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Looking Forward to 2015

With the current season looking a little more lost each day (hopefully things will turn around and I'll look back upon this post as an act of needless pessimism), I can't help but think ahead to 2015 and the questions that will come up then. With Jeter retiring and a few others becoming free agents, there are questions galore about what will happen to the team over the offseason and the coming season.

Can McCann Come Back?

I doubt that many of us expected things to go so poorly for Brian McCann this season. The front office and most fans seemed to expect a solid bat to go with some great glove work from behind the plate. We got the latter end of the deal, but the bat has been especially lacking given the expectations heading into the 2014 season. He's going to be one year older. His knees are going to be one year older chronologically speaking, and some amount of time older than that due to the strain of catching. If things continue from where they are so far this season, what can we expect from McCann and the catching position going forward?

Two More Seasons of Beltran

The other guy signed to act as a key cog in the lineup, Carlos Beltran, was given a deal one year longer than most of us would have liked. But since there's little point griping about that given that what's done is done, let's focus instead on the matter of him next season and the season after that. Beltran has suffered injuries this season, and his bat hasn't exactly been as good as it was before (although I doubt any of us expected him to suddenly revert to who he was circa 2004). So what about the fact that at his age, we can probably expect two more seasons of diminishing returns?

So We Don't Have a Shortstop

Derek Jeter will not be a Yankee next season. Sorry, I just had to get that out of my system. Since I can first recall following the team, I could always expect to see Jeter listed as the shortstop for the New York Yankees. Yet, we soon won't be able to do that.

I expect the team to sign someone to play the position. Sure, they probably won't be able to fill his shoes, but no one's expecting a future Hall of Famer to replace our homegrown legend. That sort of thing only happens every once in a long while. So while it won't be Jeter, whoever takes over should hopefully provide better defense and hit into fewer double plays. I'll take whatever silver linings I can get.

The Rotation

Assuming that Tanaka can avoid surgery, we should have someone that can be counted on the anchor the rotation already on the team. The rest of it however, is a mystery. Pineda offers solid results whenever he's healthy, but no one's sure whether he can last a full season. Nova won't be back until later in the season at the earliest. CC was once someone we could safely consider a safe bet to pitch like an ace when he was at his best and a workhorse when he wasn't. We can't do that anymore. Kuroda is probably gone. Phelps has proven himself capable of contributing in both the bullpen and rotation, although he's there to bring up the back of the starting rotation. Shane Greene has gotten good results thus far, but let's see if he can manage major league lineups over a full season. McCarthy's been nice, and it is tempting to give him a couple of years and a contract similar in pay to his current one (maybe tantalize him with the right to act as the official manager of the team's Twitter account. A man can dream.) The problem with him is that he has an injury history and shouldn't be expected to function as a workhorse.

Where to get some rotation help? Severino needs more seasoning. The free agent market does offer some alluring names though, even if the cost will be high and the likelihood of long-term contracts to high priced pitchers strong.

The Bullpen

For some inexplicable reason, the Yankees didn't extend Robertson when the had the chance. Granted, relievers are more volatile commodities, but he's still one of the best in the game. With him and Betances offering a potent one-two punch in the final innings, late game leads are safe more often than not. Hopefully the team resigns him this offseason. Warren has not done as well lately after a great start to the season. Kelley is still a useful member of the bullpen.

Still, if anything can be expected of the Yankees within the past few years, it is that they've done a good job building a decent bullpen on the cheap each season. Whether it be names like Webb or Lindgren, or some scrap heap pick pickup, I am a little more secure about this part of the roster.

What's on Second?

Rob Refsnyder's bat appears legit, and he's made progress as a fielder the past couple of years. After a brief period where he played the outfield this past season, Cashman clarified that the team saw him as a second baseman who needed his reps. Next season should see him granted an opportunity to get the starting job at the position.

However, he's not the only one capable of playing second. Prado's skills as a super-sub make him a possible option, and there's a chance that the team decides to test the free agent market. Personally though, I don't mind Ref getting a shot.

Cashman's Future With the Team

With the team struggling in spite of the signings made to bolster the lineup last winter, Cashman might be an easy scapegoat. That said, he has been at it for over a decade now, and perhaps it might help to get a new voice in the mix, whether it be an internal candidate or someone from outside the organization. Even then, I thought that Brian did a decent job for the most part, and wouldn't mind if he stayed on and got a promotion, keeping his mind around while still setting the stage for future changes.

A-Rod

Last but not least is the matter of the Centaur himself, Mr. Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez. We all know the story by now and are aware that he will come into next year 40 years old, recovering from injuries, and a whole season removed from actual play. What can we expect him to do on the field? What can we expect of events off it? I don't just mean the possible (or more accurately, likely) media circus. I'm also talking about the fact that his contract is back on the books, and it is up to the owners to decide just what they want to do with him. Do they play him and try to get something out of one of the single worst contracts in baseball? Or do they bite the bullet and end things here in spite of the costs? If the latter becomes reality, who takes over at third?

These questions and more will be plaguing the Yankees and their fans this offseason and the season following it. I'm pretty sure there happen to be other issues I have yet to consider, so feel free to bring them up in the comments section. As for the future, until then, let's hope for the best.

* Author's note: please forgive me for the occasional bouts of rhyming and alliteration. I didn't notice either of these things until I'd already finished writing the post and read it back to myself.

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