COM"ROD"ERY

Before the 2015 season began, no one knew what to expect from A-Rod, not even he knew for sure what his own physicalities could endure.  After all, his last full season of daily grind was back in 2012 – before his 2014 suspension from baseball and prior to his second and more extensive hip surgery.  The lack of play, the doubt of his post-hip surgery endurance, and his age (he will be 40 next Monday) were enough obstacles for everyone's doubt, including mine.

Now, as we close into the final two months or so of baseball, A-Rod has done the impossible:  He's not only produced a decent batting average of.275, reached 20 homers, and driven in 54 runs, but he's also carried himself very well behind the microphones!  He's been verbally preaching team, team, and more team all year long and steered away from stories involving any of his personal accomplishments.  Now, I might typically critique that as possible phoniness, but since he has clearly brought that exact team attitude into the clubhouse, who can rightfully criticize him?

Who would have thought that Derek Jeter's replacement in the clubhouse as the team leader would be A-Rod?  Now, I'm not saying that A-Rod deserves to be a captain or that he's even in the same class as Jeter, but it is clear to anyone who has watched many of this year's games that besides Teixeira's comeback numbers and Gardner's best MLB year, it is A-Rod's own great hitting AND his continuous acts of comradery (a.k.a., COM"ROD"ERY) that has distinguished him as the main team leader.  Whether you watch the players in the dugout or listen to them in their interviews, they are acting as one unit and I believe A-Rod is the main reason, followed by Gardner and Teixeira.

ALMOST HALFWAY THERE

With the 2015 baseball season almost at the halfway point (with 79 games played), the Yankees’ forecasted winnings (they have currently won 42) still project to be in the mid 80s.  The problem is that 4 of the 5 teams in the American League (AL) East have won the same exact amount of games!  The only AL East team with a record under the .500 mark is the Red Sox (thankfully).  In fact, the AL East is currently the tightest race in all of baseball, though none of the teams are overly dominant.

Just as I wrote back in May, the Yankees have been overachieving.  They’ve done it without Andrew Miller and Jacoby Ellsbury for a while - both have proven to be their best bullpen pitcher and hitter respectively.  The good news is that both are due back very soon (in about a week).

Another key positive for the Yankees is the fact that we’re in July, when half the teams typically make trades before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.  The Yankees' farm system is finally getting recognized by the experts!  That said, the general managers and scouts should not only be influenced by the critics, but hopefully feel the same way in their own assessments.  In all, this means that the Yankees have the necessary assets to attain quality returns.  Of course, if money is an obstacle for the unloading teams, it won’t be an obstacle for the Yankees’ acquisition - unless the players’ contracts are too lengthy!

Looking at the NYY’s performance, they definitively need hitting.  While CC is struggling and Tanaka is still sporadically performing, Adam Warren has proven he can be a very decent starter and Ivan Nova has (in a short span since his return from Tommy John surgery) shown he is still a viable starter.  The offense of hitters like Didi Gregorius and Stephen Drew has proven to be the biggest disappointment thus far, while A-Rod has shocked the baseball world with his above-average hitting.  Carlos Beltran has had some decent offense, but his right field defense has been pitiful.  Additionally, he’s currently had some rib issues.  Technically, Beltran should be a DH; but A-Rod is the “designated” designated hitter.

I would love for the Yankees to trade Beltran to another AL team that is looking for a DH.  I don’t expect much in return for him, but I do expect his subtraction to be the biggest opportunity for an addition.  Then, they could either make another transaction to acquire a true right fielder or they could utilize the speed of their own Mason Williams or Slade Heathcott (if he can ever stay healthy) and make one of them the right fielder.  Perhaps they can even add one of their phenom studs, Aaron Judge, to the 25-man roster and make him their new right fielder!   He’s still smacking the ball like it’s twice its size.  The other Major League player they could trade would be Stephen Drew.  Again, I wouldn’t expect much in return, but any team needing a shortstop (instead of the 2^nd base position he mostly provides us) would be very satisfied with Drew’s shortstop prowess. 

If the Yankees are looking for an above-average hitter, which I feel they definitely need, then they would have to offer one of their farm system’s quality players.  I don’t think they will need to include any of their top prospects (Luis Severino, Greg Bird, Rob Refsnyder, Jorge Mateos or the aforementioned Judge) unless they try to attain an All-Star player who has a reasonable contract.  For me, a reasonable contract is defined as a contract that:  doesn’t have too much salary owed on it, has a costing balance that is mostly paid by the trading team, or is long-termed for a player under the age of 29.

Of course, the Orioles, Rays, and Blue Jays will each have the same opportunity to improve their teams.  All 3 of them also have quality assets in their farm systems; however, the Orioles and Rays don’t like to spend money, while the Blue Jays have more spending restrictions than the Yankees (as most teams do).  I can’t wait until August 1^st to find out!