With the 2020 MLB season only days away, teams are using Spring Training 2.0 to finalize their rosters. COVID-19 has put unprecedented hurdles in the way for each and every MLB franchise. Teams are now not only concerned with keeping players healthy, but, with the shortened 60 game season, they must also be concerned with giving players proper rest as well. Luckily, the rosters will expand this season to accommodate the pandemic. According to MLB.com, the expanded roster rule states:
Each club will have a 30-man roster for the first two weeks of the 2020 season, 28 for the next two weeks, and 26 for the remainder of the season. Teams will submit lists of 60 players eligible to play in 2020 — the 40-man roster plus a “taxi squad” of 20 players, and there will be no restrictions on position players pitching.
The New York Yankees will have plenty of options when it comes to its roster. They are blessed with a wealth of talent at each position on the field. As a result of that talent, the Yankees are one of the favorites to take home the World Series crown this year. So, here is a look at the New York Yankees season preview for 2020.
Starting Pitchers
The top four in the Yankees rotation is pretty much set in stone. Gerrit Cole is now the highest paid pitcher in baseball history and will be looked upon as the Yankee ace that has eluded them for the last several years. No one has benefited more from the season delay than James Paxton. Due to his back surgery, it was thought that he wouldn’t be available until the end of May at the earliest. Now, Paxton will easily slide in behind Cole and Masahiro Tanaka as his back is now back to full strength.
Possible Fifth Starter
Here is where things get interesting for the Yankees. The number five starter spot is currently up for grabs. As of right now, Montgomery is seen as the front runner, but he is coming off of Tommy John surgery and only pitched four innings in 2019. So, it is possible that he could find himself on the ”taxi squad” and Jonathan Loaisiga could hold down the end of the rotation until Montgomery is ready. Loaisiga has started eight games for the Yankees in the last two seasons, but he has a career 4.79 ERA.
However, the Yankees could potentially see value in giving one of the younger guys a shot. Both Clarke Schmidt and Michael King have been impressive in their early careers. Schmidt, the Yankees 2017 first-round pick, left a big impression on J.A. Happ when he pitched against the Yankee lineup a few days ago.
King has been a bit up and down since coming to the Yankees in a trade with the Miami Marlins at the end of 2017. He was the organization’s MiLB Pitcher of the Year in 2018, but was injured throughout 2019. But, he showed a lot of promise in the early days of Spring Training before COVID-19 shut everything down. While neither is likely to make the rotation out of camp, the Yankees have to like the future of their rotation.
Relief Pitchers
The only surprise here would be if the Yankees decide to keep Deivi Garcia in the bullpen to get some big league experience. Hopes are high for Garcia, but he is still very young, having just turned 21. However, there could be value in allowing him to test the waters against some higher level hitters since there will be no minor league season this year.
They will also have to navigate the start of the season without Chapman and Cessa, who were both diagnosed with COVID-19. They have the bullpen depth to get by until they get healthy, but they are big losses for now.
Catcher
No doubt that Gary Sanchez is option A for the Yankees. The hope is that Sanchez’s new right-knee-down style behind the plate will help with some of his defensive woes. The intrigue comes at the backup position. Higashioka is the likely winner of that job although the Yankees also have Erik Kratz and Chris Iannetta competing against him.
First Base
Luke Voit is the starter going in to the year, but he is coming off of sports hernia surgery. Mike Ford offers the Yankees big lefty power in a predominately right-handed lineup. This will be a fun battle to watch as both Voit and Ford are fan favorites who bring a lot of fire and passion with their playing styles.
Second Base
The only concern the Yankees have with DJ LeMahieu is if he’ll be ready for Opening Day after also testing positive for the coronavirus. He is currently reported as being asymptomatic. He will be seen, once again, as a key piece in the Yankee lineup, so his health is something to monitor.
Third Base
What the Yankees do with Miguel Andujar has been the biggest question for them this offseason. After finishing second in the 2018 ROY voting, Andujar missed almost all of last year with right shoulder labrum repair surgery. Luckily, the Yankees were able to find Gio Urshela seemingly out of nowhere, and he responded by becoming one of the best players on the entire squad.
If Urshela is able to repeat his success of last year, he will be penciled in as the third base starter going forward. But, should Andujar return to his 2018 hitting form, the Yankees will have a hard time keeping him out of the lineup and will have to find a place for him to play. The Yankees have been giving Andujar reps in the outfield and even first base in the hopes of finding him a spot.
Shortstop
Next to Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres is seen as the future face of the New York Yankees. He has currently met and exceeded all of the lofty expectations when he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs back in July of 2016. A superstar in the making, Torres will be a staple in the Yankee lineup for years to come.
Outfield
Six players for three outfield spots. After re-signing with the Yankees in the offseason, Brett Gardner will surely be a starting outfielder yet again after a career year in 2019. Meanwhile, Aaron Hicks looks primed to return healthy from Tommy John surgery without missing any regular season games.
Aaron Judge will be the everyday right fielder as long as he is healthy. His rib injury has fully healed, although he is now dealing with neck stiffness. Giancarlo Stanton will primarily see time at DH but should get some time the outfield as well. After coming on strong last season, Mike Tauchman will see regular time in all three outfield spots.
So, the big question is what the team will do about Clint Frazier. Since being traded to the Yankees in July of 2016, Frazier has been somewhat of a polarizing figure. His struggles with the New York media have been widely covered as well as his aggressive attitude. However, there is no denying how talented he is. His bat has a lot of pop and he plays the game very hard. Unfortunately, Frazier may be the odd man out in this current scenario and will most likely be on the outside looking in when lineups are trimmed down to 26 players.
Bench
Both Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada will be the utility infield options for the Yankees. Both are valuable pieces off the bench as both can man several infield and outfield positions. Wade has had multiple stints with the team, and his speed makes him an even more valuble asset.
As a wildcard, the Yankees could take a hard look at Rosell Herrera. Herrera was on a tear in early spring training, batting .400 in 27 plate appearances and showing a slick glove in the field. The former Baseball America Top-100 Prospect shows a lot of positional flexibility, and his bat has been productive in the past. However, he is a bit of a journeyman, having played for the Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, and Marlins before the Yankees signed him in February of this year.
Injury and lack of production have kept Herrera from sticking with a big league club, but if the Yankees can coax his bat into being as productive as it was in his early career, he can join the likes of Gio Urshela and Mike Tauchman as players the Yankees have turned around.
Outlook
The New York Yankees have plenty of talent and options all over the field. It’s no wonder they are seen as one of the favorites to with the World Series this year. If the Yankees can get production from their starting pitching and several key players respond well after injury, there’s no reason to think the Yankees can’t be hoisting the trophy at the end of the year.
But, questions do still loom large over not just the Yankees but MLB as a whole. With COVID-19 hanging heavy over the entire league, one can only hope that another stoppage won’t be necessary and fans can be treated to an, albeit abbreviated, exciting season of baseball. The Yankees are scheduled to open the season on July 23rd against the Washington Nationals. No doubt the world will be watching and celebrating.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
