Once more, Yankees are in full winter mode as the World Series plays on

NEW YORK – Another World Series has begun without the Yankees.

To review, seven different American League teams have won the pennant since the Yankees’ last World Series appearance in 2009.

Four of those clubs have made multiple trips to the Series, including the rival Boston Red Sox.

And for the Houston Astros, this year’s World Series against the Atlanta Braves is their third Fall Classic appearance since 2017, and their first since the infamous electronic sign-stealing scandal.

Two years after leaving the Astros and signing a $324 million contract with the intent of winning multiple championships as a Yankee, ace Gerrit Cole is home again while Houston plays on.

So, it’s been 4,374 days (thank you, Siri) since Nov. 4, 2009, when the Yankees played in their last World Series game, winning their Game 6 clincher over the Philadelphia Phillies.

And in all that time, the Yankees have had two field managers and one general manager.

GM Brian Cashman said, “it was my toughest year,’’ trying to figure out a Yankees team that appeared “at times unstoppable and many other times unwatchable.’’

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During his forensic public review of the 2021 season, Cashman offered that the Yankees “went backwards in categories that we didn’t see coming or expect.’’

An offense that “went completely backwards’’ and a bullpen that suffered injuries to Zack Britton and experienced closer Aroldis Chapman’s sharp, sudden regression were Cashman’s two chief concerns.

Batting coach Marcus Thames and his assistant P.J. Pilittere were dismissed, paying for a talent-loaded lineup that finished 10th in the AL in runs scored even with a healthy Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Overall team defense and baserunning are worrisome areas, too, and Cashman identified a need to add more athletic players and to have a better contact-oriented lineup.

Altering such a lineup, which currently contains Gary Sanchez and Joey Gallo, requires more than a cosmetic change.

The re-signing of first baseman Anthony Rizzo – a free agent after the World Series – would be a step toward improving the contact rate and the team’s defense.

Of course, the pursuit of a shortstop is the Yanks’ greatest need and the cornerstone to their entire offseason.

What about the pitching staff?

Already, Cashman could roll out a rotation that looks like this:

1.      Gerrit Cole

2.      Luis Severino

3.      Jordan Montgomery

4.      Jameson Taillon*

5.      Domingo German

Taillon might not be rotation ready until May, recovering from right ankle tendon surgery that requires a five-month recovery.

But the Yankees have organizational depth in lefty Nestor Cortes and right-handers Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Michael King and Deivi Garcia, who took a big developmental step back in 2021.

Still, the uncertainty associated with Severino (coming off Tommy John surgery, as well as shoulder and groin issues) and Taillon should put the Yankees back in the market for a Cole wingman.

Corey Kluber wasn’t the answer in 2021, and the veteran is probably headed back to a free-agent pool with some interesting names. 

At age 28, lefty Carlos Rodon had a fine bounce-back year with the Chicago White Sox (2.37 ERA, 5.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio, 12.6 Ks per nine innings, 0.957 WHIP). But shoulder concerns have lingered.

In Toronto, lefty Robbie Ray’s free-agent walk year couldn’t have gone much better (2.84 ERA, league-leading 248 Ks in 32 starts) but there are two intriguing potential veteran free agents in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.

Now, Scherzer seems like a real long shot, but the idea of re-teaming Verlander with Cole has merit.

Verlander is coming off Tommy John surgery in 2020 and is entering his age-39 season.

But in his last full year, Verlander led the AL with 223 innings pitched, struck out 300 batters and won his second Cy Young award.

Pete Caldera is the Yankees beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Yankees analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: caldera@northjersey.com Twitter: @pcaldera