As the New York Yankees' roster is currently constructed, they should be in contention for a postseason spot.
However, they've made minimal impact transactions this offseason - re-signing Cody Bellinger and trading for left-hander Ryan Weathers being the two moves that stand out.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been adamant that the Yankees are a championship-caliber team whose roster is not identical to last year's. It's not identical, but it's pretty darn close.
In a recent interview, Cashman noted that pitchers Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will return from injury and seemed to imply that last year's trade deadline acquisitions should be considered new additions.
The play-by-play broadcaster of the Yankees, YES Network's Michael Kay, is not buying what Cashman is selling.
Running it back
Kay spoke extensively about the Yankees' roster on his ESPN radio show on Thursday, saying he doesn't understand why the organization, particularly Cashman and manager Aaron Boone, won't admit the roster looks very similar to last season's.
“You are running it back,” Kay said candidly. “So rather than fight the words, you are running it back. The answer should be we’re bringing back the same team because we think that team is great. We think that team, under the right circumstances, would be able to beat anybody and get to the World Series. That’s the answer.”
Would it be such a bad thing for the Yankees to admit the roster looks similar to last season, a season that ended with them getting trounced by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS? Kay doesn't seem to think so.
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