With lower than per week remaining till pitchers and catchers report back to Tampa, Brian Cashman seems prepared to bounce with the group of gamers he already has below contract.
The Yankees nonetheless have a number of query marks as spring coaching nears — most notably at third base and backup catcher — however in an interview with the YES Community that aired Thursday, Cashman made it sound as if they’ll attempt to fill these holes with their inside choices earlier than they attain into the free-agent or commerce market.
Because the roster at the moment stands, the Yankees are set to have a camp competitors between Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, DJ LeMahieu and Jorbit Vivas for third base — or second base, as Cashman left the door open for Jazz Chisholm Jr. to bounce between the 2 positions relying on who’s pitching that day.
“I don’t know the way it’s going to play out,” Cashman stated. “I do assume we are able to have considered one of these candidates emerge or a number of guys emerge right into a platoon scenario at worst, or a solo shot at greatest. If not, there’s at all times {the marketplace} to mess around with as we transfer ahead, too.”
The Yankees did many of the heavy lifting on their roster in December, however since then quite a few potential infield choices have signed elsewhere.
The Cardinals are nonetheless making an attempt to commerce veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado whereas lower-priced free brokers stay accessible, however for now the Yankees seem hopeful that an inside answer will declare itself.
“Clearly, between Peraza, Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu, Vivas, we’re going to have some guys taking some reps making an attempt to earn a spot, whether or not it’s at second or third,” Cashman stated. “The pliability and athleticism that Jazz gives offers us the ample alternative to play it out. I’ll be snug when someone solidifies that, whether or not it’s a platoon scenario or a solo shot.”
Alongside the best way, Cashman additionally famous that he acquired Chisholm final summer time to be the Yankees’ second baseman the remainder of the 12 months, however Gleyber Torres was “unwilling” to maneuver to 3rd (Torres stated bluntly on the time, “I’m a second baseman. I play second.”)
As for the backup to Austin Wells, Cashman referred to as nonroster invite Alex Jackson (a part of the return for Jose Trevino, together with high-strikeout reliever Fernando Cruz) “an excellent defensive catcher” who “suits the prototypical function of a backup and he has been a significant league backup already.”
He additionally referenced youthful catchers “pushing up the ranks” — he was not named, however J.C. Escarra is on the 40-man roster and has followers inside the group.
“I’m snug we’ve got some guys that, with some rising pains, could possibly be actually good for us and could possibly be actually good for us proper out of the gate,” Cashman stated.
Within the meantime, the Yankees have been looking for a taker for Marcus Stroman, who tasks because the membership’s sixth starter, although Cashman stated he’s a greater pitcher than what he confirmed in a tough second half final 12 months.
“Finally, I really feel like we as a workforce let him down with what we did behind him [defensively] in his begins,” Cashman stated. “Unsure what can transpire. He’s right here [in Tampa] and searching ahead to him contributing like he did final 12 months.”