With just a couple of weeks until Opening Day, the Yankees have a lot of decisions to make in regards to their roster.
In addition to the position battles in left field and shortstop, the team has had a number of injuries to key players. Carlos Rodon and Harrison Bader will miss Opening Day, and while they are likely to return sooner rather than later, their spots will need to be filled by players who may have had a different role or would not have made it out of camp.
The depth of the Yankees’ organization will be tested early on, but if they can weather this string of injuries they should be raring to go for a deep postseason run. And unless GM Brian Cashman makes a move, which I don’t see happening, they’ll have to start April with the players they have in their organization.
Position Players
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Gleyber Torres/DJ LeMahieu, 2B
Oswald Peraza, SS
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Oswaldo Cabrera, RF
Aaron Hicks, LF
Aaron Judge, CF
Jose Trevino, C
Giancarlo Stanton, DH
The Yankees went into spring with a hole in left, and with Bader going down they have to fill center field as well.
Manager Aaron Boone is already looking from within to try to find an answer. Judge and Stanton have taken reps in the corners, and Boone has tried Cabrera in various positions in the outfield as well. But Judge seems like a better option in center until Bader can return. The reigning AL MVP played 78 games in center last season and can do it again.
That also gives Boone flexibility to play Stanton instead of Cabrera in right field on certain days.
In pursuit of outfield options, Boone is even going to try Isiah Kiner-Falefa in center. While IKF in center is highly unlikely, it does give a hint as to what the Yankees feel about their shortstop position.
IKF lost his job at the end of last season, and while he can still win it this spring, his productivity at the plate has not helped his cause. Peraza seems like the more sure bet to be the Opening Day shortstop as he has some major league experience and has been solid this spring.
But where does that leave Anthony Volpe? Oh, we’ll get to him.
Starting Rotation
Gerrit Cole, RHP
Nestor Cortes, LHP
Luis Severino,…