Pitchers and catchers reported yesterday:
Yesterday was the first day of spring training action at the Yankees spring training facility in Tampa, Florida.  Yankee pitchers and catchers report to George M. Steinbrenner Field in anticipation of a World Championship season. Position players don’t have to show up until Monday. Aaron Judge has been among the early arrivals, along with Gleyber Torres, Luke Voit, and Miguel Andujar, who are already at the complex getting an early start on their training.
The New York Yankees feel good going into the new season, with General Managing Partner Hal Steinbrenner, General Manager Brian Cashman, and Field Manager Aaron Boone, are all very confident that they have put together a team that can bring them to their 28th World Championship. Although only some players and management have commented on the Astros sign-stealing scheme, Steinbrenner has stated that they have put that in the rear-view mirror and are concentrating on this year’s campaign.
Yankee rivals in disarray!
Meanwhile, the rivals Houston Astros, and Boston Red Sox, many would say, are in complete disarray. The Astros have not only lost their World Series-winning manager in A.J. Hinch, but they have lost their General Manager as well. In the most significant blow to the Astros, they lost one of their best starting pitchers in Gerrit Cole, who failed to resign with the team and signed in the offseason with the Yankees. The Astros in hopes of restoring faith in the team hired long-standing manager Dusty Baker. Baker will be charged with repairing the team’s reputation while it is booed around all of baseball as it travels to the country’s ballparks.
After the Manfred report was issued detailing the Astros sign-stealing illegal scheme in January implicating the Astros bench coach Alex Cora, John Henry owner of the Red Sox fired their newly hired Cora. They just recently quit the search for a new manager and elevated bench coach Ron Roenicke to interim manager. The Red Sox only won 84 games last year as their pitching rotation fell apart, with the exception of Eduardo Rodriguez. This year they will face the AL East without their best player in Mookie Betts, who has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with their Cy Young awarded pitcher, David Price. This offseason has left the Red Sox less than what they were last season and with little hope of improving on last year’s record.
For the Yankees, the season looks bright!
For the New York Yankees, as they report to spring training, the biggest concern is to tie up a few loose ends and competitions for positions. With Gerrit Cole leading the pitching rotation, he will be followed up by a healthy Luis Severino who could both compete for the best 2020 record. Masahiro Tanaka follows them after James Paxton had back surgery.  Paxton was initially being thought to not return for 3-4 months, but recently it was announced that he would probably return much sooner. After Tanaka is J.A. Happ, the veteran that could surprise if he returns to his 2018 play.  The fifth spot in the rotation will probably be Jordan Montgomery, but Deivi Garcia and Michael King will be competing for the placement.
On the field after Mike Ford’s 2019 splash out of nowhere, he will compete with the now healthy Luke Voit for starting first baseman. Ford, while replacing Voit last year, hit 12 home runs in just 50 games. Gio Urshela will start at the hot corner, but a now healthy Miguel Andujar will back him up and try as a first baseman and an outfielder. DJ LeMahieu is solid at second, and Gleyber Torres will move to shortstop to replace Didi Gregorius, who is now a Phillie. Torres will need a backup, and Tyler Wade will try to show his worth both there and in the outfield. Speaking of the outfield, it sets up with Giancarlo Stanton in left, newly resigned Brett Gardner in the center and a now-healthy Aaron Judge in the right, who will try to replicate his 2017 season. The only area of concern is at the backup backstop, where it is Kyle Higashioka’s position to lose. Offseason acquisitions Erik Katz and Chris Iannetta will also compete as the backup catcher.
With these minor situations to be cleared up, the Yankees will look to their new health and conditioning staff to keep the team healthy as the Yankees are in the best position to advance since their last World Series win in 2009. They still have among the league’s best bullpens, led by Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton, and Adam Ottavino. Chad Green will most likely return from being an opener last year to his traditional place relieving at any time during the game. With backup relievers in Luis Cessa and Jonathan Loaisiga, opposing teams will not look forward to facing the Yankee bullpen. The Yankees will also get a lift as May turns to June, and last year’s ace Domingo German (18-4) will return to the starting rotation.