In an offseason overshadowed by shedding Juan Soto, the Yankees have executed the heavy lifting to get again on their toes and place themselves to doubtlessly defend the American League pennant.
However with lower than three weeks remaining till pitchers and catchers report back to Tampa for spring coaching, there may be nonetheless work to be executed within the late-winter lull of free company.
Earlier than Thursday, the Yankees had three open 40-man roster spots to work with.
Two waiver claims later, that quantity was down to 1 getting into Friday, although that hardly limits their capacity to usher in extra expertise.
Listed below are 4 specific areas that the Yankees might look to shore up earlier than the primary exercise for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 12.
Who’s taking part in second base — or third base?
A part of this is dependent upon the place Aaron Boone in the end decides to play Jazz Chisholm Jr., a former second baseman who dealt with himself nicely at third base final season, a place he manned for the primary time in his profession after coming over in a commerce on the deadline.
Both means, the Yankees can have a gap to fill at one of many positions. As they’re constructed, they may have a camp battle between DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Jorbit Vivas to fill the necessity in-house.
The veteran LeMahieu, who nonetheless has two years and $30 million left on his contract, has had his manufacturing sapped by accidents in recent times whereas Peraza, the previous high shortstop prospect, is out of minor league choices.
The Yankees worth Cabrera’s versatility and have solely had him begin constantly at one place on a short-term foundation (often due to accidents).
And Vivas, who flashed in camp final yr, has but to make his MLB debut.
However the Yankees might additionally deal with the necessity externally, both by commerce (if the Padres need to shed second baseman Luis Arraez’s $14 million wage) or free company, with Jorge Polanco, Brendan Rodgers and Ha-Seong Kim among the many potential candidates.
A Tim Hill reunion?
The Yankees spent a big chunk of final season looking for a reliable lefty out of the bullpen earlier than Tim Hill emerged as the reply.
Now Hill continues to be a free agent within the slow-moving reduction market and the Yankees are and not using a lefty reliever on their 40-man roster.
In fact, the Yankees will not be the one crew pursuing Hill, however the 34-year-old makes an excessive amount of sense to not deliver again.
Any takers for Stroman?
With the Yankees’ payroll hovering close to the very best luxury-tax threshold (of $301 million), they could be trying to shed some wage earlier than including extra.
The likeliest means for that to occur would come within the type of a commerce of Marcus Stroman, who is about to make $18 million this season however presently initiatives because the Yankees’ No. 6 starter.
There may be no such factor as having an excessive amount of pitching, however Stroman is an costly arm who could be the odd man out if the remainder of the rotation stays wholesome.
Whether or not the Yankees can discover a new residence for him, which might possible embrace paying down a few of his wage, stays to be seen.
A backup for Wells?
For the second straight yr, the Yankees entered the offseason with loads of catching depth, however have dealt from it by sending Jose Trevino to the Reds and Carlos Narvaez to the Purple Sox.
That has left the choices behind Austin Wells just a little thinner, with non-roster invitee Alex Jackson (a part of the return for Trevino who has 124 video games of MLB expertise) the main candidate.
Jackson doesn’t provide a lot offensively however is a gifted framer, which the Yankees worth extremely. Is that sufficient to make him Wells’ backup or will the Yankees look so as to add a extra skilled backstop?
The Yankees even have J.C. Escarra (who’s coming off profitable the batting title within the Dominican Winter League) and Jesus Rodriguez on the 40-man roster, however each are inexperienced.