With Opening Day just a few weeks away, the Yankees are pretty banged up.
Giancarlo Stanton is out indefinitely with tennis elbows. DJ LeMahieu is sidelined for just a few weeks on account of a calf pressure. Luis Gil’s lat pressure has him a summer season return.
A handful of different Yankees are damage, but there’s only some roster spots up for grabs with exhibition play properly underway. With that in thoughts, let’s check out the group Aaron Boone may have at his disposal when the Bombers open their season towards the Brewers on March 27.
(Take into account there’s nonetheless time for exterior strikes, and groups expertise turnover as spring ends and cuts are made).
Catchers (3): Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra, Ben Rice
The Yankees appear poised to hold three catchers with Stanton out. That’s not remarkable, nevertheless it’s additionally not the norm.
What’s much more uncommon is that every one three of the gamers talked about above swing from the left aspect.
With Wells entrenched because the starter — and an choice to steer off — Escarra and Rice can present pop off the bench and within the DH spot once they’re not catching. Escarra, a journeyman with no huge league expertise, established himself as an elite defensive catcher at Triple-A final season, whereas Rice may also assist out at first base.
Ought to the Yankees go together with this group, Alex Jackson could be the one unnoticed. A robust defender and light-weight hitter, Jackson is in camp as an NRI after being acquired within the Jose Trevino commerce.
Infielders (6): 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., UTL Oswaldo Cabrera, SS Anthony Volpe, UTL Oswald Peraza, 1B Dominic Smith
A lot of the Yankees’ infield is about. And in the event that they don’t add a 3rd baseman earlier than Opening Day, so are their choices on the place.
LeMahieu had a presumed edge within the battle for the new nook earlier than getting damage. Now the place is right down to Cabrera and Peraza, who may begin off in a real platoon scenario. The uber-versatile Cabrera is best from the left aspect of the plate, although the slick-fielding Peraza has but to point out that he can hit main league pitching. Peraza, a former prime prospect, is out of choices, so he shall be uncovered to waivers if he doesn’t crack the Opening Day roster.
Smith, in the meantime, has set himself up for a bench function because of a sweet-swinging spring and the aforementioned accidents. He’s one other backup choice at first, and he can add some pop to the bench. One other NRI, Smith must be added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster, however that shouldn’t be onerous to do with Stanton and Gil candidates for the 60-day IL.
Outfielders (4): RF Aaron Choose, CF Cody Bellinger, LF Jasson Domínguez, CF Trent Grisham
The Yankees’ outfield plans are fairly straight ahead.
Choose, Bellinger and Domínguez are the starters, however Grisham ought to see loads of time in middle with Choose anticipated to take some DH at-bats in Stanton’s absence. Bellinger can slide from middle to proper on these days.
Domínguez’s protection in left stays a piece in progress although. The Yankees wish to see some enchancment there between now and Opening Day after some gaffes this spring and final September.
Smith and Cabrera are able to taking part in the outfield, too. Everson Pereira, not rostered on this projection, may additionally play a component this season.
Starters (5): RHP Gerrit Cole, LHP Max Fried, LHP Carlos Rodón, RHP Clarke Schmidt, RHP Marcus Stroman
With Gil on the shelf, Marcus Stroman pencils in because the fifth starter following an offseason of commerce rumors. There’s an opportunity the Yankees may nonetheless transfer Stroman and a portion of his $18 million wage — they’d be glad to dump a few of that cash — however makes an attempt to deal the righty have been unsuccessful.
Ought to the Yankees discover a taker for Stroman, they’ve depth choices in veteran Carlos Carrasco, younger right-hander Will Warren and NRI Allan Winans.
Bullpen (8): CL Devin Williams, RHP Luke Weaver, LHP Tim Hill, RHP Ian Hamilton, RHP Fernando Cruz, RHP Mark Leiter Jr., LHP Tyler Matzek, RHP Yoendrys Gómez
Ought to they keep wholesome and with the Yankees, Williams, Weaver, Hill, Hamilton, Cruz and Leiter are locked into the membership’s bullpen. It’s the final two spots which can be obtainable.
Right here, one goes to Tyler Matzek, which might give the Yankees a second lefty of their pen. A adorned postseason pitcher who overcame the yips early in his profession, Matzek wasn’t fairly himself after coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure final 12 months. Nonetheless, he’s earned rave critiques from Boone this spring.
Gómez will get a nod as a result of he’s out of choices. Like Peraza, he’ll be uncovered to waivers if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster. The righty has been touted as a beginning pitching prospect, however he’s handled accidents and has solely pitched out of the bullpen in three MLB video games. He’s but to start out this spring, too.
One other candidate for Gómez’s spot is Clayton Beeter, although it’s unclear if he’ll be prepared for Opening Day after an offseason shoulder concern put him not on time in the beginning of camp. And given the dominance he’s displayed this spring, may the Yankees roster Warren in a Michael King-type function? Perhaps, although taking him off a starter’s routine may damage their rotation depth.
There’s potential for crowding within the Yankees’ bullpen down the highway, as Jake Cousins (forearm), Jonathan Loáisiga (elbow surgical procedure rehab), JT Brubaker (damaged ribs) and Scott Effross (hamstring) are coping with accidents.
