The Yankees might have a payroll over $200 million, but that hasn’t prevented their farm system from generating a lot of headlines this offseason.
In stark contrast to the way the Yankees did business under George Steinbrenner, constantly trading prospects for veteran players, general manager Brian Cashman slowly but surely has increased the depth across the farm system. Cashman’s work has improved the system to the point that Baseball America ranked it the fifth-best in baseball entering the season.
So as the organization’s full-season minor league teams begin their seasons this week, here are some of the most important questions surrounding the Yankees farm system in 2011:
Can Banuelos and Betances stay healthy?
No one is denying the talent in the arms of either Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances. Banuelos, a 20-year-old left-hander, has earned rave reviews this spring. No less of an authority than Mariano Rivera called Banuelos “the greatest pitching prospect he’s ever seen,” and the Yankees named him the organization’s most outstanding rookie in spring training.
Betances, a Brooklyn native, has been equally impressive, going 8-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 71 innings over 14 starts with High-A Tampa last season before a brief cameo with Double-A Trenton at the end of the year.
But the one question that can be asked about either pitcher is if they are capable of handling the wear and tear that comes with working for a full season as a starting pitcher. Banuelos hasn’t thrown more than 108 innings in a single-season, and Betances has never thrown more than 121 in a single year.
With both pitchers set to begin the season at the front of the rotation for Double-A Trenton, the Yankees will be hoping both will pitch in the neighborhood of 140-150 innings this season. That would put both in line to potentially be a part of the Yankees’ starting rotation next season.
How will the catching prospects perform?
It was widely expected that Jesus Montero would be on the Opening Day roster after the Yankees announced Jorge Posada would be the team’s designated hitter last winter. Those expectations returned this spring after Francisco Cervelli went down with a fractured left foot injury.
Instead, Montero is headed back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre after enduring a disappointing spring. His vaunted bat deserted him, as he hit .250 (10-for-40) with no homers and two RBIs, and his defense regressed as the spring wore on. The other participant in the competition this spring, Austin Romine, did no better, going 5-for-23 (.217) with two homers and two RBIs, and will head back to Trenton to begin the season.
Widely considered the best of the Yankees’ catching prospects is 18-year-old Gary Sanchez. Last year, in his first professional season, he tore through the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, hitting .353 with six homers and 36 RBIs, and is expected to begin 2011 in his first year of full-season ball with Low-A Charleston.
Which of the organization’s group of pitching prospects will separate themselves from the pack?
Banuelos and Betances are the two pitchers at the top of arguably the deepest group of pitching prospects in baseball. The starting rotations for Scranton/Wilkes Barre and Trenton are full of pitchers who could become a factor for the Yankees either out of the bullpen or as reinforcements to the back part of the starting rotation.
Right-handers Andrew Brackman, Adam Warren, David Phelps, D.J. Mitchell, Hector Noesi and Graham Stoneburner all could factor into the Yankees’ plans later in this season if the need arises. They all also could become parts of one or more midseason trades to acquire a frontline starting pitcher to slot in behind CC Sabathia in the Yankees’ rotation.