Yanks could look to market to fill out lineup for '15

The Yankees already checked off an important piece of business by finalizing a three-year contract extension with Brian Cashman, who will continue to serve as the club's senior vice president and general manager.

In analyzing the shortcomings of the '14 Yanks, Cashman pointed to issues with the offense and defense, areas that were upgraded as the year went along. The pitching side of the team was a season-long strength.

"We didn't hit, for the most part, all year when we needed to, especially in scoring position," Cashman said. "We were deficient on the defensive side for a good portion of the season; that improved significantly with the additions and subtractions. But offensively, we never really could get it going. The pitching was tremendous and somehow we fixed that, which is harder typically to do, but the offense, we could not fix."

The Yankees believe that some of those problems may correct themselves, particularly in the cases of Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran, who should have their surgical issues further in the past. Teixeira's right wrist was touch-and-go this year, and Beltran will have a bone spur removed from his right elbow.

But there are questions that could be answered from outside the organization, and so it should be no surprise if the Yanks begin to engage with a host of free agents: big-name pitchers like Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields, perhaps, while searching for Derek Jeter's replacement at shortstop.

No one is talking about getting under $189 million this winter, as the Yankees seem on track for another payroll of more than $200 million in 2015. They have about $27 million coming off their payroll in Jeter and Hiroki Kuroda, but will be redirecting most of that to the returning Alex Rodriguez ($25 million). They also added a pricey piece this summer by acquiring Martin Prado ($11 million).

Here is a preview of where the Yankees stand heading into the 2014-15 offseason:

Arbitration-eligible: C Francisco Cervelli, LHP David Huff, RHP Shawn Kelley, RHP Ivan Nova, RHP David Phelps, RHP Michael Pineda, RHP Esmil Rogers, C Austin Romine.

Free agents: LHP Chris Capuano, SS Stephen Drew, 3B Chase Headley, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Kuroda, RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP David Robertson, OF Ichiro Suzuki, OF Chris Young.

Rotation: Assuming they're healthy, the one-two punch of Masahiro Tanaka and Pineda at the front of the rotation would be a formidable way to set things up, but there are questions attached -- Tanaka missed 10 weeks with a partially torn right ulnar collateral ligament and Pineda was limited to 13 starts by injury. CC Sabathia is coming back from right knee surgery and should be serviceable, though his days of being the lead horse in the rotation seem to be over. McCarthy has expressed willingness to return and would help round out the middle of the staff, especially if Kuroda retires. Nova is coming off Tommy John surgery and probably won't be ready until the second half, but Shane Greene showed enough in his rookie campaign to suggest that he can play a part moving forward.

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Yanks could look to market to fill out lineup for '15