Franchise Cornerstones for Start Up Franchises: Position Players

          Hypothetical question: If every player in baseball was suddenly unbounded contract-wise from their team, and able to be drafted by you, with your first overall pick, who would you chose? Teams are often tasked with making a difficult decision in the Rule 4 draft, formally known as the Amateur Draft, where top recruited high school and college talent are selected in a 40-round process in a serpentine draft by all 30 Major League Baseball teams. But today you're the GM, and before jumping instinctually to you're favorite player like Derek Jeter, who doesn't even play anymore, or 43-year old ground-ball specialist Bartolo Colon, take into consideration this list of top-tier position players.

1. Mike Trout - CF, LAA (25 years old)

2016 Regular Season Stats: .315/.441/.550, 29 HR's, 100 RBI, 116 BB, 174 OPS+, 9.9 oWAR

Career Stats: 811 games, .306/.405/.557, 168 HR, 497 RBI, 143 SB, .360 BABIP, 9.0 RC/G

          Probably the most sound performer in baseball, with the most talent, the highest ceiling, and overall on a bargain contract. Recently signed a 6-year $144.5MM contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels (runs 2015-2020), paid $24.1MM annually, and even at that rate, is on one of the best contracts in recent history (Chris Sale is worth mentioning as a valuable asset on an affordable contract as well). You may look at a $144.5MM figure and ask how exactly he can be such a steal, but to look at it from an analytical view, players are often measured according to their performances year-in and year-out, using something called WAR, Wins Above Replacement, which is monetarily what the players performance was worth during the current year. In 2016, Mike Trout was worth 10.6 WAR, and a Win Above Replacement is currently, accounting for inflation, roughly worth $8MM. To compute Trouts value on the year, he was valued at $84.8MM, so when his performance outweighs his cost by $60.7MM, which the Angels could be paying had they not worked out a deal earlier, its safe to say this deal is the ultimatum of bargains. He is a legitimate five tool player, routinely hitting for average, power, has speed on the base paths, plays real good centerfield defense and has a decent arm. In his career, he has averaged a 9.0 runs created per game played, which means if the lineup were filled with him nine times, and over the span of a 27-out game, the lineup would score nine runs; that's insane. He walks, he hits, he steals bases, and he plays premier defense, what more could you ask for from a 3-time runner up MVP who already has one MVP on his mantle with four silver slugger awards, and still one to come for the 2016 season. 

2. Kris Bryant - 3B, CHC (24 years old)

2016 Regular Season Stats: .292/.385/.554, 39 HR's, 102 RBI, 75 BB, ISO .262, 21 Rrep

Career Stats: 306 games, .284/.377/.522, 65 HR's, 201 RBI, 21 SB, .738 OWn%

          One of the single most intimidating power-threats in the sport, alongside Nelson Cruz and Giancarlo Stanton. Bryant is a feared hitter no matter what lineup, or for that matter, what part of the lineup he is anchoring. For a guy that stands 6'5", he can really haul it around the bases, as well as playing respectable defense over at the hot corner. His calling card is definitely his ability with the bat in his hands, but that's not all he impresses with, the guy can play third, short, all outfield position, as well as scooping picks over at first-base when Maddon calls on him. Over his past two season, he is averaging a well-above average 34 homer's per season, to go along with 142 OPS+, which translates to his infield results being 42% better than the league average player. Were not talking about some average joe on your favorite baseball team that swings the stick well enough to warrant a spot in the lineup, but rather a guy that could anchor any lineup he's thrust into by making everyone around him better. An interesting stat to take a look into, his Offensive Winning Percentage, where if he were put into a lineup nine times over the course of a 27-out game, his team would win 73.8% of those games, an astonishing number that over a 162-game season would translate to 119 wins, or the Seattle Mariners total amount of wins in the 2001 season. Only 24 years old, it's fair to ask just what exactly Bryant could be capable once he reaches his prime age 28-32 seasons, and especially if he's still in a Cub's uniform come that point. The potential 2016 NL MVP candidate will only get better in time, and he's already putting up numbers that could one day land him in Cooperstown. 

3. Mookie Betts - RF BOS (24 years old)

2016 Regular Season Stats:.318/.363/.534, 31 HR's, 113 RBI's, 26 SB, 359 TB, 30 Rbat

Career Stats: 355 games, .304/.355/.500, 54 HR's, 208 RBI, 54 SB, 168 RAR

          Before last year, probably a player not many analysts would pick to be on their "must have" list of top players. Betts has really transformed into the unthinkable for the Red Sox, as coming up through the minor he was mostly a singles-type, low-power ceiling prospect that played the keystone position, before moving to the outfield because of Dustin Pedroia's presence at second base. In his first cup of coffee, Betts took the league by fire, hitting .291 in a 52-game initial sample size, good for 26% better than the league average player, and quite a feat for a 21 year-old in the American League East. Mookie stands at 5'9", 180 lbs, and many question how he could even remotely come close to, let alone actually hitting 31 homeruns, but the guy has some of the quickest hands in the sport. He feasts on inside pitching, where pitchers try to sneak fastballs by him, but this has proven to be his hot zone thus far in his career, as pitchers are starting to work him more on the outside of the part, which could explain his steep decline in homerun's towards the end of the 2016 season. Like Trout and Bryant, Betts will only get better with more time and experience under his belt, but he's already posted 168 Runs Above Replacement level over the course of 3 seasons, proving to many he's no minor league fluke. Mookie is able to combine the speed and power facets of his game, making him one day a safe bet to reach the 30-30 plateau (30 homerun's, 30 stolen bases) if he is able to keep up this new-found power source. He was also 30 runs better than the league average player with the bat this year, something Boston will surely be banking on for years to come, especially in the wake of David Ortiz's departure from the sport. 

4. Nolan Arenado - 3B COL (25 years old)

2016 Regular Season Stats: .294/.362/.570, 41 HR's, 133 RBI's, 68 BB, 128 OPS+, .275 ISO

Career Stats: 561 games, .285/.331/.520, 111 HR's, 376 RBI's, 8 SB, .291 BABIP

          Some may be worried about Arenado's production outside of Coors Field, which isn't nearly as good as it is when's he's on his home turf, especially considering the fact that he has a career Batting Average on Balls In Play below the league average of .300. There is no doubting his power, that is real, and the one part of his game most of his worth is derived from. Coming up through the minors, Arenado was most heralded for his prodigious glove work, which drew the raves of many scouts, forecasting a bevy of gold glove awards one day for Nolan, which early on in his career has indeed been the case. But, what was unprecedented, was the development of Arenado's past non-existent power, which ballooned from 18 homerun's in 2014, to 42 homerun's in 2015. He pairs his bat with his cannon over at third, which on average while flashing the leather, has saved 21 runs per season thus far. His presence both at the plate, and on the field, is most certainly felt, and such an imposing figure will one day command a hefty contract, as Arenado will be eligible for free-agency following the 2020 season. He, along with Bryant, is one of the most prolific homerun threats in the sport, and can put a team on his back for weeks at a time. Like any player, he has his out and cold moments, but Arenado has really opened eyes up in Colorado ever since they selected him in the second round of the 2009 amateur draft. This year, Arenado's splits at home versus the road were extremely apparent, as he slugged .646 in the confines of Coors Field, but still put up an above-average .492 on the road, which is still significantly less than at home. 214 of Arenado's 618 at-bats came in either a 1-2 count, or a 2-2 count, and to no surprise Arenado's average was 66 points better in a 2-2 count than a 1-2 count, where he bated .216 on the year. Arenado is definitely a force not to be reckoned with on the pitching side, and it will be interesting to see what Nolan accomplishes by the time his peak years are on the horizon. 

          This list is a collection of four premier franchise talents, and many other players could be argued more valuable, but this list represents a solid blend of standouts offensive, defensive and base running threats in the sport. Next on the ballot will be four franchise cornerstone pitchers in next times edition, looking at pitchers across the sport who combine talent and contract-details that have helped them become the face of the MLB. 

Baseball Terminology: 

* On-Base Percentage Plus - measures player performance with league and park-factors involved, 100 OPS+ is league average

* Offensive Wins Above Replacement - a players contribution offensively to his team

* Batting Average on Balls In Play - how many balls hit in play go for hits

* Runs Created per Game - amount of runs a player individually contributes on average to team

* Isolated Power - amount of hits that go for extra bases

* Runs from Replacement Level (Rrep) - number of runs better a player is than league average 

* Offensive Winning Percentage - percentage of games a team would win if this player hit every single time through the order

* Total Bases - total number of bases covered according to all 1B's, 2B's, 3B's, and HR's

* Runs Batting (Rbat) - Number of runs better or worse than average hitter

* Runs Above Replacement Level (RAR) - number of runs better than replacement level player

The Heroes Vs. The Villains (AL vs. NL)

          With the World Series set to start this Tuesday, October 25th, we will finally have the anticipated matchup of the American League's best and the National League's premiere squad. No matter what way you swing it, these are two franchises that unquestionably deserve to be in this years festival, and one of them will obviously come out on top to take the crown home. Whether you're a life long American League team supporter, or a Senior Circuit expert, everyone is rooting for these two teams to come out on top.
          It would most likely be more of a feat to see the Cleveland Indians take home the prize, due to the fact that their payroll is 26th in all of Major League Baseball, sitting at $83.7 million, compared to Theo Epstein's Cubs having a comfortable $116.2 million to work with. Terry Francona will lead his talented roster into the World Series riding a 3-0 shutout win of the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Champion Series all the way back on October 19th.
          Joe Maddon on the other side of things has an equal amount if not more to brag about when coming to the table at the World Series. His club went 103-58 on the year, capturing the NL East Division title, and the NL Pennant, all while managing a very young and raw overall team. Most of the Cubs success was due largely to the pitching staff spinning out an incredible season, where all five starter for the Cubs registered ERA's under 4, with two of them having ERA's below 2.50.
          The success has continued for the Cubs into the playoffs, and they will now look to try their hand with the Indians, who are able to field just as dominant, if not better of a rotation, with one of the leagues best arms at the end of their bullpen; Andrew Miller. He is paid closer money, but has adapted to the role of being able to come out of the bullpen at any point, in any game, while at the same time inheriting runners that in the postseason, none of have scored. In over 11 innings pitched thus far in the playoffs, Miller has given up no runs while racking up the strikeouts, thanks to his outstanding slider, electric fastball, and great game calling by Roberto Perez. Hard-thrower Bryan Shaw and closer Cody Allen have just been complements to Francona's bullpen, as the staff as a whole, starters and relievers combined, has an astronomical amount of talent that is attempting to put together a World Series for the AL Central champs.
          The Cubs feature of young hitters and pitchers can be both a sweet and sour swirl when it comes to the prime-time stage under the lights in Cleveland. Most players had career years, such as Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Jon Lester, and Kyle Hendricks, and the fact of the matter is that the Cubs have vastly outperformed their statistics this season. This has continued for much of the playoffs, but Rizzo and fellow shortstop Addison Russell have endured long postseason slumps, while Jake Arrieta has not been his usual dominant regular season self.
          With the World Series kicking off this Tuesday, it will be interesting to see which squad takes home the hardware. It is expected that most experts will pick the favored Cubs to win this years World Series, but the underdog determination of the Indians may prove to be more powerful than initial expected. Both clubs definitely have the talent to contend for and win the title, but the real question is which squad contains the intrinsic smarts and instincts to secure the win in this years fall classic.
Projected Outcome:
Game 1: Lester (CHC) vs. Kluber (CLE) in Cleveland, Cubs 3-1 Indians
Game 2: Arrieta (CHC) vs. Bauer (CLE) in Cleveland, Indians 5-2 Cubs
Game 3: Hendricks (CHC) vs. Tomlin (CLE) in Chicago, Indians 2-1 Cubs
Game 4: Lackey (CHC) vs. Merritt (CLE) in Chicago, Cubs 6-2 Indians
Game 5: Lester (CHC) vs. Kluber (CLE) in Chicago, Indians 4-3 Cubs
Game 6: Arrieta (CHC) vs. Bauer (CLE) in Cleveland, Indians 2-1 Cubs
Cleveland Indians Win 2016 MLB World Series 4-2 Games vs. Chicago Cubs

Tommy John Surgery: The Epidemic

          One of the most common injuries in the sport of baseball to primarily pitchers, and some catchers, is the replacement of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament, also known as Tommy John Surgery. The injury has long been a part in the past time of baseball, not officially being diagnosed until 1974, when Tommy John, a left-handed starter whom the surgery was named after, underwent the procedure. It is almost a sure thing to believe that even though the surgery didn't exist before 1974, previous pitchers in the history of baseball must've been effected by the tear of their UCL, and had they undergone the procedure, perhaps their careers would've successfully been extended. To say Tommy John Surgery is complex is an understatement, and there are many precursors that lead to the surgery, helping todays physicians identify the early red flags, and attempt in some cases to stage off the surgery. There are a bevy of different reasons as to why a player may experience a torn UCL, and we'll hit off on that right below.
          Many who commonly watch the sport of baseball understand little about what pitchers undergo when they have ailing elbow and forearms. The words "Tommy John" are probably two of the worst pitchers hope to never here when being examined for a possible baseball-related injury. Of course, in most cases, there are red flags that eventually lead up to the ultimatum of having to go under the knife, but for some, it may come out of nowhere. Often explained as a sudden "pop" in the elbow, immense pain and numbness in the pinky and ring fingers are obvious signs of the ligament being torn. Leading up to the injury though, swelling around the elbow, forearm tightness, bicep tightness, and fatigue in the elbow are just a few of the most common signals a replacement of the UCL is needed. In most severe cases, numbness of is experienced along the ulnar side of the arm (the inside portion), with reports of limited range of motion in the elbow area as well. The procedure itself lasts only roughly an hour to an hour and a half, where a new ligament is inserted into the elbow, and often fastened in a figure eight pattern for elbow stability.
          The Ulnar Collateral Ligament is a combination of the anterior, posterior, and transverse bundle located on the inside part of the elbow, connecting the ulna and the humerus to one another. Without the ligament, pitchers would experience catastrophic pain and even be unable to grip a baseball, let alone throw one ever again. The success of the procedure now-a-days is well over 90%, with a recovery time of 12-16 months for pitchers, and a little less for position players. Tommy John recipients often start of with light toss on a flat ground surface, while undergoing physical therapy and slowly building arm strength back up to an optimal point. Light toss will turn into long toss over time, while after a lengthy period of time such as half a year to nine months, a player may start throwing off a mound. If the injury is sustained within the season, the pitcher will not return that season, and is also very unlikely to return next season as well, as recovery periods are often very sporadic and random.
          Many false accusations that many people make about Tommy John Surgery is that kids and young adults should undergo the replacement of their perfectly fine Ulnar Collateral Ligament, for a new one, just to "strengthen" their elbow. This is completely false information, and by no means will ever be suggested by a doctor. If a persons original ligament is still perfectly in place, and no out of the ordinary things are occurring while using the elbow, then it is not recommended to undergo the surgery. Another, which is heavily researched and still being discussed about, is the fact players who have higher velocity's and max out their arms have a higher probability to undergo Tommy John Surgery eventually. There are two parts two this; just throwing hard is not always a reason to believe TJS is more likely, but the arm angle at which someone may release a ball may put more pressure on the elbow. Pitchers who use more arm strength, less lower body strength, and throw from three-quarters to side arm release points may have a higher probability of having elbow trouble in the future. One way to help strengthen the ligament is to go old-fashion and do long toss often. The baseball community is a bit split on this, depending on what person you ask, some believe it naturally strengthens and keeps the arm healthy, while others believe it is unnecessary stress placed on the elbow. Whatever the case maybe, it is different for every which person who experiences arm fatigue or pain.
          Throwing hard versus throwing too many hard pitches may be a determinate in the frequency that Tommy John Surgery occurs for major league pitchers. Stephen Strasburg, Yu Darvish, Jacob DeGrom, José Fernandez, and Zach Wheeler are just a few of the big names to have had the procedure performed on them. One of the common traits amongst the group listed above is the amount of hard pitches thrown over the course of their early careers, as all are considered to be "hard-throwers", but the real questions come down to the percentage of time that each and everyone of them relies on throwing their fastball. With medical data becoming more and more informative and leading to better prognosis and treatment, there is hope for the future that not only the surgery can be performed more effectively, but that TJS can ultimately be performed less and less. Players will always throw hard, but by educating people on the red flags produced just by the simple action of throwing a baseball, efficiency can be increased in a players throwing motion, and the probability of a torn ligament can be reduced. Over the past two years, the amount of TJS recipients has been the highest ever in the history of the sport, and the commissioner of baseball, Rob Manfred, has indeed given notice to this rising problem. With TJS becoming ever so more likely in the careers of young baseball players, the sport itself will focus more data analytics on probability and research for decreasing the amount of ligaments torn or shredded. With the current group of Major League Baseball pitchers featuring high-octane velocity on a regular basis, when may question whether we have an epidemic or a case of velocity-happy mad-hatters out on the mound.

Detroit Tigers Shopped Justin Upton During Season

          On the heels of a report that the Detroit Tigers are open to dealing any of their players, other rumors are surfacing the Detroit GM Al Avila attempted to trade his newly signed rightfielder, Justin Upton during the season. Upton, 29, a former first overall selection back in the 2005 amateur draft has develop into one of the games most consistent power threats. Before signing a 6-year, $132.75 MM contract with Detroit last offseason, Upton spent most of his career terrorizing pitchers in a D'Back's uniform, setting career high's in hits (171), doubles (39), and homeruns (31) during the 2011 season. Many expected Upton to become the next perennial powerhouse corner outfielder after posting a 141 OPS+ in his age 23 season, but that marked what has turned into a steady decline in his numbers since. This is not to say Upton isn't a premier outfield option, has he is routinely year-in and year-out one of the better options to finish the season with .270, 25+ homeruns, and 80+ RBI numbers, which in todays age where bullpens are destroying offense seems to be pretty good production.
          With Detroit apparently looking to get out from underneath Upton's contract, its fair to wonder whether the Tigers are now prioritizing the possibility of trying to offer fellow outfielder J.D. Martinez an equal contract extension. Acquired as a free agent after being released by the Houston Astro's, Martinez has been nothing short of spectacular while on the field for the Tigers. Having posted a combined .251/.300/.387 line from 2011-2013 with 24 homeruns and 126 RBI's over a 252 game sample size, Martinez wasn't cutting it in Houston, where he still possessed enormous potential. Interestingly enough, once coming over to the Tigers, Martinez's combined triple-slash line improved to .299/.357/.540 over almost double the amount of games he played in an Astro's uniform. Martinez has averaged 34 homeruns, 100 RBI's, and a 145 OPS+, good for 45% better than league average. J.D. has turned himself into a household name, and middle-of-the-order presence the Tiger's certainly wouldn't let walk without at lasting entertaining contract extension conversations with.
          When assessing the performance of Upton, 2013-2014 represented seasons when Upton's hot zones at the plate were right down the pipe, and on the inside lower corner, as he was maintaining an average above .400, and he was simply raking pitching in those areas. Come 2016, Upton has no longer maintained an average above .400 right down the strike zone, has he has fallen just above the .300 threshold, while going cold on the inside of the plate. Upton may be seeing more fastballs inside, which he is unable to shorten his swing up for, resulting in a lower BABIP overall, which this season hovered right around .300. When considering the league average Batting Average on Balls In Play is roughly .297, and Upton has posted marks of .332,.360,.354 at his peak, one may wonder whether Upton has been helped out by a consistent stream of luck throughout his career. As far as the power department, Upton maintained a very strong 18.4 HR/AB, which is actually lower than his career average of 22.2 AB/HR, to go along with an above-average ISO of .219, considering .140 is average, Upton has continued to produce steady power.
          Financially, as GM Al Avila and the rest of the Tigers front office may be realizing, Justin Upton's $132.75 MM may have been better spent on a budding star like J.D. Martinez, who has proved over the past three years to be one of the sole dominant bats in all of Major League Baseball. That isn't to say Upton is not a star, because both players are currently 29-years old, but having played in the majors as early as 19-years old, Upton may need some time off here-and-there to limit the rigors a consistent 162-game season has had on the body of a longtime offensive catalyst. With Michael Fulmer going into his second season, he will not be arbitration eligible until after the 2018 season, and franchise stars Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander are locked up for years to come as well. If Steven Moya develops into the huge power threat the Tigers believe he can be, there maybe no point in keeping one of Justin Upton or J.D. Martinez due to financial limitations, but at a point where Upton's stock is so low, now would definitely not be the time to sell for GM Al Avila. There is no doubt Detroits lineup boasts a few substantial bats, but with the upcoming free agency of J.D. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera's continued dominance every year, Justin Upton may have become the most expendable member of the Tiger's roster.

New York Yankees Off-Season Outlook 2016-2017

New York Yankees:
          Somehow, after managing to sell off the most significant pieces of the Yankees roster, they remained as competitive as any team in the American League, finishing 84-78 thanks to roster structuring by their GM Brian Cashman. Letting key cogs like Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller head huge trades at the July Non-Waiver trade deadline was one of Cashman's new, brilliant ideas. For years on end, dragged down by aging veterans like Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and C.C. Sabathia, much has been made of an aging Yankees roster. Cashman stepped up to the plate and was able make quick work of this, getting rid of aging veterans that weren't performing (i.e. Alex Rodriguez) and selling off at the right time good trade chips (Chapman, Miller, Beltran). One could say the Yankees made out like bandits with the blue-chip prospects they received in return, as the group is deep as any in the majors, headlined by shortstop Gleyber Torres, outfielder Clint Frazier, pitcher Dillon Tate, and homegrown talent outfielder Aaron Judge and Jorge Mateo. It is no question the Yankees have collected a tantalizing group of impressive young talent, and whether Cashman uses some of these prospects as trade bait this winter for a key starting pitcher such as Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale, or for a bat, in maybe the most bizarre case, a pipe dream for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Below, we'll hit off on the Yankees projected 25-man roster for the 2017 season, and some of the moves Cashman has made and the effects it has had thus far.

Arbitration Eligible:
Michael Pineda
Adam Worren
Tommy Layne
Didi Gregorius
Dellin Betandes
Dustin Ackely - likely non-tendered contract
Aaron Hicks
Nathan Eovaldi - likely non-tendered contract (Tommy John Surgery)
Austin Romine

Free Agents:
Mark Teixeira - retiring
Billy Butler
Nick Swisher
Ike Davis
Kyle Davies

Projected 25-Man Roster 2017:
Catcher: Gary Sanchez, Austin Romine, Brian McCann
Infield: Greg Bird, Starlin Castro, Chase Headley, Didi Gregorius, Rob Refsnyder, Ronald Torreyes
Outfield: Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Tyler Austin
Starting Pitcher: Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, C.C. Sabathia, Luis Cessa, Chad Green
Bullpen: Adam Worren, Dellin Betances, Tommy Layne, Tyler Clippard, Luis Severino, Chasen Shreve

Bronx Bombers:
          Coming into the year, one could say that New York was confident with their catching situation to an extent, having Brian McCann deployed behind the plate. As McCann ages, and the amount of miles he has on his knees, he will begin to split his time behind the plate with playing some first-base and taking at bats in the DH spot. This in turn opens up an opportunity for Yankee farmhand Gary Sanchez, who got and succeed exceptionally in the limited opportunity. The rookie receiver played in only 53 games, but hit a historic 20 homeruns in those first 53 games of his career, paired with a .299 average, a .376 OBP and 10.1 at-bats per homerun. The pace that he was on was simply unsustainable in the long-run, but it is just a glimpse into what Sanchez can do to opposing pitching as a very capable backstop. Austin Romine provides solid depth behind Sanchez, but one area of concern for Cashman and the front office maybe the horrid 16.7% caught stealing Romine had this year, which falls well below the 29% league average for backstops. Romine can certainly hold up his own behind the plate, proving to be a decent backup over the past couple years.
          This is probably one of the most interesting position dilemmas for the Yankees coming into 2016, as former top prospect first-basemen Greg Bird is recovering from shoulder surgery. Bird will be given every opportunity to seize at-bats, and the first-base job for himself out of spring training. Bird is the definition of a "Bronx Bomber", as his lefty-swing is tailored perfectly for the short left field porch in Yankee stadium. He has prodigious power, and showed it in limited action during the 2015 campaign. Bird hit 11 homeruns in 46 games that year, and maybe a real deep sleeper in fantasy leagues, and a steal for those who know what a monster Bird could become overtime with the power potential he possesses. Brian McCann, as mentioned above will also log at-bats here, and fits the position well as his offense has taken a hit since coming to New York, potentially due to the demands of catcher creeping up on him. Switching from behind the plate to first base may prove to unlock the offensive outbreak the Yankees are still waiting for from the $85 MM catcher.
          Former top prospect and budding star shortstop turned second-baseman Starlin Castro currently controls the reigns at second for the Yankees. Coming over in his first year in the American League last year from the Chicago Cubs, Castro had a bittersweet campaign this year. He registered a respectable .270 average, but suffered from an abysmal .300 OBP, which has always been Castro's area of weakness, but he did offer unprecedented power for someone of such small stature, as he went on to club 21 homeruns over 151 games. Still only 26, many can dream upon the potential Castro still has that he hasn't yet tapped into, Castro represents a sturdy presence in a rebuilding Yankees lineup filled with potential at just about every position on the diamond. Rob Refsnyder may spell a day here-or-there for Castro, and Refsynder offers something reminiscent of a swiss-army knife related to Boston's Brock Holt. Ideally at this point in time, Refsnyder is the closest thing the Yankees have to a super utility player that can pretty much handle himself anywhere out on the field, except for pitcher and catcher. Having this type of player has proved to be a game changer for some clubs, and extending the length of a season for some starting players.
          Most Yankee fans look at third-base and ponder over how it can be such a black-hole, especially after how Yankee great Alex Rodriguez routinely year-in and year-out put up MVP type numbers here. It's fair to expect such results after seeing them constantly for the past decade, but the Yankees are not going to get the Chase Headley of 2012, who demolished national league pitching, in a pitcher friendly PETCO Park, to the tune of a .286 average, 31 homeruns, and 115 RBI's. The more realistic expectation should be one where Headley hits around .260 with 12 homeruns, 60 RBI's, and above-average defense at the hot corner. For the price the Yankees are paying for Headley, which is roughly $13 MM a year, they actually got $20.8 MM worth of production out of him last year, as he hit .251 and continued his trend of solid defense. The on paper statistics may not look good, often in these cases they don't, but the on-field results speak louder than the statistics, and he's doing a decent enough job at this point in time to merit a starting position at third base for the Yankees.
          The most likely surprising Yankee performer of the 2016 season, shortstop Didi Gregorius had himself a year at the plate. Having never totaled double-digit homerun totals in his career, Gregorius cleared that plateau by 11, ending the year with 20 homeruns, right behind the likes of Marcus Semien, Brad Miller, and Xander Bogaerts. Gregorius credited most of his production this year with the work of his bat, which hit .276 with a .447 slugging, to go along with 70 RBI's. There's no question that he has big shoes to fill, as Derek Jeter locked down the position for 20 years, but the Yankees have to pleased with the progression of Didi since coming over in a trade with the Diamondbacks. A work in progress at the time, Gregorius has certainly made positive strides in the right direction, both on offense and defense, as he has always been a gifted defender and duly credited for his performance at shortstop. He did regress at shortstop this year according to ESPN, having been with 1.5 WAR last year at the position, and falling down to 0.0 WAR this year. In the eyes of the Yankees top decision callers, this is probably the least of their worries, as Didi's bat has at last come to life, and especially in such a flourishing environment like Yankee stadium. Similar to Greg Bird, Gregorius has a swing that is fit just perfectly for Yankee stadium as well, which is exactly what he was able to do this year, taking full advantage of the 81 games the Yankees played at home by using the short right field porch. Much will be made of the strides Gregorius does, or does not make next year in his age-27 campaign.
          Unless traded in the off-season, left field should be home of longtime Yankee Brett Gardner. Long known ideally just for his wheels, which at his peak, he used to steal a league high 49 bags in 2011, Gardner has learned to equally develop other parts of his game to make him into one of the more steady performers in baseball. Gardners 2014 and 2015 campaigns saw him doing something unprecedented, which was add the power department to his game, collecting 17 and 16 homeruns respectively in each campaign. Gardner took a step back this year, hitting at about his career norm of .261, but having only slashed 7 homeruns with 16 stolen bases. Whether it be Yankees manager Joe Girardi not utilizing Gardners speed anymore, or the fact that Brett himself may not run as much, his offensive game has slowed considerably. Gardner was an above-average bat for the past four straight years before 2016 roles around, where his cumulative stats put him at roughly 8% below league-average. Luckily for the Yankees and Gardner, he was still able to maintain his well-respected plate discipline at the plate, logging his sixth season with an OBP above .340, which in regard to a league average OBP of .320 is quite good to say the least. Gardner will be 33 at the start of the 2017 campaign, and if reality is that Gardner is starting to slow down, we may very well see some adjustments in his game to make up for his lack of speed on the base-paths.
          Yankee fans must have been screaming at the top of their lungs in joy when they stole Jacoby Ellsbury away from the divisional rival Boston Red Sox in the 2013 offseason, just like they did with Johnny Damon back in 2005. Looking back at the enormous $153 MM contract Ellsbury secured from the Yankees, many front office executives and Yankee fans must be shaking their head at this move. What initially seemed like a brilliant move by Brian Cashman quickly turned into fire storm as Ellsbury has never gotten going from the start. Word around the sport spread of the Ellsbury-Gardner-McCann tandem atop the Yankees lineup, but neither McCann or Ellsbury really ever delivered the results they did for their first teams (McCann formerly was an Atlanta Brave). Everyone could dream upon what Ellsbury could do in New York after hitting a mind-boggling .321 with 32 homeruns and 105 RBI's for the Red Sox during the 2011 season. Similar to Gardner, Ellsbury's best trait was and is his speed, which when mixed with his defense in center field, presented the Yankees with a more than capable defensive outfield. Ellsbury's best season in pinstripes thus far has been his first, where he was 11% better than league average, and used all facets of his game to terrorize opposing teams on the base-paths, and to steal away runs in the outfield. At this point, Ellsbury his a huge financial burden, and represents one of the most undesirable and untradable assets in the sport of baseball. The Yankees will look for Ellsbury to finally deliver in his fourth season in the Bronx, and would certainly welcome much needed top-of-the-order production from him.
          Most likely to start for the Yankees in right field come opening day 2017 will be Yankees top prospect and Giancarlo Stanton comparison Aaron Judge. If any prospect in the game is going to have a monster homerun campaign one day, besides Texas Rangers first basemen Joey Gallo, Judge is the most likely fearsome hitter to achieve this feat. The average may never be there for Judge, as strikeouts are going to be a common part of his game, but the power potential is so real that the Yankees couldn't resist when they drafted him in the Amateur draft 32nd overall in 2013. Judge was certainly overmatched this year when exposed to major league pitching, but its fair to take into effect that Judge is 4.7 years younger than the average player in the MLB. Judge hasn't yet learned to put it altogether yet, and at the ripe age of 24, many would expect that he still has a lot of room for growth to go. If the Yankees feel comfortable with him manning left field, the results in the long-run could certainly be accelerated with a campaign centered around learning and adjustment for Judge, whom the Yankees anticipate to anchor their lineup for many years to come once he locks onto major league pitchers.
          The designated hitter spot will most likely belong to Brian McCann, but will most likely also be used to cycle aging veterans Ellsbury, Gardner and Headley into to improve on-field offensive performances. McCann fits the mold of eventual full-time DH perfectly, as he like many others in the Yankee lineup, is a lefty swinger and centers most of his game around the impressive power he has displayed throughout his career. The Yankees could also look into signing former Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who will be one of the lone top free agents on the free agent market this winter. This will most likely be a position of creativity for Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who should have an interesting time with deploying different Yankee lineups this coming 2017 year that will look to build off finishing 20th in the league in team average, 22nd in runs scored, and 19th in homeruns.

Starting Rotation/Bull-Pen concerns:
Masahiro Tanaka, former Japanese star-hurler for the Nippon Baseball League, will look to front a questionable New York Yankees rotation heading into 2017. Tanaka, best known for his fall-off-the-table split finger fastball and wipe out slider, regularly grades out as one of the top starting pitchers in the league, amongst a group the includes Corey Kluber, Chris Sale, Justin Verlander and Aaron Sanchez. Tanaka posted another dominant campaign, having recorded a 3.07 ERA over 199.2 innings pitched, will being able to maintain an average fastball velocity of 92 mph amidst a partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament. Tanaka will continue to be the workhorse for a Yankees rotation that thrives off Tanaka, but there will be consistent worry about Tanaka's elbow, which may have an expiration date on it that may expire very soon. One of the more interesting New York starters, Michael Pineda, struck out and eye-opening 207 batters over 175.2 innings pitched. Acquired in the infamous Jesus Montero trade, Pineda hasn't lived up to the billing yet, but his potential is undeniable. Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild will look to work alongside Pineda to help him improve upon a 4.82 ERA and 6-12 record. C.C. Sabathia rounds out the last bit of the sure-fire Yankees starters heading into 2017. Sabathia is coming off a year that saw him produce his best results in 3 years, pitching to a 3.91 ERA over 179.2 innings, with a 9-12 record. Sabathia is no longer the rotation ace or annual cy young candidate that he used to be back in the day when he ramped his fastball up to the mid nineties, but Sabathia has reworked how he pitches these days. Having settled into the high eighties range on the radar gun, Sabathia uses better pinpoint accuracy to his advantage rather than trying to blow fastballs by hitters. His slider and curveball still represent above average offerings that he can utilize to his advantage when keeping hitters off balance. Most likely, hard-throwers Chad Green and Luis Cessa will make up the final two spots in the back end of the New York rotation. Both were acquired in the trade with Detroit that sent lefty relieve Justin Wilson out of the Bronx in return for Green and Cessa. Luis Cessa was originally signed as a shortstop and transferred over to the rubber back in 2011, while Green was selected in the eleventh round in the 2013 Amateur draft. Both profile as starters in the long run, but Girardi and Rothschild will attempt to get results out of the two as early as this coming year.
          The bullpen will be led by late inning dominant force Dellin Betances, who is the newly installed closer after seeing both Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman depart via trades. Betances features a triple-digit fastball that is complemented by a wipeout cut fastball. Betances continued his ability to strikeout hitters, registering a 15.53 K/9 rate that keeps climbing higher and higher each season. Also in the backend of the pen is sturdy reliever and former National Tyler Clippard, who was lights out after being acquired from the Diamondbacks. Luis Severino and Adam Warren will be looked upon as potential spot-starters/long relievers, as Warren is a crafty right-handed reliever that has success starting and relieving, while Severino has an electric fastball, and fantastic stuff the plays out of the rotation in the long run. Chasen Shreve and Tommy Layne will present Girardi with two respectable LOOGY options, and the Yankees may even look to reacquire Aroldis Chapman this winter in free agency to pair up with Betances again at the back of a fierce Yankees bullpen.

Cashman's 2016 Moves:
- Gleyber Torres: one of the top shortstop prospects in minor league baseball, Torres was the real prize of the Aroldis Chapman trade with the Chicago Cubs. Billy McKinney, Rashad Crawford and Adam Warren, along with Torres represented the package Cashman got back for relief ace Aroldish Chapman, which should prove to be one of the very best moves of the GM's career. Torres has superstar written all over him, while McKinney can develop into a solid starting outfield option. To say the Yankees did well in this trade would be putting it lightly.
- Clint Frazier: a big, big bat the Yankees received in the Andrew Miller trade that could be roaming centerfield for the Yankees for years to come. A right-handed power bat, Frazier should be an absolute monster once physically mature in a small Yankee stadium. Justus Sheffield, a prized left-handed starting pitching prospect was also acquired alongside Ben Heller, J.P. Feyereisen, and Frazier. The Yankees are collecting quite the impressive group of prospects for a couple of late inning relievers, and while the sell off right now may speak to the unlikeliness of New York contending for the playoff picture currently, the future looks quite bright with a bevy of blue-chip boppers in the minors.
- Dillon Tate: acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for ageless outfielder Carlos Beltran, Tate holds high upside as a right-handed starter. He struggled in the lower minors during this past year, but his potential remains as high as any pitching prospect the Yankees acquired in the previous two trades. Beltran was a piece the Yankees were sure to sell off, and the Rangers paid a steep price for a potential half-year rental of Beltran, but Jon Daniels and the Rangers are certainly in a win-now mindset after acquiring Beltran and Lucroy.
- PTBNL: the Ivan Nova traded that paid dividends for the Pirates, as they discovered the key to unlocking a half-years worth of results from Nova. The Yankees received a Player To Be Named Later which turned out to be very insignificant, but the fact that the Yankees trade Nova spoke to the organizations confidence in Severino at the time.

Yankees Pipeline Top Prospects:

Prospect ratings on a 20-80 scale, 50 being average. 

OF Clint Frazier: This guy stands 6'1" at 190 lbs, and certainly still has room to grow and add strength. He hit 16 homeruns during the past minor league season while facing Double-A and Triple-A pitching at 22 years old. Major power potential, could really rip the cover off the ball once he arrives in Yankee stadium. He excels in pretty much every major aspect of the game, representing a very close 5-tool product, but he may lose some speed as he adds more muscle, which no one should really lose sleep over.
Potential - Hit tool: 50 Power tool: 65 Speed: 45 Arm: 55 Defense: 50

SS Gleyber Torres: only 19 years old and playing probably the most important position on the diamond, Torres doesn't necessarily have one area of weakness. The guy flat out knows how to rake as a hitter, and the bat-to-ball contact skills are very advanced for a 19 year old phenom. Definitely has the potential to be a major player in the future of the sport.
Potential - Hit tool: 60 Power tool: 45 Speed: 55 Arm: 60 Defense: 50

SS/OF Jorge Mateo: 21 years old and finally starting to come into his own as a top prospect. Known mostly for his game changing speed, he can fly both on the base-paths and in the field on defense. Bat should develop to be at least league average, and the defense should be good, regardless of whether he sticks at short or moves to centerfield.
Potential - Hit tool: 55 Power tool: 35 Speed: 80 Arm: 50 Defense: 55

OF Blake Rutherford: first pick of the Yankees in the 2016 Amateur draft, Rutherford is extremely raw but at the same time has a great amount of potential. An outfielder that swings from the left side, Rutherford excelled in his limited action down in the lower minors to the tune of a .351 average. Another big figure like Judge, Rutherford will most likely move to a corner outfield spot eventually.
Potential - Hit tool: 60 Power Tool: 55 Speed: 50 Arm: 50 Defense: 50

Boston Red Sox Off-Season Outlook 2016-2017

Boston Red Sox:        
          After posting an impressive 93-69 record, and going from seller-dweller to American League East Division Champions, the Boston Red Sox finally fabricated an impactful campaign. With the American League East being coined by many experts as the hardest division in baseball going into the year, the Red Sox had stiff competition from the reigning AL East champion Toronto Blue Jays, as well as the power-house Baltimore Orioles and resurgent New York Yankees. Dave Dombrowski was hired and inserted as President of Baseball Operations last August after serving as General Manager of the Detroit Tigers from 2002-2015. Having built a creative roster and collecting an impressive amount of young, high-caliber talent as GM of the Tigers, Dombrowski was brought aboard the Boston Red Sox to take the place of inferior GM Ben Cherington, who swiftly resigned his role and joined Columbia University as an advisor. Having been the Sox top shot-caller for the past year, we will look into what moves have, and have not panned out for the old-school Dombrowski. But before delving into that, here is a look at a projection of next years 25-man roster come the end of spring training for the Boston Red Sox.

Arbitration Eligible:
Fernando Abad - likely non-tendered contract
Robbie Ross Jr.
Joe Kelly
Drew Pomeranz - acquired non-waiver trade deadline for top prospect Anderson Espinoza
Josh Rutledge - likely non-tendered contract
Brock Holt
Xander Bogaerts
Bryan Holaday - likely non-tendered contract
Brandon Workman
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Sandy Leon

Free Agents:
David Ortiz - retiring
Koji Uehara
Junichi Tazawa
Aaron Hill - option to be declined
Brad Ziegler
Ryan Hanigan - option to be declined

Projected 25-Man Roster 2017:
Catcher: Sandy Leon, Blake Swihart, Christian Vazquez
Infield: Hanley Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Travis Shaw, Pablo Sandoval, Xander Bogaerts, Brock Holt
Outfield: Andrew Benintendi, Chris Young, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts
Starting Pitcher: Rick Porcello, David Price, Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright
Bullpen: Clay Buchholz, Carson Smith, Craig Kimbrel, Robbie Ross Jr., Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree

Boston's Big Boppers:
          Overall, coming into 2017, the Red Sox have an exceptional crop of impressive young talent spread all across the diamond. The catching situation in 2016 was a sparse void to begin with, but the sudden  awakening of Sandy Leon provided the Sox with a bit of an offensive cushion at the position. Leon batted .310 across a 252 at-bat sample size, which is not small feat, and managed a 41.2% Caught Stealing percentage, roughly 12% better than league average. Having never hit better than .184 in an extended amount of at-bats, it is fair to raise the question as to whether Leon will be able to keep up anything close to the production he provided in 2017 with the bat. Defensively, Leon has one of the most sound and gifted gloves in the game, but with a team that demands such a level of high output from each position, it will be interesting to see if Leon can even manage a triple-slash line of .260/.320/.400 (average/on-base/slugging) for the Sox. Former heralded top-prospect Blake Swihart has one more option-year remaining, which could be used for further advancement on his defense, but there is no doubt amongst Sox staff that Swihart has the bat to stick at the position. An athletic catcher that played some infield in high school, Swihart was transitioned to the outfield in 2016 to increase his versatility, but his true value lies behind the plate where there are questions over if he can stick there in the long-term.
          Hanley Ramirez will look to be holding down the fort at first-base again this year after posting a 30-homer, 111-RBI campaign last year. Ramirez made significant strides adjusting to first-base after playing an anemic left-field in 2015, but what was more impressive was his ability to stay on the field and produce at the plate. Initially upon signing with the Red Sox during the 2014-2015 free agent period, Ramirez was asked to gain 20-25 lbs of muscle to add some more power to his game. He would ultimately have an injury-shortened campaign after injuring his shoulder that would severely sap his power, but when healthy and on the field that year, Ramirez was nothing short of the aforementioned slugger the Sox were hoping for. Hanley will look to build upon his second career 30-homer campaign and lead the Sox to a second-consecutive playoff appearance in 2017.
          DP, the muddy-chicken, laser-show, whatever you call him, the cornerstone piece of the Boston Red Sox, and the closest thing to a team captain since Jason Varitek; Dustin Pedroia will be returning from a career-year in 2016. Pedroia, undeniably may have had his finest season since 2011, when he posted a jaw-dropping 7.8 Wins-Above-Replacement according to ESPN, which in todays standards would translate to roughly about $62 MM worth of production in a single season. Having hit .318, to go along with 201 hits and 105 runs scored, Pedroia was the offensive catalyst for the Red Sox after Mookie Betts transitioned from the one-hole to the clean-up hitter later in the year. His bat, combined with his gold glove defense year-in and year-out has provided the Red Sox with an insurmountable amount of production since being selected in the Amateur Draft from Arizona State University. The spirit of the club house, and the leader of the Boston Red Sox, Pedroia will be entering his age-33 season looking to continue his steady production at the plate and help Boston's young guns mature.
          Third-base heading into 2016 was a bit of a question mark for the Red Sox; Travis Shaw, Pablo Sandoval, and Brock Holt have all occupied the position at one point or another in the past two years. A position of uncertainty would be putting it lightly, as the Red Sox have routinely posted below-league average production at the hot corner, but 2017 may bring better days. With Pablo Sandoval set to return from a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, the Sox will anxiously be awaiting the return of Sandoval and what exactly he can bring to the table after inking a 5-year, $95 MM contact at the end of 2014. Repeatedly dealing with weight issues has been a consistent problem for Sandoval, but reports are the Sandoval has shed more than 20-lbs this summer in an attempt to reclaim the start third-base job in Boston. After being a bust in his first season with Boston in 2015 when he produced a .242/.292/.366 line, Sandoval will be looking to match career averages in the range of .260-.270, 12-18 homeruns, and 70-80 RBI's, which will gladly be welcomed with the departure of David Ortiz creating a massive void in the center of Boston's lineup. Travis Shaw hit .242 with 16 HR's and 34 doubles in 145 games this season for the Red Sox, as he seems to be Sandovals biggest obstacle in reclaiming the third-base job. Spring training will be definitely be the time to watch the battle between the two pan-out, and especially to see if Sandoval can quickly knock the rust off after missing an entire season.
          Third-base coach and infield instructor Brian Butterfield's defensive project regressed a bit this year at the short-stop position, as Xander Boagerts slipped both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Having hit .320 in 2015, many were expecting Boagerts to step up his game to the next level, particularly in the power department will maintaining somewhat near or above a .300 average. Both of those things for the most part proved true, as Bogey hit .294 with a career high 21 homeruns. The only problem is that on paper Boagerts numbers look good, but when translated against the rest of the league, he was only 8 percent better than league average, which at any rate is not bad at all, but with the ceiling that Boagerts has, many are expecting far better things from the Aruba native. Looking ahead at 2017, Bogaerts will look to build on his improvements across his game, hopefully forming into a bigger bat that the Sox envision he will become.
          Left-field in the coming season will most likely be occupied by incumbent Andrew Benintendi, who took the job from a platoon of Chris Young/Blake Swihart after each suffered separate injuries. Having been drafted out of the University of Arkansas in the 2015 Amateur Draft, Benintendi sprinted through the Sox minor league system, routinely posting high OBP numbers and an excellent understanding and command of the strike-zone. Often associated as a "high-floor" kind of guy, Benintendi still has room to grow as a player. Only 22 years of age, and listed as 5-10, 180 lbs, he still has a bit of room to grow physically, but it is impressive to see a player of his stature, only a year out of college posting a .295 batting average, to go along with a .359 OBP. His understanding of the strike-zone gives him the knack to pick his pitches and barrel up balls on the fat part of the bat, maintaining a strong-contact and line drive rate. It wouldn't be a reach to expect something along the lines of a .280/.360/.430 line, to pair with 10-15 homeruns if he doesn't suffer a sophomore slump at the end of a fearsome Sox lineup. Benintendi will be one of the bigger questions going into the 2017 campaign and what to expect of a player just getting used to major league pitching, especially after skipping Triple-A Pawtucket and heading right to the majors.
          There will be no need to worry who will be roaming the center-field premises of Fenway Park in 2017, as Scott Boras client Jackie Bradley Jr. will be looking to build off of fantastic campaign, which saw JBJ manufacture a 29-game hitting streak. Jackie finished 2016 with a .267 average, 26 homeruns, and 87 RBI's, to go along with gold glove defense. Bradley's defense is undoubtedly the strength of his game, thanks to one of the best arms in the game that regularly registers throws from the outfield to home plate over 100-mph. JBJ's cannon, paired with his ability to control the strike-zone have made Bradley into an important part of Boston's future plans. Almost a forgotten element after posting a .198 average in his first full season in 2014, Bradley has gone from bottom-of-the-lineup bat to middle-of-the-order run producer.
          As most Sox fans know, right-field will be handled by perhaps Boston's best player, Mookie Betts for the next set of years to come. Another Scott Boras client, Betts completely tore the cover off the baseball this season, posting MVP-type numbers by seasons end. Betts went on to hit .318 with 31 homeruns and 118 RBI's, second in HR's and RBI's only to future HOF'er David Ortiz. Mookie was and will continue to be the dominant force opposing pitchers fear to face in Boston's powerful lineup. Bett's missed the 30-30 club by four stolen bases this year, so there is potential in the future to look forward ultimately to a 30-30 campaign, if he can continue to hit a homerun every 20 or so plate appearances. This is just scratching the surface for what the former second-basemen could achieve in his future; there may be an MVP award or two on his mantle soon enough.
          Probably the biggest hit to Boston's 2017 roster is David Ortiz's retirement from baseball, which leaves both players and fans saddened to see his production cease. Posting probably the best season in a players farewell tour ever, especially at the age of 40, Ortiz killed opposing pitching to the tune of a .315/.401/.620 line, which rated at the top in about all offensive league categories. Having smashed 38 homeruns this season, Ortiz ends his career 17th all time with 541 big-flys, and will go down as a Boston legend ever since signing out free-agency after not having his option picked up by the Minnesota Twins. Boston will look internally and externally to fill this hole, with many people speculating Toronto Blue Jays impending free agent DH Edwin Encarnacion could come aboard and terrorize opposing pitching for Boston in 2017. Encarncion is regularly one of the leagues very best bats, but doesn't come without his cons, as he has had a rising strike-out over the past couple of years, to go along with his defensive limitations. Designated hitter will definitely be an area of concern come 2017 for the Red Sox if Encarnacion is not in Sox uniform come opening day 2017.

Starting Rotation/Bull-Pen Concerns:
          David Price, one of the biggest disappoints since signing his 7-year, $217 MM contract was not up-to-par with his career averages. Having posted a 3.33 ERA in 2013, 3.26 in 2014, and 2.45 in 2015, Price was expected to be the bull-dog of a shaky Red Sox staff, and post dominant numbers in Price's biggest setting yet. The question for Price over his career is whether he can rise to the occasion in big situations, ideally the playoffs, where after the 2016 ALDS against the Indians, Price has now totaled 66.2 postseason innings of 5.54 ERA ball, to go along with an 2-8 record. He went on to record a 17-9 regular season record, with an unspectacular 3.99 ERA. Luckily for Boston, former Tigers and Dombrowski property, Rick Porcello, acquired in the Yoenis Cespedes trade, had his best year yet, spinning out a league-leading 22-4 record, with a 3.15 ERA in a career-high 223 innings pitched. Porcello was able to dominant hitters with his impeccable command, having walked only 32 batters all year long, along with the ability to jam hitters on the inner part of the plate. Porcello is not part of the rising system of flame-throwers throughout baseball, having managed his fastball around 88-92 mph regularly, to go along with his signature pitch, a sinking fastball that he throws 38% of the time. Much of his success can be credited to Red Sox pitching coach Carl Willis, who helped Porcello with his arsenal, refining pitches, pitch selection, and missing down-and-away rather than up. Paired with front-of-the-rotation stalwarts Price and Porcello, Boston also has Drew Pomeranz, acquired in the non-waiver deadline for top farmhand prospect Anderson Espinoza, Eduardo Rodriguez, and knuckle-ball specialist and 2016 all-star Steven Wright. Pomeranz was outstanding for much of the season when pitching in the confines of Petco Park for the San Diego Padres up until the point of being traded to Boston, where news broke that Pomeranz had been dealing with elbow-related alignments. Much of his dreadful performances in Boston were credited to his ailing elbow, but coming into 2017, Pomeranz figures to be a key member of the Sox starting rotation. Eduardo Rodriguez, whom the Sox acquired in the Andrew Miller trade with the Baltimore Orioles, has been average to just-above average since being acquired, and looks to build off of his relative success next year when factoring in as the potential number 4 starter. Lastly, Steven Wright, who for the first half of the year was consistently being talked up as the potential starter of the American League all-star team, pitched better than anyone on the Red Sox staff could've imagined. Special assistant to Dombrowski and former Sox hurler Tim Wakefield worked with Wright to alter his grip of his knuckleball, which helped Wright go from spot-starter/long-reliever to steadfast starter in Boston's rotation.
          The Boston bullpen, which had been greatly criticized amongst many, was rather dominant for most of the season, thanks to late inning ace Craig Kimbrel and co. Kimbrel had a perfectly fine year, but a down year in accordance to his regular standards; a 3.40 ERA, 31 saves and a 14.09 K/9. The ERA is a little high for a shutdown closer like Kimbrel, but much of that can a result of an inflated hard contact rate, as well as adjusting to playing in the AL East. Matt Barnes and Joe Kelly are other hard-throwing late-inning options manager John Farrell has at his disposal, as both but up mediocre results upon getting acquainted to regular bullpen duties. Robbie Ross Jr. was decent as well this year, more often than not providing Farrell with a LOOGY option, to go along with the horrendous acquisition of Fernando Abad. Carson Smith underwent Tommy John Surgery early on in the season, and will be one of Boston's late inning weapons next season. The bullpen is rounded out with Boston's longest tenured pitcher Clay Buchholz, and surprise reliever Heath Hembree, both of whom look to play important roles in keeping runs off the board next year.

Dombrowski's 2016 Moves:
- Fernando Abad: acquired for flame-thrower Pat Light, this trade looked bad from the start, as Abad has either been good or bad throughout the majority of his career. Having pitched for the Twins previously, it was only a matter of time before Abad's luck ran out, especially considering he's a lefty-lefty matchup type only. Consistently hanging beach balls down the center of the strike-zone, Abad proved his inability to provide results in big situations.
- Aaron Hill: the Brewers third-basemen hit .283 and registered a 1.6 WAR before being traded to Boston for minor league SP Aaron Wilkerson and 2B prospect Wendell Rijo, both of whom didn't look to factor into the longterm plans for Boston. Hill would go on to hit .218 for Boston in a 47-game sample size; his option will most likely not be picked up.
- Brad Ziegler: Definitely the best move Dombrowski would make. Ziegler, an artsy submarine-pitcher would prove difficult for opponents in the American League to size up against, pitching to a 1.25 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched for the Red Sox. Ziegler was certainly a useful part of Boston's bullpen, even filling in for closer Kimbrel when injured. He will most likely not be resigned upon entering free agency.
- Drew Pomeranz: A mixed bag at this point to say the least. Pomeranz was great in San Diego, and not so much in Boston. It was later learned that San Diego GM A.J. Preller withheld medical records from Boston during the July trade, prompting MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to offer the Red Sox a rescind for the trade, which Dombrowski mind-bogglingly rejected. MLB top prospect and former farmhand Anderson Espinoza was sacrificed in this deal for Pomeranz, who is a serviceable number 3 starter at this point in time. Espinoza has the ceiling of former Red Sox Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez, but only time will tell if he can reach that potential in San Diego's farm system.

Red Sox Pipeline Top Prospects:

Prospect ratings on a 20-80 scale, 50 being average. 

3B/SS Yoan Moncada: arguably the top prospect at this point in all of baseball, Moncada is a true 5-tool player who's very raw at this point in time. Having been signed as an international free agent for $63 MM, Boston has high hopes that Moncada turns into the monster many think he will. Moncada has gotten comparisons to Seattles Robinson Cano, which really isn't all that bad.
Potential - Hit tool: 60 Power tool: 60 Speed: 70 Arm: 50 Defense: 50

3B Rafael Devers: international amateur free agent signed out of Dominican Republic has been compared to Adrian Beltre. Larger lower half of body generates outstanding bat speed, power ability is main tool that should develop really well at major league level. Future third-basemen, but if he can't handle position, his bat will certainly translate to first-base.
Potential - Hit tool: 50 Power: 60 Speed: 35 Arm: 55 Defense: 50

SP Jason Groome: lessened the pain when Espinoza was traded that Sox were able to sign Groome out of high school away from playing in college. Polished pitcher with front line potential, especially as a left-handed starting option. Fastball hits 94, has good movement and depth on curveball, and stands at 6-6; still has room for growth as pitcher.
Potential - Stuff: 65 Movement: 60 Command: 55 Stamina: 60

SP Michael Kopech: two words - big arm. This guy was clocked at hitting Aroldis Chapman speed middle of the year, roughly around 105 mph, while starting. Needs to control pitches and improve arsenal, but command is big key to success. Needs to learn to pitch, not throw. Big potential.
Potential - Stuff: 65 Movement: 55 Command: 50 Stamina: 50