Bleeding Yankee Blue: THE YANKEES CHANGED STRATEGY CAN BE FOR THE BETTER

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

THE YANKEES CHANGED STRATEGY CAN BE FOR THE BETTER

After the off-season of 2013-14 when the Yankees spent nearly a half-billion on free agents, things seemed to have changed in the Bronx.

Now, with the exception of signing Aroldis Chapman this past off-season, the Yankees no longer seem to be going after the biggest splash in free agency. Most of their acquisitions over the past couple years have come through trades. Yet, even without the big signings, the future looks brighter than it has in a long time.

According to this article in the New York Post had things worked out the how they were supposed to back then, the outlook might be what it is today.

Source: USA Today

"If the plans laid in late 2013 and early 2014 had worked out differently, the Yankees might not look the way they do heading into the 2017 season." After the signings of Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury and Masahiro Tanaka the Yankees were supposed to be juggernauts. Instead, for the 3 seasons following they found themselves limping towards the end of the season in playoff contention. The only postseason appearance being a wild-card loss to the Houston Astros in 2015.

'I have no interest in looking back,’ general manager Brian Cashman said of that free-agent class. 'Like every year, we were trying to take our shot,’ Cashman said. 'We had a team that was capable of contending for a title. We obviously wound up contending for a playoff spot, not a title. It didn’t work out with the group that was collected. Now we’re going to try to fight for higher ground again with this team.'"

Photo: Newsday

Was it that off-season of 2013-14 what changed the way the Yankee ship sails in the Bronx? Could it be that we're just starting to see the changing of the guard and the effects of Hank and Hal? I really can't say what it is, but things have changed in the Bronx for sure. If it's for the better I think we will soon find out. If you read Dan Lucia's piece, YANKEE PROSPECT SPRING UPDATE, you will see the reason for all the hype.

With less than 2 weeks left until Opening Day, I can feel the anticipation starting to build now, it's exciting! Let's hope the Yankees can take into the regular season what they have shown can be in Spring Training.