Fansided

2016 MLB season: AL East preview

By Jason Parker

Sep 6, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 12, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) and left fielder Brett Gardner (11) talk between innings against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) and left fielder Brett Gardner (11) talk between innings against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Yankees

Projected lineup
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
LF Brett Gardner
RF Carlos Beltran
1B Mark Teixeira
DH Alex Rodriguez
C Brian McCann
3B Chase Headley
SS Didi Gregorius
2B Starlin Castro

One of last year’s AL Wild Card teams, the Yankees expect to compete in the AL East again this season. The biggest change to the lineup this offseason was the acquisition of Castro from the Chicago Cubs. Yankees management hopes he will be the second coming of Robinson Cano, and will add some youth and power to a roster that isn’t getting any younger (Rodriguez, Beltran, Teixeria, Ellsbury).

Projected rotation
RHP Masahiro Tanaka
RHP Luis Severino
LHP CC Sabathia
RHP Michael Pineda
RHP Nathan Eovaldi

Tanaka has become the ace of this Yankee’s rotation (when healthy) and will get the ball when they take the field on opening day. That’s the big question for the Yankees heading into 2016: How healthy will the team (and a pitching staff including Sabathia and Eovaldi) be?

Joe Girardi will also be hoping the team can avoid close games over the first month of the season. Aroldis Chapman (brought in as the fireball heir to Mariano Rivera) is out for the first 30 games of the 2016 season as a result of an off-field incident last October. The Yankees won’t be able hand him the ball until May 9.

Projected record: 88-74

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