Yankees Spring Training: Roster Battles Heat Up Ahead of Opening Day

As March marches on, the excitement surrounding the Yankees’ spring training intensifies, marking the third week of the Making the Team Meter. With Opening Day just around the corner, the Yankees are in the critical phase of finalizing their roster. The World Baseball Classic has kept the Yankees from making significant cuts, but the time has come to evaluate player performance and usage as the team begins to shape its Opening Day roster.

The pitching staff, in particular, appears largely settled. Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Ryan Weathers, Will Warren, and Luis Gil are projected to fill the five starting rotation spots. The bullpen will likely consist of high-leverage relievers David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, and Tim Hill, with Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn expected to serve as versatile multi-inning relievers. Despite some inconsistency from Weathers and Gil this spring, the overall picture remains unchanged, leaving just two bullpen spots available.

However, a recent broadcast on the YES Network raised questions about the Yankees’ early-season strategy. With five off-days in the first month, including three in the first eight days, the Yankees might opt for a four-man rotation to avoid overly long rest periods for their starters. Aaron Boone hinted at this approach, emphasizing the importance of keeping starters on a regular schedule. This could lead to the No. 5 starter starting the season in Triple-A, allowing the Yankees to carry an additional reliever initially. Boone also mentioned the possibility of utilizing starters not in the rotation as piggyback options to remain stretched out.

Decisions made regarding the pitching staff will have ripple effects throughout the roster. If the Yankees choose to carry an extra reliever, either Warren or Gil may be sent to Scranton, while the team could also consider a swingman approach with Yarbrough, Blackburn, and one of the other starters. The recent cuts of pitchers like Michael Arias and Brendan Beck have cleared some space, but other candidates like Cade Winquest and Osvaldo Bido need roster spots, complicating the decision-making process further.

The catching situation, however, has become clearer. Austin Wells is set to be the starter, with J.C. Escarra serving as the backup. With Ben Rice focusing on first base this spring, it seems unlikely that he will take on backup catching duties without any game experience behind the plate. Michael Palma has been reassigned to the minor leagues, solidifying Wells and Escarra’s roles.

Moving on to the position players, the Yankees have 11 candidates vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Following a round of cuts, including players like George Lombard Jr. and Marco Luciano, 23 players remain in big league camp, highlighting the need for depth amid the World Baseball Classic.

While Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario are secured in their positions, the final bench spot remains uncertain. Jasson Domínguez and Oswaldo Cabrera were expected to compete for this role, but Domínguez is likely headed to Scranton, and Cabrera’s recovery from injury may delay his return to the roster. The Yankees are considering either a right-handed hitting outfielder like Randal Grichuk or a backup shortstop such as Paul DeJong or Max Schuemann for the last spot.

There is a potential workaround to the roster crunch: if the Yankees utilize a four-man rotation and employ a piggyback strategy, they could manage with only 12 pitchers for the first couple of weeks. This would allow them to carry both a shortstop and Grichuk, addressing immediate needs while maintaining flexibility.

As the Yankees continue to navigate these roster battles, the decisions made in the coming days will be crucial. Stay tuned for our next update next Monday, just before the Yankees kick off their season next Thursday. In the meantime, we invite your thoughts on the current roster dynamics in the comments below.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.