old, he is a guy holding back a cadre of talent that could use the PT. Regardless, he is steady and should not be a liability in LF

CF
Jacoby Ellsbury is basically Brett Gardner with a worse arm and a worse reputation. It is redundant to have both of these guys on the team and with Gardy being a FA after the season, I get why he's the one up for trade. That being said, any and all offers for this guy must be entertained.

RF
This is an interesting position to say the least. We have Aaron Judge, a guy with Dave Winfield like size and power supposedly ready to assume the position. The one problem is, Judge didn't look ready in his brief stint in NY. The other problem is that Judge is injury prone. Mason Williams is more injury prone. He is also a lefty speed guy with no power a la Ellsbury, but he'd make our outfield even more redundant. Aaron Hicks stepped way back last yr in a reserve role and didn't grab any attention when he had his chance to win the job. Look for Clint Frazier to make his way in should he get hot in AAA

DH
Matt Holliday is set to be a full time DH. He's old, but has power and the OBP chops not to suck. You have to question whether father time can be extended now that he isn't expected to see the field, but there is also a chance Matt gets pressed into OF or 1b duty.

The offense above is strange. Our best projected hitters are at C, 2b and SS. 1B should shake out by years end. 3B bores the shit out of me. The OF is our weak link if only because of muted potential in LF and CF. We should score some runs, but certainly not at the elite level