Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman would rather be planning for the ALCS on Friday, but instead, the rookie manager and longtime general manager who hired him will be at Yankee Stadium to not just close out 2018, but also look ahead to next season.
Despite a second straight playoff appearance and the appearances of a bright future, the Yankees have plenty of uncertainty surrounding them after winning 100 games, knocking off the A’s in the wild-card game, but then seeing their lineup, rotation and manager falter against the Red Sox in the ALDS.
As the Yankees head into the offseason, here are some questions Boone and Cashman must answer.
Will the Yankees break the bank?
The answer to this will speak volumes about the Yankees’ approach to 2019. After staying under the luxury-tax threshold this season, the organization will be penalized significantly less if they go above the $206 million next season, which would make an attempt at signing a high-priced player such as Manny Machado more likely.
Has Boone learned from his mistakes?
By most accounts, Boone had a successful first season in the dugout — until the end. His propensity for keeping starting pitchers in games bit him in the last two games, as Luis Severino and CC Sabathia should have been pulled earlier. Instead, the bullpen’s efforts were largely wasted.
How do you fix Sanchez?
Joe Girardi wasn’t retained, in part, because of his failure to get through to Gary Sanchez. The catcher played well in the postseason, but that doesn’t overshadow his horrendous regular season. The Yankees need to figure out how to tap his potential.
How do you fix Stanton?
This might be tougher, because Stanton is about to turn 29 and under contract until 2027 — unless he opts out in two years, which is highly unlikely. Stanton led the team in homers and RBIs, but looked lost in the postseason — an ominous sign for such a big investment.
Who should be added to the rotation?
Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka will be back, but that’s all that’s known for sure. CC Sabathia and J.A. Happ, both free agents, could be brought back, while another free agent, Patrick Corbin, may come in. The Yankees will also be looking for one or more of their young starters (Chance Adams, Jonathan Loaisiga, Domingo German?) to contribute.
Is there concern about Luis Severino?
At times, Luis Severino was one of the best pitchers in the game, but too often, the right-hander was inconsistent and he’s repeatedly come up small in the postseason.
What do you do at first base?
Luke Voit and Greg Bird are cheap and have options, so they could compete for the job, but the Yankees have to figure out what Bird’s future is after a disastrous season.
Who gets the call in the bullpen?
David Robertson and Zach Britton are both free agents. Both expressed a desire to return, but they’re not looking to do the Yankees any favors financially.