With the Yankees officially opening up their spring training facilities today, the question remains, Who's coming and who's going? Well it had to be said. I know everyone has a fair shot, but let's be honest, unless the Yankees get particular, and let go of the dead weight, they will be right back where they ended last year—without a championship and losing to Houston. So this spring training is the first day of the Yankees' future—where the winners win and the losers, well they go home.
The first stop is shortstop. Frontrunners to this position include Oswald Peraza, Anthony Volpe and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. But as I wrote just a couple of days ago,YANKEES BETTING ON PERAZA TO STEAL THE SHORTSTOP ROLE, the position is Pereza's to lose.
"The Yankees envision Volpe as a face of their franchise along with Aaron Judge in the near future, but it won’t materialize early this season and may not until 2024. And if Peraza sticks at short, then Volpe might end up at second base, a spot some scouts think he’ll end up. Volpe’s shortstop skills are beyond solid, but Peraza has more range and arm strength," reports NJ.com. So if we start the year with Pereza at short and Gleyber Torres at second, there is still a chance for Volpe to make the team later in the year.
So what about the elephant in the room? Perhaps two of them: DJ LeMahieu and Josh Donaldson. LeMahieu has his most value at third base for the Yankees, but will his toe be a factor this year, leaving the Yankees with no choice but to play Josh Donaldson?
"It wouldn’t be an easy call for the Yankees to potentially eat $29 million by releasing Donaldson if they DFA him and can’t find a trade partner, but it’s the best move and the one we’re predicting. LeMahieu’s best position nowadays is third base, so the Yankees might as well put him there and stick with Torres at second until Volpe (or perhaps Peraza) take the starting job at some point this season or in 2024," reported NJ.com.
IKF could serve as a utility third baseman as well as fill in at short as needed. I would say the Yankees keep him for that reason and allow LeMahieu to just stick with one position, in hopes of keeping him healthy.
There has been so much talk about left field that I really don't want to admit that Aaron Hicks "wins" the job. I really can't believe that the Yankees can't do better than that. The asking price for Brian Reynolds is ridiculously high so at this point he is not an option. I have said that Oswaldo Cabrera is the better choice, letting Hicks "fill-in." He won't be tradable, and he has $30.5 million remaining on his contact.
"And if the Yankees DFA Donaldson and most or all of his $29 million, they won’t throw away another $30.5 million to move on from Hicks. But if Hicks doesn’t produce, Cabrera or Estevan Florial getting a chance to start in left becomes likely at least until trade deadline options possibly bring in this year’s version of Andrew Benintendi," reported NJ.com.
There will be a rich spotlight on the Yankees spring training this year. I am hopeful that the light is so strong that it works to weed out the players that don't deserve to be there. Hey, if the New York Mets can throw away precious money on mindless Super Bowl ads, the Yankees can do better with sitting down or releasing veterans that have no value to this team. Who's coming and Who's going...The Spring Training Saga and it is about to get started. Get ready for a page turner...the suspense is killing me.
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--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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