Noah K. Murray-USATI

As this New York Yankees team seems to be on course for a .500 season and no championship, let’s take a look at what could be in store for 2017.

The New York Yankees find themselves in a crucial situation when this lost cause of a season reaches its conclusion on October 2.

Sitting in the median of a rebuild which featured a recent fire sale which displayed the departure of Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran, and Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees’ mirror a team that has just endured a franchise transmutation.

New York – whose farm system includes seven of Major League Baseball’s Top-100 Prospects – can further visualize the change in times with the announced retirement of Mark Teixeira and the unusual release/retirement/change of roles by Alex Rodriguez.

There is a change of guards in the Bronx and the future couldn’t be more bright. However, the most critical of moves during this rebuild will occur throughout the first couple years, making this next offseason and 2017 just as important as the championship the organization hopes to wheel in when the construction is complete.

In recent memory, like the spending spree back in 2014, ownership has taken it upon themselves to abandon roster breakdowns in order to spring the team into contention. A scheme that has failed more times than succeeded.

SEE ALSO: A-Rod’s Career Retrospective

That plan has, hopefully, abandoned itself from the minds of ownership and they are ready to take on what will be a tough method in shaving contracts, building the farm, and remaining patient.

Thanks to the already strong system New York had prior to the deadline additions of Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres and more, the process won’t be as long. Plus, their financial power will help them compete sooner down the road.

However, we digress to the earlier question: What will the 2017 Yankees look like? Signs point to them doing something similar to a year ago in which they invested in zero major league deals while allowing their prospects to fill in for the expiring contracts of decrepit veterans.

Without anymore unwanted schpeel on the well-known and rightful path of the New York Yankees, here’s something you could expect on Opening Day of next season:

 Starting Rotation: 

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Starting Rotation:

ESNY’s Projected Starting Rotation (numbers indicate current 2016 stats):

  1. Masahiro Tanaka (8-4, 3.32 ERA)
  2. Luis Severino (1-6, 6.02 ERA)
  3. Michael Pineda (6-10, 5.17 ERA)
  4. Nathan Eovaldi (9-8, 4.80 ERA)
  5. Chad Green (1-2, 4.94 ERA)

Other possible suitors: James Kaprielian, Domingo Acevedo, Adam Warren

You may be asking: Where’s CC Sabathia?

Well, he is 36-years of age and is owed $25-million next season. If his current stretch, which includes a 6.62 ERA and 11 home runs surrendered over his previous nine starts, turns into a repugnant consistency, we could very well see the big lefty released in the offseason.

SEE ALSO: Sabathia’s Latest Outing Reminds Yankees That Rebuild Must Not Stop

The Yankees tabbed the former CY Young award winner with a mere $5-million buyout and since the current blueprint includes shaving the contracts of past-their-prime veterans, this is an easy price for the ownership to bite. Other than that, the rotation for next year resembles that of this season and it should be an adequate staff, for the most part.

Tanaka would be the ace and will pitch his heart out with every start, the 22-year old Severino should be able to mature enough to put this year’s start behind him, and while Eovaldi has been inconsistent at times, he owns a 3.60 ERA since his bullpen demotion while packing an electric fastball and serving as a notorious innings eater.

Green has been unable to hold onto a roster spot whenever he is given a chance but has shown potential to earn a permanent rotation spot at some point.

In 15 starts in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Green is maintaining a 1.91 with a mere two home runs surrendered in 89.2 innings of work in the Electric City.

RELATED: Tanaka Cannot Be Trusted Long-Term

Now, this rotation does not by any means serve as a drastic improvement from the rotation that currently ranks 21 in all of Major League Baseball in earned run average but what it does do is give us a bright look towards what’s next in terms of the future.

Sure, Green has potential, but Severino and Kaprielian are young guys who are expected to anchor the next prominent Yankees’ rotation. Also, there doesn’t seem to be a free agent emerging as a “fit” for New York nor any staff.

They won’t be shutting teams out game-in and game out but the goal of every starter on the staff will be similar to that of this season and that’s to get the ball into the back-end of the bullpen.

Let’s take a look at what next year’s bullpen could shape up to be.

Bullpen:

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Bullpen: 

ESNY’s Projected Relievers (numbers indicate current 2016 stats):

New York has lost Andrew Miller during this year’s trade deadline, but two of the three members of “No-Runs DMC” could reunite to wreck havoc in the bullpen next season.

Despite being dealt to Chicago, Aroldis Chapman has expressed genuine interest in returning according to Jack Curry of the YES Network. Before being traded, the lefty recorded 20 saves in 21 opportunities with a 2.01 ERA while helping the Yankees’ ‘pen become the nastiest in baseball.

Apparently, ownership tried to sign an extension with the man who heaved a fastball at 105.1 MPH this year but when his interest was not there, at the moment, ownership pulled the trigger on a haul with the Cubbies. Therefore, the Yankees could easily sign Chapman back into navy blue pinstripes following what could be a championship year for him.

He would rejoin the nasty Betances and the moderately inconsistent Tyler Clippard in a 7-8-9 trio that doesn’t quite match the “three-headed monster’s” dominance, but it will unquestionably take care of closing out games as it features two of the most dominant relievers in the game.

The arms of the 2017 New York Yankees could be similar to that of this year. Inconsistent starters, pitiful middle-relief, and a commanding back-end. There is one aspect of next year’s team that could see a noteworthy difference, and that’s where we go next.

Starting Lineup/Bench

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Starting Lineup:

ESNY’s Projected Starting Lineup:

Bench:

At first glimpse, this lineup looks like it could turn into a juggernaut offense but to get manager Joe
Girardi to list that as his 2017 Opening Day lineup, two notable trades must be executed in order for it to happen.

Move number one is trading contemporary left fielder Brett Gardner in order to make room for their freakishly gifted top prospect, Clint Frazier.

The speedster will be entering the final year of his four-year, $52-million deal signed back in 2013 and is a reputable gamer who can wreck havoc on the basepaths (215 career stolen bases) along with some pop (15+ home runs in the last two years).

Washington would be a good fit as they could use an upgrade in center field, a position Gardner and his average arm would love.

Additionally, a lineup this youthful, compact, and dynamic would only transpire if their current starting catcher, Brian McCann, is dealt as well.

RELATED: Brian McCann Clears Waivers

He cleared waivers, is able to be traded ahead of August 31’s waiver deadline and has already brought on interest from his former team, the Atlanta Braves. They, however, wanted Cashman to eat a portion of McCann’s total of $34 million over the next two seasons.

Eating the money for McCann would be tough, but not giving the “Baby Bombers” at bats in a lineup that looks like the one above is downright sacrilegious.

When looking at that lineup, the team looks moderately set and the additions of prospects like Frazier, Aaron Judge, Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez makes the offense look legit.

Here in 2016, they rank 22 in runs scored per game but that’s mainly caused by the absence of 35 home runs between Teixeira and A-Rod from a year ago.

Next season, Bird – who was on pace for 38 home runs and 109 RBI in 2015 – will take over at first and notice that Mark Trumbo’s name is listed as the team’s designated hitter in the projected lineup, as well.

Through 110 games with the Baltimore Orioles, Trumbo has a slash line of .264/.315/.529 with an OPS of .844 and an American League-leading 31 home runs. He is
expected to become a free agent at the end of 2016.

Though they are in rebuild mode at the moment, adding Trumbo would bring a powerful bat – that can also play first base and left – while avoiding the blockage of younger players. Note, however, that they would have to surrender a draft pick compensation which is a major reason why they refused to sign a major league free agent last offseason.

You also shouldn’t rule out Aaron Hicks making the roster for the second consecutive year to add to their outfield depth while he attempts to rescue his reputation damaged
by what was an appalling season.

Yankees’ fans, do you like what next year’s roster could possibly look like? Is your fantasy construction of the 2017 team a tad different? Let your voice be heard in the comments below and get the conversation going.

Christian Kouroupakis covers the New York Yankees for ESNY. Interact with him and view his daily work by “liking” his facebook page and follow him on Twitter. Don’t hesitate to shoot him an email with any questions, criticisms, or concerns.