Baseball is a very complicated sport. Not only when it comes to game play, but also the business in how professional teams operate. Baseball is unique in multiple ways. They do not have a salary cap, it is a capitalistic sport. There is an enormous minor league system for each team to develop players. The Major League Baseball All-Star game is also the only All-Star game out of the major four professional sports to actually matter.
Now at the throne - well they use to be at the throne - is the New York Yankees. The Yankees, since their humble beginnings have become more than a dynasty but an empire bringing in twenty seven world series victories, and no other team is even close to that number. Recently though, they have fallen from their elevated position and are not seen as a contender.
Currently, at the time this article was written, the Yankees sit at fourth place in the American League East. They are not even close to fighting for a wild card spot. Is this just a one year mishap? No it is not. Since their most recent world series victory in 2009, the Yankees have become a lackluster team, buying older players out of their prime to hopefully make it to the playoffs. This does not work. Teams that win are built around a mixture of developed players and veterans. However, the Yankees are one of the oldest teams out there, the average age of the players compared to other teams is much higher. The Yankees have some problems to fix.
I am a huge Yankee fan. Since I could walk I was a die hard for the Bronx Bombers. A few years ago, I have had the idea that in order for Yankees to be a dominating force, they need to essentially rebuild the team. Take a break, do not worry about the next World Series, but focus on the future. Brian Cashman, who is the general manager for the Yankees, recently stated that he would like to rebuild the team and sell off some assets. I had mixed emotions, because I love some of the players and I do not want to see them go, but also the Yankees need to do this because rings are more important.
This news is fresh, and the owner and president of the Yankees are the only people who do not want to do this. They also believe the Yankees are still contenders, and I as a huge fan can tell you they are not. As far as the players they would be willing to sell, there has not been much info. One of the names that has popped up is Andrew Miller, a LHP that is one of the best relievers in the game. He has a lot of value but I believe the Yankees need him, and will not be giving him up anytime soon unless there is a big trade that could benefit them. Other names that have been tossed around include; Mark Teixeria, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Ivan Nova, Nathan Evaldi, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Aroldis Chapman. There are some big names on that list, and selling more than one will have a very noticeable effect on the team.
In my opinion alongside with the selling, the Yankees need to focus on their farm system a lot more. There are quite a few players that could be beneficial, however there are no standout stars. Also, the team needs to look at the free agent class in the upcoming years, there are multiple players who the Yankees could pick up that would be able to out them in the right direction. It is a long road ahead for the team that is for sure.
The idea that the Yankees need to rebuild is brand new, but I personally believe that it could be the best thing for the Yankees if they want to be the team they once were.
