After the Yankees unloaded their assets last season at the trade deadline, fans were ecstatic to see their Baby Bombers play in August and September. Despite finishing five games back of a Wild Card spot, these youngsters kept the Yankees in contention throughout the rest of the season. The middle infield tandem of Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius became exciting to watch, both in the field and at the dish. We watched Gary Sanchez blast his way into Rookie of the Year conversation while playing just two months in the big leagues. Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin both had glimpses of greatness as well. Greg Bird will be back from injury and likely take the helm at first base to replace the retired Mark Teixeira. Fans are excited to watch these young promising talents grow more in this upcoming season.
While the 2017 Yankees are shaping up to be athletic and exciting, let’s not forget about the Yankees’ stacked farm system which some consider to be the best in baseball. We all know ginger sensation Clint Frazier, who was the key piece in the Andrew Miller trade with Cleveland. Stud infield prospect Gleyber Torres is another future asset for the Yankees. Torres has been said to be the best prospect in baseball, and was the youngest Arizona Fall League MVP ever, where he hit over .400.
While we know a whole lot about those two young men, there is so much more talent than just those two within the Yankees system ready to get their crack at the big leagues. Luis Severino, Luis Cessa and Chad Green all have potential, but have seen early struggles as starters. Even if these guys don’t pan out, the Yankees have multiple legitimate pitching prospects for the first time in a very long time. Former first round pick James Kaprielian, southpaw Justus Sheffield, Chance Adams and Domingo Acevedo are all considered to be within the Yankees’ top ten prospects. Dillion Tate and Albert Abreu, who came via trade from Texas and Houston respectively, are considered to be a few big name prospects to be acquired by the Yankees as of late. Tate was the fourth overall selection in the 2015 amateur player draft.
While the Yankees made their farm system elite by trading many of their veterans, they have a plethora of homegrown talent as well. Aforementioned Sanchez, Judge, Austin, Bird and Kaprielian are all homegrown guys, as well as speedster Jorge Mateo, 2016 first round pick Blake Rutherford, slugger Miguel Andujar, and future gold glover Dustin Fowler. All of these prospects have the potential to be future All-Stars.
With all of this young talent just down the road and with big money contracts like A-Rod and Teixeira now off the books along with CC Sabathia’s contract set to expire at the end of the 2016 season, the Yankees will be prepared to make a free agency splash. This likely wouldn’t occur until after this upcoming season, but the 2018 free agent class looks to be promising. Multiple MVP honors recipients like Josh Donaldson, Andrew McCutchen and Bryce Harper will be available barring re-signing, as well as All-Stars Manny Machado, Dee Gordon and Adam Jones. The pitching class features some CY Young winners in Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel, as well as Matt Harvey and Jose Quintana. David Price could make an appearance in free agency as well, should he opt out of his deal with Boston.
With all of the prospects at the Yankees’ disposal along with the extra space being made for the insane 2018 free agency class, the future is brighter than ever for the Yankees. Don’t be surprised to see another Yankee dynasty coming to the Bronx.
Banter Sports 