For the Yankees, squeezing value from the margins will be vital for the foreseeable future. They’re no longer a team chock full of star power and big ticket free agents, like one of the ‘super teams’ built to win a World Series. To be frank, the roster is a rebuilder’s, thinly veiled in a coat of ‘competing’ thanks to new additions such as Aroldis Chapman and Matt Holliday.
Given the lack of playoff talent in the lineup and the rotation, the Yankees will need to do the little things right to even make a push for October. While it’s vastly undervaluing defense to call it a ‘little thing,’ the ability to save runs on the outfield grass is something the Yankees are trying to wring as much value out of as possible, building their outfield corps to be excellent at defense.