What's Next for the New York Yankees

A second straight season has past and the New York Yankees aren't in the playoffs. There is a lot of blame to go around. We can first start off with the injuries and lack of offense in the rotation. Last year it was the same song and dance. The Yankees' aging players couldn't stay healthy by helping the team in getting back to the playoffs. Many fans are angry and upset, and rightfully so. They expect the best product out on the field every game, and what they've been given was mediocrity.
 
This season has been focused mainly on the retirement and celebration of Yankees' legend Derek Jeter. So at times throughout the season people even forgot about making the playoffs and just focused on the captain. As a fan, I stayed on course and never took my eye off the prize, but knew that this team isn't that good. With the acquisitions of Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran last offseason, you would've thought they would of been the difference makers. But as we witnessed a tragic season, they were just useless.
 
Many of the Yankees' players batting average barely could stay above .250. The best bat they had on the team this year was Ichiro Suzuki. He's a aging outfielder that was batting .284 at age 40. If he's going to be your saviour, you aren't going anywhere as a team. Ichiro had a good season and he still can defend the outfield better than most younger players. He's lost a step or two, but without his play the Yankees wouldn't have been in the playoff hunt.
 
The big story here moving forward is about Alex Rodriguez. He will be eligible to play again for the 2015 season and owner Hal Steinbrenner is welcoming him with open arms. I know A-Rod was probably sitting back laughing and saying to himself "they can't win without me". Just that narcissism he possesses. But the organization definitely can use his bat. Let's see if he has anymore power left in the tank. He might be aging, but I think A-Rod still wants to prove to the world that they made a big mistake counting him out.
 
All I know is that the Yankees need to upgrade its lineup and soon. We know that they'll spend the money, so as a fanbase we should be optimistic about this team next year.