No. 12 Nationals | No. 14 Diamondbacks | Nos. 20-11
No. 13: NEW YORK YANKEES
Last Season: 87-75
Projected record: 84-78 (tied for second in AL East)
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The Yankees are a team in transition, which is why they project as a middle-of-the-pack team. They are attempting to win in 2016 while letting the contracts of Mark Teixeira (7 years, $180 million) and Carlos Beltran (3 years, $45M) run out, with the deals for Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia in the on-deck circle (to end after the 2017 season). The Yankees did not sign a major free agent this winter, instead turning to the trade market to add closer Aroldis Chapman and infielder Starlin Castro to a club that lost the American League wild-card game last year.
While the Yankees are known to make a free-agent splash, a rapidly improving farm system -- including hard-throwing righty Luis Severino -- means the Yankees can now cash in on their homegrown talent, too. -- ESPN.com
The Yankees could actually win the World Series if everything went right for them. Their pitching staff, which is fraught with potential issues, from Masahiro Tanaka's and Nathan Eovaldi's elbows to Sabathia's recovery from alcoholism, must stayed glued together, while Rodriguez, Teixeira and Beltran must belie their ages. That could allow the dynamic bullpen of Chapman, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances to dominate in the playoffs.
The Yankees are old and fragile. It's hard to imagine the starting staff remaining fully healthy, and considering the team doesn't have a lot of depth there, this could spell doom. Their lineup was so reliant on A-Rod, Teixeira and Beltran last year. Can they all do it again and avoid injury? That's tough to imagine, which is why this Yankee team may be on the outside looking in when October arrives. This could leave the Yankees pointing to 2017 with the hope of continued maturity of youngsters Luis Severino, Greg Bird and outfield prospect Aaron Judge.
No. 12 Nationals | No. 14 Diamondbacks | Nos. 20-11<
