By Paul Semendinger
November 1, 2023
***
I figured...why not?
I thought, if everything could go basically as planned for the Yankees in 2024, meaning, if every player simply had his typical season, what might the team's production look like?
You know... it wouldn't be too bad!
***
1b - Anthony Rizzo = .263/29/92 125 OPS+, 3.9 WAR
2b - Gleyber Torres = .267/27/83 115 OPS+, 3.2 WAR
ss - Anthony Volpe = .263/18/56 (his typical minor league season)
3b- DJ LeMahieu = .292/13/65 102 OPS+, 3.3 WAR
lf - Well, I want to be glass half-full, but the Yankees don't have a left fielder yet
cf - I really want to be positive, but, well, see left field
rf - Aaron Judge = .282/50/111 164 OPS+, 8.1 WAR
c - Austin Wells = .260/18/71 (minor league)
dh = Giancarlo Stanton = .259/42/109 137 OPS+, 4.6 WAR
SP - Gerrit Cole = 16-8, 3.17
SP - Carlos Rodon = 12-11, 3.83
SP - Nestor Cortes = 10-5, 3.82
SP - Clarke Schmidt = 8-11, 3.16
SP - Mike King = 6-4, 2.96
If, it's a big IF, the Yankees can secure two regular outfielders, and I'm not even going down the Juan Soto path here, I'm just saying two serviceable outfielders, two good, quality, 100 OPS+, 2.0 WAR players, the group above does not shape up as a poor team.
That group could actually be pretty good.
The problem is...
No.
I won't do it. I said today I would look at the glass being half full.
Today, I'm staying as positive as I can.
If the players play to their career numbers in 2024, the Yankees could be okay.
Coming soon... a completely full glass.
Coming after... the empty glass.
