by Brian Abate and Gianluca Milea
The New York Yankees have not appeared in a World Series since 2009 when they beat the Phillies. The “Chase for 28” has gone on for far too long, leaving the New York faithful itching to graduate to the “Grind for 29”. The drought has been a long one especially for fans used to the over abundance of success that the Yankees have had over the course of baseball history. If there was ever a time to end that drought, it would be with this lineup. The addition of Gerrit Cole was enormous to the starting rotation, but we all know what the sluggers on this team are capable of. We break down our ideal Yankee lineup this season… one that should give the Bombers an opportunity to compete with some of the most competitive teams in baseball.
1. DJ “The Machine” LeMahieu - 2B
They don’t call him the Machine for nothing. DJ LeMahieu is coming off of the best season of his career, hitting .327 with 26 homers and 102 RBIs. DJ was the table setter for the Yanks for much of last season and the same can be expected for this upcoming year. Hitting before one of the best hitters in the game also helps a bit. His swing is incredibly compact and is able to use his quick hands to consistently connect with the barrel of the bat. LeMahieu will continue to produce at a high level. Now that he is recovered from Covid-19, he will almost certainly pick up where he left off in 2019.
2. Aaron Judge - RF
After dealing with a nagging rib injury, Aaron Judge is finally healthy heading into the regular season. The big man looked like he was in great shape when he crushed two homers against the Mets in a preseason game on Sunday. In addition to his well-known power, Judge is always patient at the plate and should have a very high on base percentage (his career OBP is .394.) He also provides gold glove caliber defense in right field with a cannon for an arm. The biggest concern the Yankees should have about Judge is his history of injuries but he played at an extremely high level in the postseason last year despite a fractured rib and a collapsed lung. Right now, he’s healthy and poised for another big season. All rise, here comes the Judge!
3. Aaron Hicks - CF
The acquisition of Aaron Hicks from the Twins in 2015 for John Ryan Murphy might have been one of the most lopsided trades of all time. Hicks now finds himself contributing greatly right in the middle of a World Series caliber lineup. Hicks has been a big fan of the “short porch” and thrived at Yankee Stadium. The Yankee centerfielder finished 2018 with 27 home runs. Beyond his bat, Hicks has also established himself as one of the best defensive players in the MLB. His exceptional speed gives him a great advantage in tracking down fly balls, but more importantly his arm is inimitable. Hicks still has the fastest outfield assist ever recorded by Statcast when he unleashed a 105.5 mph cannon to home plate to catch A’s Danny Valencia attempting to tag on a fly ball.
4. Gleyber Torres - SS
Gleyber Torres avoided a sophomore slump, with a second season that was just as impressive as his first one. He hit 38 homers and had 90 RBIs in 144 games last season. He has a .328 batting average with runners in scoring position in his first two seasons with the Yanks. That bodes well for Torres and New York considering all three players ahead of him have excellent on base percentages. Defensively Torres will be moving from second base to shortstop. He got some experience at shortstop when Didi Gregorius was injured last season and he looked comfortable. Shortstop is his natural position and it’s where he played for the majority of his minor league career. Torres is a calm player who never seems rattled which makes him an ideal cleanup hitter for the Yanks.
5. Giancarlo Stanton - DH
The jury is still out on Stanton’s tenure in the Bronx. Many Yankee faithful like the trade and think he will be a force in the middle of an already powerful order, while others have a hard time justifying his salary based on his play. Stanton had 59 HRs and 132 RBIs in his 2017 MVP season with the Marlins. Stanton has put up respectable numbers since dawning the pinstripes, as he finished 2018 with 100 RBIs; however he still has not been able to come through in the clutch. In 40 postseason plate appearances, he is hitting .235. His inability to play the field and stay healthy have also been issues. Stanton is a liability in left, doesn’t have the mobility to play center and can’t play right because well… those are the Judges Chambers. Stanton has also had his fair share of injuries which have caused him to miss significant time, most notably in 2019 when he played in just 18 games.
6. Luke Voit - 1B
While there won’t be chants of “Luuuuke” throughout Yankee Stadium this year, the fan favorite will still bring energy and a whole lot of power to the Yanks. After years of struggling to find a first baseman to take over for Mark Teixeiria, Voit may be the one to finally secure the position. Expectations were low when he was called up in 2018 but he stole the job and the hearts of fans with his home runs and his love of the game. He got off to a hot start last season but slumped during the second half of the season. He finished with 21 home runs, 62 RBIs and a .263 batting average in 118 games. He also had a .378 on base percentage. This is an important season for Voit. If he plays well he can prove he is the Yankees first baseman of the future. If he struggles, he could lose playing time to Miguel Andujar and Mike Ford.
7. Gary Sanchez - C
Gary has been one of the best hitting catchers in the league for a few years now. Since being called up in 2015, Sanchez has hit 105 HRs and has been voted to the All-Star Game twice. While Gary has struggled in the past with his fielding and ability to block pitches in the dirt, he took a big step forward in 2019 behind the plate. His next big step will need to be consistency and consistency when it counts. Gary has struggled in the playoffs, hitting just .176 in 111 plate appearances. While hitting catchers are difficult to come by, Sanchez’s power makes him a hidden gem. His arm behind the plate isn’t too shabby either. Look for Gary to fluctuate between 4-7 spots this season and listen for John Sterling to say “Release the Kraken” a bunch during this shortened season.
8. Gio Urshela - 3B
Gio Urshela was a revelation for the Yankees last season. He got an opportunity to start at third base after Miguel Andujar suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Urshela was supposed to be a very good fielder but a poor hitter. While his defense was as advertised he proved he was more than a defensive specialist ripping line drives all over the field. He hit .314 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs in 132 games last season. He was also clutch, hitting. 333 with runners in scoring position. Urshela developed into a key player for the Yankees. While it will be difficult to hit as well as he did last year, Urshela’s willingness to hit the ball the opposite way and simple approach at the plate bode well for him.
9. Brett Gardner - LF
Brett is a baseball lifer. At the end of each season for the past few years questions have swirled regarding his future. Whether it be a potential trade to another team, or being benched because there is no longer enough room for him in a talented outfield, and yet Brett consistently proves the haters wrong year after year. At age 36 the lefty still finds himself in the thick of things. His locker room presence and passion in the dugout are unmatched. Mike Tauchman has made a strong case to take over left field; however, it would appear to currently be Brett’s to lose leaving Mighty Mike to wait his turn. Clint Frazier is also another possibility, but he will have to take an enormous step defensively for Aaron Boone to trust him as an everyday outfielder. Overall, Brett will most likely begin the season in left and continue to be a nice bottom of the order player who is able to turn over the lineup to the big guns up top. He will most likely split time between the 8 and 9 spot, with a few leadoff appearances sprinkled in throughout the season.
Bench
Miguel Andujar
The Yankees’ bench can be a weapon for them this season. They’ll have plenty of talent and depth. Miguel Andujar is ready to return after he missed nearly all of last season because of a shoulder injury. Two years ago he was one of the team’s best hitters, hitting .297 with 27 home runs and 92 RBIs. Andujar also had 47 doubles. He played third base in 2018 but is now prepared to also play first base and in the outfield. The Yankees will look to get his bat into the lineup fairly often.
Mike Tauchman
One of the Yankees many pleasant surprises last season was outfielder Mike Tauchman. In addition to his elite defense and above average speed, he was an excellent hitter. Tauchman finished with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs with a .277 batting average and a .361 on base percentage. He was patient and was very adept at hitting line drives the opposite way. Tauchman deserves to start but because of the Yankees talented outfield, will likely come off the bench. He should still get plenty of playing time this season.
Clint Frazier
Clint Frazier is finally healthy after dealing with multiple injuries, including symptoms from a concussion that took a long time to subside. While the outfielder has noticeably struggled defensively, he has shown he is a very talented hitter with elite bat speed. He showed that off when he clobbered a monster home run against the Mets during the preseason. Frazier says he will leave managing the team to Aaron Boone. This mature approach should help the young outfielder. His playing time will increase significantly if another outfielder suffers an injury. Frazier has proven to be a clutch hitter and could have a breakout season if he gets enough playing time.
Tyler Wade
Wade is a utility player, who’s is capable of playing all over the infield and outfield. His versatility makes him valuable. He also showed signs that he was improving offensively after a brutal start at the plate to his MLB career. Wade has elite speed and could become a key pinch runner for the Yankees late in games.
Mike Ford
Last season the Yankees were powered by Ford. Mike Ford socked 12 home runs in just 143 at bats last season. He hit .259 with a .350 on base percentage. Like Voit, Ford isn’t known for his defense but he has a very patient approach at the plate and plenty of power. He hit an emphatic walk-off home run against the Oakland A’s last season. Ford will likely platoon with Voit at first base. If he plays well and Voit struggles, he could become the team’s starter.
Kyle Higashioka
Kyle Higashioka “the home run stroka” was a pleasant surprise last season when he was called up to be the Yankees’ backup catcher due to a Gary Sanchez injury. He only hit .214 but was very good defensively. At 30-years-old this will likely be the first-time he’s made an opening day lineup. Higashioka could become a key player for the Yankees if Sanchez suffers another injury.
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