Yankees 2020 Scouting Report: A position-by-position look at Aaron Boone’s team for the pandemic season
The Yankees overcame so much last season in reaching the AL Championship Series — 30 different players going on the Injured List 39 times, both MLB records — that they figure to have the chops to cope with the uncertainties of an abbreviated 60-game season in the midst of a pandemic.
Plus, they added Gerrit Cole, the ace they’ve craved for years, to a deep, talented roster with championship dreams.
But while no one can complain that the Yanks lack a true ace — Cole in Game 1, please — health could still reverberate through their season. Even as the COVID-19 interruption gave stars such as Aaron Judge, James Paxton and Giancarlo Stanton time to heal, there were reminders everywhere of the new normal’s unknowns, whether it was Luis Severino needing Tommy John surgery in February or positive coronavirus tests for Aroldis Chapman and DJ LeMahieu during summer camp.
With help from MLB scouts and executives, here’s a look at the Yankees, position-by-position.
CATCHER
Gary Sanchez
2019 Stats: 106 games, 396 at-bats, 34 HR, 77 RBI, .232 average, .316 on-base, .525 slugging.
Analysis: Sanchez’s new leg-out stance behind the plate got some attention in camp. But will it help him with his passed ball problems? “I’m not a fan, defensively,” says one Major League scout. “He’s got issues. He’ll swing the bat for power and you’ll live with his defense if he’s a star with the bat. But if he isn’t, then he doesn’t justify you keeping him in the lineup.”
FIRST BASE
Luke Voit
2019 Stats: 118 games, 429 at-bats, 21 HR, 62 RBI, .263 average, .378 on-base, .464 slugging.
Mike Ford
2019 Stats: 50 games, 143 at-bats, 12 HR, 25 RBI, .259 average, .350 on-base, .559 slugging.
Analysis: Voit’s 2019 season was marred by core injuries that required surgery but he was still pretty effective. “He was really hurt,” says one Major League scout. “If he comes back to what he was in ’18, he’s a helluva player.” Adds another scout: “He has tremendous power, but there are holes in his swing.” Ford’s slugging surprised last year and his lefty bat gives the Yanks options.
SECOND BASE
DJ LeMahieu
2019 Stats: 145 games, 602 at-bats, 26 HR, 102 RBI, .327 average, .375 on-base, .518 slugging.
Analysis: Funny to think some fans wondered why the Yanks signed him before 2019. Where was he going to play? Only everywhere. “He is a great player,” says one scout. “I think a lot of people in New York found that out last year after seeing him regularly.” Adds a second scout: “He’s not flashy, but he gets it done, constantly puts the bat on the ball. You look up at the end of the game and he’s done so much and is in the middle of everything on offense and defense. He’s a money player.” LeMahieu tested positive for COVID-19 at the beginning of summer camp. If he misses time early, potential replacements include Tyler Wade, who figured to make the expanded roster (30 players for the first two weeks) anyway because of his versatility, and Thairo Estrada.
SHORTSTOP
Gleyber Torres
2019 Stats: 144 games, 546 at-bats, 38 HR, 90 RBI, .278 average, .337 on-base, .535 slugging.
Analysis: Looking for the Next Great Yankee? Torres might already be it. “Come on,” says a scout, “he’s a superstar.” Short is his natural position and he’s taking over full-time after the Yanks parted with Didi Gregorius. While scouts believe he’ll make most plays, he had a rough stretch during the beginning of spring camp, making five errors in 10 games. “Maybe not the plus range, but he’ll catch the ball,” one says. “He’s been an All-Star his first two years and there’s no reason to think he won’t be again. He’s an offensive machine for both average and power.”
THIRD BASE
Gio Urshela
2019 Stats: 132 games, 442 at-bats, 21 HR, 74 RBI, .314 average, .355 on-base, .534 slugging.
Analysis: Known mainly for his glove, Urshela added offense in 2019. “He was such a plus because he had never swung it like that before,” a scout says. “He was always plus defense. If you get it all again, that’s a helluva player. But he’s also the reason why you can’t trade Miguel Andujar. If he doesn’t hit, Andujar’s the third baseman. He’s proven he can hit. You shouldn’t trade young hitters like Andujar, anyway.”
RIGHT FIELD
Aaron Judge
2019 Stats: 102 games, 378 at-bats, 27 HR, 55 RBI, .272 average, .381 on-base, .540 slugging.
Analysis: Judge uttered some of the most important words in Yankeeland early in the summer session: “I am game ready.” In a short season, an extended hot streak could bring a player like Judge some individual hardware. But while he’s healed from a rib fracture and punctured lung, Judge has been slowed by injuries, missing 110 games over the past two seasons. When healthy, he can be a one-man show. “He is great for the game,” says a scout. “He carries himself well, kids love him, fans love him. He swings with power, but he has holes in his swing, so he strikes out. He can really play defense — for a man that big to move the way he does is amazing. As a scout, I love to watch him play.”
CENTER FIELD
Aaron Hicks
2019 Stats: 59 games, 221 at-bats, 12 homers, 36 RBI, .235 average, .325 on-base, .443 slugging.
Analysis: Hicks had Tommy John surgery last Oct. 30, but baseball’s stoppage gave him time to recover without missing any games and he expects to be ready for Opening Day. We’ll see how he comes back initially, but when he’s right, Hicks is a multi-talented player who was blooming before a spring back injury slowed him in 2019. He has a knack for the strike zone, plenty of pop and is a strong outfielder with a powerful throwing arm.
LEFT FIELD
Brett Gardner
2019 Stats: 141 games, 491 at-bats, 28 HR, 74 RBI, .251 average, .325 on-base, .503 slugging.
Analysis: ”I don’t know if the power surge last year is him,” says one scout. “But he gives you everything he has.” Adds another scout: “I think he surprised a lot of people last year [with 28 homers], but I think he’ll get to 20 homers this year. He finds a way and knows how to win, whether it’s a bunt or a steal or getting into one now and then.”
Mike Tauchman
2019 Stats: 87 games, 260 at-bats, 13 homers, 47 RBI, .277 average, .361 on-base, .504 slugging.
Analysis: Tauchman was a revelation, a tremendous defensive outfielder who can hit, too. “He’s pretty good,” says one scout. “Maybe he just needed an opportunity.” But another scout notes: “I’m still not so sure he’s a starter. But he can run a ball down in the outfield. I’m sure the Yankees are hoping on him again.”
Clint Frazier
2019 Stats: 69 games, 225 at-bats, 12 HR, 38 RBI, .267 average, .317 on-base, .489 slugging.
Analysis: Frazier’s offense is held in high regard, but he’s stumbled defensively. “He’s got the tools to be a real good player if he can put it together,” a scout says. “It surprised me he struggled on defense in the majors. I didn’t see that in the minors. And it happened in different phases, too. I would have thought he’d be a competent Major League outfielder.”
DESIGNATED HITTER
Giancarlo Stanton
2019 Stats: 18 games, 59 at-bats, 3 HR, 13 RBI, .288 average, .403 on-base, .492 slugging.
Analysis: Injuries crushed Stanton’s 2019 season and doomed his October, too. He homered against the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS, but played only one more game in the series because of a quad issue. He was slowed by a calf injury in the first go-round of spring training and while that’s healed, it’ll likely keep him from extensive outfield duty. Stanton, who slugged 59 homers in 2017, is a beast when right. But evaluators now bring up health first when talking about him. “He can’t stay in the lineup,” one says.
UTILITY
Miguel Andujar
2019 Stats: 12 games, 47 at-bats, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .128 average, .143 on-base, .128 slugging.
Analysis: Have some folks forgotten that Andujar was one of baseball’s best young hitters in 2018? Maybe. The runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year in ’18 had 47 doubles, 27 homers and an .855 OPS in his first year. Fielding troubles at third and an injury-wrecked ’19 season have dimmed his star, but his shoulder is healthy now. The 25-year-old just needs a position and could see time at first, third, the outfield and DH. His bat could force him somewhere. “I saw him early in [spring] camp and was impressed,” a scout says. “I think he’s fully recovered, he brings energy and he’s always swung the bat. I think the Yankees are trying to find spots for him.”
ROTATION
Gerrit Cole
2019 Stats with Houston: 20-5, 2.50 ERA, 212.1 IP, 326 SO, 48 BB, 0.895 WHIP, 13.8 K/9.
Analysis: The Yanks’ new ace might be baseball’s best pitcher, just what they needed in the regular season and, hopefully, October. He seems to have the guts for pitching in New York, too. “How could anyone not like him?” a scout says. “I expect him to have a tremendous year. He’s going to thrive in the spotlight in New York. He can handle it and he has great stuff. In camp, it really seemed like he had embraced New York.”
Masahiro Tanaka
2019 Stats: 11-9, 4.45 ERA, 182 IP, 149 SO, 40 BB, 1.24 WHIP, 7.4 K/9.
Analysis: Tanaka’s precise repertoire gives him supreme command of the strike zone, perhaps evidenced by his 4.74 K/BB ratio, the fourth-best among pitchers with at least 700 career innings since 1900. Trim two clunkers against Boston from Tanaka’s 2019 season and his ERA dips to 3.64. He’s always been an October ace (1.76 playoff ERA). “He knows pitching,” says one scout. “He’s Tanaka.” Tanaka was hit in the head by a liner by Giancarlo Stanton clocked at 112 miles per hour during summer camp and suffered a concussion, but threw on the field a week later.
J.A. Happ
2019 Stats: 12-8, 4.91 ERA, 161.1 IP, 140 SO, 49 BB, 1.29 WHIP, 7.8 K/9.
Analysis: He’s moved up in the rotation because of Luis Severino’s injury and while some might be skeptical because of his homer problems last year (only five pitchers gave up more than the 34 home runs he allowed), one of our scouts believes I him. “He looked healthy in camp when I saw him,” the scout says. “He threw well and I think he’s going to have a good year. I think he knows he’s going to be relied upon because of their injuries. But he does get the ball up and fat and gets bit by the home run bug.”
James Paxton
2019 Stats: 15-6, 3.82 ERA, 150.2 IP, 186 SO, 55 BB, 1.28 WHIP, 11.1 K/9.
Analysis: He had off-season back surgery, but Paxton should be ready to pitch when the season starts and if he’s anything like last year, the Yanks have a big lefty weapon in the rotation. He’s got swing-and-miss stuff, as evidenced by his strikeouts per nine, the best ratio in club history by a hurler who threw at least 125 innings. He also had 12 strikeouts in a game three times, becoming just the fifth Yankee pitcher to do it that many times in one season. Dream big — Paxton is entering a walk year.
Jordan Montgomery
2019 Stats: 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 4 IP, 5 SO, 0BB, 1.75 WHIP, 11.3 K/9.
Domingo German
2019 Stats: 18-4, 4.03 ERA, 143 IP, 153 SO, 39 BB, 1.14 WHIP, 9.6 K/9.
Jonathan Loaisiga
2019 Stats: 2-2, 4.55 ERA, 31.2 IP, 37 SO, 16 BB, 1.48 WHIP, 10.5 K/9.
Analysis: German blossomed last year, but will miss the abbreviated season as he serves a domestic-violence suspension. Montgomery, who is in his first full season after returning from Tommy John surgery, figures to be in the rotation early and Loaisiga could be, too. “I like them both,” a scout says of Mongtomery and Loaisiga. “Montgomery is very talented and has a good changeup and breaking ball. Guys coming back from injury, you always worry about command, but his changeup was working when I saw him [in spring training] and he threw strikes.” Loaisiga has “an electric fastball and a hammer for a curve,” the scout adds. “Stuff-wise, he’s very, very good and anyone would want him.” Can Loaisiga throw enough strikes to shine, though? Prospects Clarke Schmidt or Deivi Garcia could make an impact here, too.
BULLPEN
Aroldis Chapman
2019 Stats: 3-2, 2.21 ERA, 37 saves, 57 IP, 85 SO, 25 BB, 1.105 WHIP, 13.4 K/9.
Analysis: The closer still throws heat — his fastest pitch last season hit 102.7 miles per hour on the radar gun — and he averaged 100.1 on his sinking fastball, according to MLB.com’s Statcast. Add in his bendy slider and it’s no wonder he fanned 36.2% of the batters he faced in 2019 and remains among the game’s most imposing relievers. He tested positive for COVID-19 during summer camp, which could mean the Yanks turn to Zack Britton as closer early on.
Zack Britton
2019 Stats: 3-1, 1.91 ERA, 61.1 IP, 53 SO, 32 BB, 1.14 WHIP, 7.8 K/9.
Analysis: A diving sinker lets Britton torment hitters by forcing them to beat the ball into the ground. He led all MLB relievers last year with a 78.5% groundball rate and that helped keep his ERA so low. Bad news, hitters: “He had that sinker working when I saw him during spring camp,” says a scout. “He looked good.”
Adam Ottavino
2019 Stats: 6-5, 1.90 ERA, 66.1 IP, 88 SO, 40 BB, 1.31 WHIP, 11.9 K/9.
Analysis: He had a tremendous regular season in 2019, holding opponents scoreless 61 times in 73 appearances. But he stumbled in the playoffs, making eight appearances, throwing only 3.1 innings and pitching to an 8.10 ERA with an 1.143 OPS against. One scout says he thinks Ottavino, who was third in the AL in appearances, was “overused” during the regular season. Still, he’s dynamite when right and he allowed only 47 hits last year.
Chad Green
2019 Stats: 4-4, 4.17 ERA, 69 IP, 98 SO, 19 BB, 1.23 WHIP, 12.8 K/9.
Analysis: He spent about three weeks in the minors in 2019 when he stumbled in April, but returned and was back to being an integral part of a strong bullpen. The Yankees were 11-4 in the 15 games they used Green as an “opener,” so figure on this strategy being employed again. The club will also rely on his high-octane stuff in relief. “In spring, his velocity was there when I saw him, so he’ll be fine,” a scout says.
Tommy Kahnle
2019 Stats: 3-2, 3.67 ERA, 61.1 IP, 88 SO, 20 BB, 1.06 WHIP, 12.9 K/9.
Analysis: ”He’s a bulldog out there, man,” says a big-league scout. “He goes right after hitters and has that (96 mph) fastball. There’s great life on the fastball and he’s got a confident presence about him.” Kahnle’s 90-mph changeup is also a mighty weapon — batters hit only .136 against the pitch last year.
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