10 storylines entering Spring Training

Feb 19, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official MLB baseball on the field during San Francisco Giants spring training workouts at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official MLB baseball on the field during San Francisco Giants spring training workouts at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 19, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) throws a bullpen session at New York Yankees minor league complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) throws a bullpen session at New York Yankees minor league complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The New Bronx Zoo

Where should we begin with the New York Yankees?

There’s the “Life after Jeter” thing, then there’s the “Get rid of the cancer known as A-Rod” thing and there’s also the “How healthy is Masahiro Tanaka” thing.  Toss in the fact that 2014 marked the first time in nearly two decades that the Yankees missed the playoffs in consecutive years and the Yankees will have a big spotlight on them throughout spring training and throughout the first half of the season.

They did make some moves to address the key losses of Derek Jeter to retirement and David Robertson to free agency.  They acquired shortstop Didi Gregorious to takeover for Jeter and picked up reliever Andrew Miller, who’s going to compete for the closers job with Dellin Betances.

To bolster the starting rotation, the Yanks acquired starter Nathan Eovaldi from the Marlins, who’s expected to solidify the back end of the rotation.

However the big spotlight shouldn’t be on the veteran players, but rather on the younger, newer Yankees. Rob Refsnyder’s shot at becoming the Yanks everyday second baseman shrunk dramatically after the Yankees re-signed Stephen Drew and the Yanks continue to rave over outfielder Aaron Judge.  Expect both to make the jump to the bigs before the trade deadline, or as early as May.

The Yanks, again, will be expected to make the playoffs, as is the standard in New York, however, they may be one more year away from a postseason return thanks to aging veterans and more questions on the field than they’ve had in the past few years.

Next: Harvey, Mets in Big Apple spotlight