Thursday, August 6, 2020

THE YANKEES LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT STARTING TODAY


The Yankees dugout will have fewer bodies in it starting today. It's crazy....but it is happening. We talked about the possibility of it happening, and now we adapt again. Teams have already done a lot of adapting this year and it continues. Starting today, roster size has reduced from 30 to 28. It doesn't make sense but that's been the story for months now. So cross your fingers everyone!

But there is one change from last week, thankfully. In two weeks the roster was set to reduce again to 26 and that is no longer going to happen. The MLBPA agreed to a change of a 28-man roster for the rest of the season (including playoffs) and in addition the taxi squad will increase from three to five. 


I guess it is good that all teams will have more options available to them in the even of a last-minute change. Three didn't give a lot of flexibility so five is better and it sounds like one member of the taxi squad may still be a catcher, which could benefit the Yankees a lot. Gary Sanchez is on the radar (again) and not for a good reason. I know Gerrit Cole says he is impressed...but he probably doesn't have a lot of company there.

I still don't like this idea of reducing the roster but I'm not really surprised. We haven't seen any leadership from failing Commissioner Rob Manfred and let's face it....more players on the roster means more Green money that the owners won't have to dish out. That's the last thing they want to do considering how much revenue they will lose this season. The money continues to talk, and the pandemic continues on. More potential outbreaks with smaller roster sizes don't add up to a logical decision. Too bad Manfred and owners do not see it that way.


So it will be interesting to see how teams manage their roster reduction and then how they configure their taxi squad. We should be getting Aroldis Chapman back soon, so once that happens we could see someone else will have to be moved. I'm not sure who that could be but I think Nick Nelson has made a lasting impression and the Yankees will look to keep him around longer, especially now that Tommy Kahnle won't be back this season...or maybe ever.

It's hard to guess anything right now and some tough decisions will have to be made. We already saw the Yankees make one with Clint Frazier that Aaron Boone struggled with. COVID-19 hasn't made anything easy this season, and the roster is no exception.



--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

1 comment:

  1. U think it is time to move Hicks while has a simi friendly contract and move Tauchman to CF and put either Frazier or Andujar in LF. Gardy to pinch hitting and defensive replacement. Move Torres down in the lineup and move Urshella ( proving me wrong about a 1 season sensation)Were stuck with Samchez has not hit since June of last year. Swings at stuff way out of the zone.Stanton has not done anything since the first two games maybe move him to the 2 spot and Judge to 3rd with Judge hitting behind him maybe he will get better pitching to hit.

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