Around the Empire: Yankees news - 2/17/21

Pitchers and catchers report today! It’s fitting then that our first two links deal with, of course, pitchers and catchers.

New York Daily News | Kristie Ackert: We’ve spent a lot of time debating the approach of the Yankees front office towards the pitching rotation, but at the very least there are a number of guys who could be shuffled in over the course of the season. That depth, with 8-9 guys who could realistically start, is crucial not just for New York but across baseball, as teams contend with how to safely ramp pitchers up after a shorted 60-game campaign last year.

Yahoo! Sports | Anthony McCarron: Oh, Gary Sánchez. One reason I’m excited for the season to start is so we can actually see what Gary does this year, rather than continually writing articles about what he might do and what he’s already done. You all know how important this season is for Sánchez, as it is quite possibly a make-or-break season for his entire career. For those thinking the Yankees should have moved on already, two different AL executives agree that the team is doing the right thing keeping him around.

New York Post | Justin Tasch: The hype train for Jasson Dominguez keeps on chugging, with noted prospect guru Kiley McDaniel saying the Dominican outfielder is more advanced at his age than Mike Trout was at the same point. It’s high praise indeed, even if Trout was actually, y’know, playing real baseball games at this point in his career:

FanGraphs | RJ McDaniel: Not exactly Yankee-related, but possibly the best thing I’ve read on baseball since... well, the last thing RJ wrote about baseball. This is an intensely personal essay about the way baseball can help us heal. It deals with attempted suicide and a number of mental health challenges, so be kind to yourselves while reading it.