5 Big Questions the Yankees Need to Answer This Spring

A $200 million payroll doesn’t ensure that the Yankees don’t have issues with their roster this spring training. While who’s on first is not an issue anymore, who’s in center certainly looms large.

• Who is the Yankees starting center fielder?
  • This is a showdown between Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner. They are both light hitters with little to no power. Gardner has great range in the outfield , an average arm ,and is lightning on the base paths. Meanwhile, Melky as average range and a great arm in center.
  • BBD Prediction: The fact that Melky is out of options and is getting paid $1.4 million this season means it may be his job to lose, but if Gardner can show that he can get hold a OBP of at least .330—Melky’s career average—then he could take over as the regular starter sooner rather than later.
• Can Jorge Posada stay healthy enough to play 125+ games?
  • His 2008 season was cut short, and there are a lot of question marks surrounding his future. He is going to be babied this spring and will only be DH’ing the first couple of weeks. We won’t know until late March how his arm is, but if he he can keep from being a liability behind the plate, that will be a big lift for the Yankees.
  • BBD Prediction: It’s hard to guess when it comes to injuries, but it seems to me that he’s had plenty of time to rest and rehab. All the reports seem to be positive as well, so hopefully he can be pencilled in for another 130 game season.
• Which players will make up the Yankees’ bullpen?
  • Kyle Farnsworth is gone and in his place as setup man appears to be Brian Bruney. Bruney has lost a lot of weight and hopefully his conditioning carries over on the field. Mariano Rivera is obviously a lock and Damaso Marte will help to set him up too. Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras have a leg up because of their seasons last year, but neither is a lock. Beyond that, the Yankees have a decent group to choose from, including Alfredo Aceves, Jonathan Albaladejo, Phil Coke, Brett Tomko, Dan Giese, David Robertson, and Mark Melancon.
  • BBD Prediction: Indications are that they will carry seven relievers this season, with Mo, Bruney, and Marte locks to make the team. Ramirez and Veras will likely make it as well, leaving two spots open. For long man, I’m going with Aceves and the seventh guy will either be Coke or Albaladejo, I’m picking Coke. Alabaladejo gets it if Ramirez’s shoulder problem doesn’t go away.
• How will the Yankees use Nick Swisher?
  • Right now, it appears that Swisher has a decent shot to win the starting right field job, but he probably would have to do significantly better than Nady to get it. Also, Joe Girardi has indicated that he wants to keep a consistent lineup on the field, but Swisher is not exactly a bench player and is going to expect at-bats.
  • BBD Prediction: Despite what Girardi said, I feel like he’s going to find regular playing time for Swisher. That means that he’ll rest Hideki Matsui, Xavier Nady, Johnny Damon, and Mark Teixeira at least once a week each and will plug Swisher in there. That will get Big Nick into at least four games a week and would probably give him at least 400 at-bats during the season.
• How are the Yankees going to construct their bench?
  • With the team carrying seven relievers, that leaves them four bench spots. Jose Molina has one, Swisher has another, and whoever isn’t the starting center fielder has another. That leaves one other spot open for a utility infielder which is either going to be Cody Ransom or Angel Berroa, with Ramiro Pena having an outside chance of winning the spot.
  • BBD Prediction: Ransom is likely going to get the final spot as Berroa isn’t likely to turn around what has been a pretty pathetic career. So the bench breaks down like this: Swisher, Molina, Melky, Ransom. If Posada isn’t 100 percent they would probably carry catcher Kevin Cash as well.