It’s been a troublesome spring for the Yankees on the harm entrance. The membership has confronted numerous noteworthy accidents, with the most recent blow being the lack of veteran ace Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgical procedure. He’ll miss the complete 2025 season, whereas rotation-mate Luis Gil is about to overlook a few months after struggling a lat pressure. The lineup has been impacted as effectively, with slugger Giancarlo Stanton poised to overlook vital time because of elbow points whereas doubtless beginning third baseman DJ LeMahieu has been sidelined by a calf pressure.
Every of these accidents have prompted various ranges of speculations that the membership may look to herald some assist, however the Yankees are seemingly dealing with pretty strict funds limits. RosterResource tasks them for a $285MM payroll. The Yanks have proven little curiosity in including payroll, and their projected $305MM aggressive steadiness tax quantity is already above the $301MM high tax threshold. It might be pretty troublesome to make lineup and rotation additions with restricted funds area and a restricted provide accessible to them. Common supervisor Brian Cashman downplayed the potential of the Yankees making a notable addition, citing the present tax state of affairs as an impediment.
Maybe the obvious selection for an improve could be the beginning rotation. The Yankees are already down at the least one starter for the complete 2025 season, and whereas Marcus Stroman can step into the rotation as a #5 starter comparatively seamlessly, the depth past him will get shakier. Non-roster invitee Carlos Carrasco has an unpleasant 6.18 ERA over his previous two seasons, whereas prospect Will Warren struggled to a ten.32 ERA in his massive league debut final 12 months with an ERA close to 6.00 at Triple-A. A steadier depth arm like Lance Lynn or Kyle Gibson would make loads of sense for a rotation that has a number of pitchers with notable harm histories.
The Yankees do have loads of high-end expertise within the rotation that might assist to make up for the dearth of depth. Max Fried is a reputable No. 1 starter in his personal proper. Carlos Rodon is simply two seasons faraway from incomes Cy Younger votes. Clarke Schmidt posted a sterling 2.85 ERA in 16 begins final 12 months. With the reigning AL Rookie of the Yr set to affix the rotation sooner or later this 12 months, maybe the Yankees’ wants are extra acute within the lineup.
The thought of filling Stanton’s spot within the lineup is made extra intriguing by the presence of a comparable veteran lingering in free agenct. J.D. Martinez stays available on the market, and the 2 sluggers have produced almost an identical offensive worth over the previous 5 years: Stanton has slashed .231/.313/.473 with a 117 wRC+, whereas Martinez has hit .263/.330/.477 with a wRC+ of 118. Even with Martinez coming off a relative down season and a very robust second half with the Mets final 12 months, it’s straightforward to see why having Martinez fill in for Stanton could possibly be very interesting. The Yankees have had at the least “some contact” with Martinez since Stanton was sidelined.
Then once more, it’s truthful to argue that Stanton is the best of the injured Yankees to exchange in-house. Ben Rice has impressed throughout Spring Coaching and was already within the dialog for the backup catcher job. He could possibly be tabbed as a possible DH possibility towards right-handed hitters. One other answer could be giving regulars extra relaxation by taking part in them at DH from time to time. If the membership locations Trent Grisham in middle area for a day moderately than Cody Bellinger, Stanton’s harm may allow them to give Bellinger a partial relaxation day at DH or have him again up any of Jasson Dominguez, Aaron Choose, and even Paul Goldschmidt so they might get a relaxation day of their very own.
Third base has additionally been a query all through camp. LeMahieu looks like he’ll have a shorter absence than Stanton, however even coming off a down season, his harm thins out the infield choices. A mixture of LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera at all times appeared pretty uninspiring. An MLBTR ballot late final month advised {that a} plurality of respondents believed the membership’s major third baseman could be somebody not but within the group.
The third base market — and second base market, if Jazz Chisholm Jr. performs third as an alternative — has largely been picked over, nonetheless. The Yankees have been linked to infield choices like Jose Iglesias and Jorge Polanco at factors all through the offseason and into Spring Coaching, however each veterans have since landed elsewhere. Nolan Arenado is thought to be keen to waive his no-trade clause to affix the Yankees, but it surely’s unlikely New York could be keen to tackle his contract. Veteran Whit Merrifield stays accessible in free company however isn’t a transparent improve coming off a downturn in manufacturing on the plate. Maybe upcoming opt-out alternatives for non-roster veterans and gamers made accessible on waivers because of roster crunches when Opening Day attracts close to will current a extra viable answer.
How do MLBTR readers assume the Yankees ought to handle their injury-created holes? Will the membership signal/purchase a starter to deepen its oft-injured rotation combine? Or may the Yankees as an alternative flip to the lineup and both exchange Stanton at DH or search for an improve to the infield? Have your say within the ballot beneath:
