5 Yankees That Must Make An Impact In 2021

 Clint Frazier

Frazier is expected to assume the everyday duties in left field this season. That now means that he will be under every watching eye of both the organization and fans alike. Should he have a productive year, it will go a long way to solidifying his future as a Yankee. On the other hand, any prolonged struggles will result in stark criticism as to whether he should continue to occupy the starting role. The sky's the limit for "Red Thunder" it is up to him how high his career will fly.

Aaron Judge

After taking home Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 with record setting numbers, Judge has found himself in a bit of a career crossroads. He has spent the last three seasons dealing with injuries stints that have hampered his overall productivity. If he stays healthy, he will make all the difference for Yankees offense that is looking to make an impact this season. It will also play a big part in landing a long-term deal to stay in pinstripes for the foreseeable future.

Corey Kluber

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After missing the entirety of 2020 with a shoulder issue, Kluber is looking to get back on track as a part of the Yankees rotation in 2021. He is going to deal with Skepticisms, mostly because of the unknown variables of his previously ailing arm. However, as a former two-time Cy Young winner he has the capability to be a top line starter that will pair nicely with Gerrit Cole.

Luis Severino

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Severino has not pitched since 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last February. The club is hopeful that he can round back into the All Star form he showed in the first half of the 2019 season. That would go a long way to ensuring the pitching staff is solidified as one of the best in the league. He is expected to be third in the rotation which will take some of the edge off his return but like Kluber, expect skeptics to keep a sharp eye on his form.

Gary Sanchez

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If there is anyone that needs to have an immediate impact on the team, it's beleaguered catcher Gary Sanchez. He has woefully underperformed both at and behind the plate for the past three seasons and in turn has worn down the patience of management and the Yankee faithful. If he cannot get out of this prolonged struggle, Sanchez could find himself benched for the duration of the season and quite possibly jettisoned out of the Bronx. This is a most important year for the 28-year-old who has spent nearly half of his life in the Yankees organization. So, one must be certain he does not want to see it come to an end on a disappointingly bitter note.

5 Yankees That Need Big Performanes In 2019

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Aroldis Chapman

When you look at Chapmans's numbers from last season (2.45 ERA, 93 K in 55 Appearances) you wouldn't think that he would need a bounce back year at all. However, when you consider that he was bothered by a knee injury for several weeks, it makes even more sense for 'The Missile' to prove that he is pain free and ready own the mound as the Yankees closer in 2019.

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Greg Bird

Bird had high hopes in 2018 that he would solidify himself as the teams everyday first baseman, but another untimely injury stymied his chances. Unfortunately, things did not go his way when he returned and the big lefty found himself platooning with a red-hot acquisition named Luke Voit, whom took the Bronx by storm down the stretch. Now facing a potentially critical point in his young career, Bird must show the club the player he is more than capable of being.

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Clint Frazier

Clint Frazier's season ended before it could really begin in last year as a severe concussion kept him from returning to the field. Now that the injury is behind him, he can win a platoon spot on the active roster that would give him the chance to make a real name for himself in pinstripes

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Luis Severino

Severino got off to a spectacular start last season (14-2 2.31 ERA), He earned a spot on the All-Star team and was one of the frontrunners for the AL Cy Young award. Sadly, the second half did not play out nearly as well as the first. He posted a 5.57 ERA in 12 starts and never really found any semblance of the rhythm he had prior to the All-Star break. He has admitted that his perplexing drop-off was due to fatigue and he has worked on upping his endurance so he can stay well-conditioned for the long haul.

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Gary Sanchez

If there is any Yankee that needs a strong performance this coming season, it's Gary Sanchez. Not only was his hitting poor (. 186), his defense was called into question on many occasions. Making matters worse, Sanchez seemed disenchanted by it all and made no real effort to change the minds of his critics. Was he affected by the Yankees acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton? Was he injured for longer that he was? No one can say for certain why he played so poorly in 2018, but one thing's for certain a stellar campaign in 2019 will erase all the questions and doubts surrounding the slugging catcher known as 'Kraken'.

Yankees: Who's Hot, Who's Not

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Who's Hot

Dellin Betances

Things had not been going well for 6'8" right hander as he couldn’t find any consistency on the mound (His struggles have been well documented for the past two seasons). That appear to have changes as Betances is pitching to a 1.13 ERA over the last seven games. Whether or not this is a sign that his fortunes are turning around is yet to be seen, but the numbers he's sporting lately are very encouraging.

Luis Severino

Severino is proving himself to be the ace the Yankees billed hm as when he was first called up back in 2015. His 9-1 record and 102 strikeouts place him in the upper tier of Major League pitchers. Not to mention he is 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA over his last seven starts. If he keeps this up, The Dominican born flamethrower will surely find himself as top candidate in the Cy Young conversation.

Miguel Andujar

It's been stellar last 15 games for Andujar as he is hitting 21 for 56 (.375) over that span. In addition, he leads all rookies with 21 doubles and 30 extra base hits. A lot of people have been talking about the early campaign of the equally exceptional Gleyber Torres, but Andujar has managed to stand out all on his own.

Brett Gardner

After a rough April, Gardner has had a fantastic bounce back since the middle of May. Over his last 15 games Gardner is hitting .338 and has put together much better at bats than he did at the start of the season. The Yankee offense responds much better when their table setter is hitting well. If he can hold firm, the team will continue to thrive.

Who's Not

Tyler Austin

With a .143 average and 16 strikeouts in his last seven, it's safe to say that Yankees need to address the struggles of Tyler Austin. He looks very lost at the plate and can't catch up to any pitcher’s fastball, which wasn't the case back in April. Perhaps he has placed far too much pressure on himself to deliver now that Greg Bird is healthy, and fan/clubhouse favorite Ronald Torreyes sits in the minors waiting for the opportunity to get back to majors. Whatever the case may be, it would behoove Austin to get himself right before Aaron Boone has to make another roster adjustment.

Gary Sanchez

Unfortunately, the 2018 season has not gone the way Gary Sanchez would have liked. While the production is there (12 HR 35 RBI), He's hitting just .201 on the season and hasn't looked like he's any closer to coming out of his slump (.111 thus far in early June). Austin Romine (Who is hitting .344 as the backup) will continue to see playing time until Sanchez can find a groove and rediscover the highly touted hitting stroke that endeared him to the Yankees the last two seasons.

Masahiro Tanaka

Tanaka has been up and down so far, and he appears to be amid cold spell right now. He’s surrendered 20 earned runs over 38.2 innings (4.66 ERA over that timeframe) in his last seven starts and has been hurt by the long ball more than he would probably like. While you certainly can't compare this to the first half struggles he had last season, it would be best to correct some of his issues now before they become a persistent problem that could undo his season.

Yankees 2017: Who's Hot, Who's Not 2

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\Who's Hot

Gary Sanchez

August has been very nice to Sanchez thus far as he's hitting .333 through 15 games. If he is rounding into the form he had when he broke in last season, the rest of the American League should look out. 

Dellin Betances

After a few hiccups in July, Betances is once again pitching strong. He has yet to surrender a run this month and has successfully closed out two games. The Yankees are really going to need him to keep it up for the stretch run if they are going to make a push for the playoffs and the division.

Didi Gregorius

No Yankee bat is hotter than Didi's as he is swinging a scorching .359 with 23 hits in August. This season has been a revelation for the 27-year-old shortstop and should his good fortunes continue, he and the club will reap the benefits.

Luis Severino

Despite a rough outing against the Red Sox last week, Severino has proven the be the ace of the staff. He's has very impressive starts over the past two months and probably should have more wins to his record. Once a bit of an enigma, the Yankees look to have found something in the 23-year-old flamethrower.

Who's Not

Aroldis Chapman

It's been a frustrating month for the Yankee closer. His ERA is 10.38 and his command has abandoned him. Many fans are clamoring for Betances and Robertson to split the closer duties until Chapman is right, but Girardi is holding fast with position to keep him in the spot. How that will fare is anyone's guess.

Todd Frazier

Since being acquired in mid-July, Todd Frazier hasn't put together a strong showing at the plate hitting just .207 in 27 games. The Yankees have gotten by unscathed by his struggles, but you would like to see the veteran third baseman pick thigs up and make a healthy contribution through September.

Aaron Judge

Judge in a fall from grace period right now, posting a .189 average in August with league high 27 strikeouts. He also set a less than stellar mark as he has struck out in 34 consecutive games. Many had high hopes that he would be leading the MVP race at this point, but the league has adjusted to him and it will take an adjustment of his own if he wants to return to the form that took the league by storm before the All-Star break.