MLB: Is Health Still a Major Concern for New York Yankees Heading to 2016 Season?
The 2016 MLB Spring Training is about to start in a few days when players report to their respective teams. The New York Yankees have acquired new and retained valuable players this offseason, but their overall health is still a major concern, as reported by the New York Post.
The Yankees added Starlin Castro from the Chicago Cubs to play second base and Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds to form a scary trio of relievers with Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. New York also added Aaron Hicks from the Minnesota Twins to provide flexibility in their outfield.
"I think we improved our outfield situation with the addition of Hicks, and we certainly improved second base with Castro. Our bullpen is improved as well in my opinion. I like our starting rotation, but there are some health concerns, as any team has. I look forward to seeing more of our young players contribute this year as well. I think we have many things to be excited about," Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner said.
"I hope we're better, we always have that intent. I believe as we enter 2016 we have a stronger roster than we finished with 2015. But that's on paper, you still have to play it out," general manager Brian Cashman added.
The New York Post noted that the Yankees' starting rotation is the main concern in terms of health. Even though the rotation has enough starters with Luis Cessa, Nathan Eovaldi, Bryan Mitchell, Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, C.C. Sabathia, Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka all vying for spots, many of those names spent time on the disabled list last season.
Eovaldi suffered from an inflamed right elbow and missed the final three weeks of the season with while Nova is just a year removed from Tommy John surgery. On the other hand, Pineda had right forearm issues throughout the season and the past four years.
Sabathia and his right knee are still a question mark while Tanaka had bone spurs removed from his right elbow towards the end of the season. The New York Daily News noted that Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira's health will also be an issue at the start of the 2016 season.
The duo combined for 64 home runs last season before A-Rod struggled and Teixeira suffered a fractured leg. The 40-year-old Rodriguez is the full-time designated hitter, but he already had two hip surgeries in his career.
Teixeira will turn 36 in April and has not played in a full season since 2011. His backup Greg Bird has undergone shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the entire 2016 MLB season.
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