PROJECTED LINEUPS ARE READY AND SO ARE WE!

Source: USA Today

With the baseball offseason long gone, we are really getting into some more meaningful baseball games. This allowed MLB to put together projected lineups for all 30 teams. In particular, the Yankees have some returning players within the diverse mix along with newbies, who were not even part of the team at the start of 2018.  Take a look:

Yankees:
Lineup:
1) Aaron Hicks, CF
2) Aaron Judge, RF
3) Giancarlo Stanton, DH
4) Gary Sanchez, C
5) Miguel Andujar, 3B
6) Luke Voit, 1B
7) Troy Tulowitzki, SS
8) Gleyber Torres, 2B
9) Brett Gardner, LF

Rotation and closer:
1) Masahiro Tanaka, RHP
2) James Paxton, LHP
3) J.A. Happ, LHP
4) Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP
5) Domingo German, RHP
Closer: Aroldis Chapman, LHP

Source: USA today

My thoughts include words such as wow, incredible and yes, Luke Voit is making the team!
A lot of this roster was able to produce 100 wins last season, even with all of their injuries. Slugger Aaron Judge seems to be excited about the way the team is looking for 2019 and with the addition of Voit, Troy Tulowitzki and rookie of year candidates Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres, the lineup is poised to provide a powerful punch to opponents all season long.

“We added quite a few new arms, we added a couple of new position players that are really going to beef up this lineup. We already look pretty good," said Judge reported by MLB.com

Do we think that Judge will be the first player in 18 years to hit 60+ home runs? In 2017, he was able to smack 52 homers and now that at he’s at his age-27 season he should be at his prime to be able to reach this goal.

Source: USA Today

Opening day honors will be going to Masahiro Tanaka since Luis Severino and CC Sabathia have been scratched from the lineup due to injury.

"We like our club," Brian Cashman said per MLB.com. "We've got a special group of people. We're one of the teams that I think has a legitimate shot to do something like being the last team standing and celebrating. There's a long way to go from that comment to it actually happening, but on this date, we have a legitimate shot to do that because of who we have and the players we've assembled."

Across the river, the Mets are holding their own with a projected lineup that looks like this:

1) Brandon Nimmo, CF

2) Jed Lowrie, 3B

3) Robinson Cano, 2B

4) Wilson Ramos, C

5) Michael Conforto, RF

6) Pete Alonso, 1B

7) Jeff McNeil, LF

8) Amed Rosario, SS

Rotation and closer:

1) Jacob deGrom, RHP

2) Noah Syndergaard, RHP

3) Zack Wheeler, RHP

4) Steven Matz, LHP

5) Jason Vargas, LHP

Closer: Edwin Diaz, RHP

Source: Newsday

The big X-Factor this season will be a healthy Noah Syndergaard. If the powerhouse duo of Thor and Cy Young Winner Jacob DeGrom can stay healthy this season, and the rest of the staff can pitch to their highest potential, it will give other pitching rotations a run for their money. 

"We have a pitching staff that -- in many respects -- is the envy of everyone in baseball," said Brodie Van Wagenen via SNY.com.

Source: NY Times

Two people I’m looking forward to seeing together this season is Robinson Cano, who’s been smacking homers dead center at spring training, and Amed Rosario. 

Source: NJ.com

“Rosario is going to be a superstar,’’ said Cano, “He can run, he can field, he’s strong and he is going to add muscle as he gets older, that’s going to be something else. He listens, too, I love the kid,’’reported the NY Post.

The lineup isn’t even at full strength, lacking Todd Frazier and Yoenis Cespedes, who can hopefully return during the second half of the season. 

The projected lineups are in New York are certainly turning heads across baseball and although Philadelphia and San Diego picked up the biggest free agents this season, New York will give both teams a tough time both on the road and at home.  Here's to a great season and quick close to the spring!

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke