Yankees Opening Day roster projections

TAMPA, Fla. – Yankees spring training – aka "Camp Calamity" – came to a momentary pause Wednesday as the Grapefruit League schedule brought a much-needed off day.

The organization was rocked earlier in the week with the news that ace Gerrit Cole would be undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery – the procedure was done Tuesday in Los Angeles – the latest injury to befall a club that, relative to past years, was fairly healthy in 2024.

Before Cole went down, it was AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil lost for three months minimum with a high-grade lat strain. And earlier in camp DJ LeMahieu, whom the Yankees hoped would make it through the spring healthy and at the very least platoon at third base, went down with a left calf strain. DH Giancarlo Stanton, who led the offense throughout the club’s postseason run to the World Series, entered camp with tendon issues in both elbows and is nowhere close to starting baseball activities. And that’s not even counting injured relievers such as Scott Effross, Jake Cousins, Clayton Beeter and Tyler Matzek.

Indeed, the projected roster for the March 27 opener against Milwaukee looks far different than on Feb. 11 when pitchers and catchers reported…

LINEUP (9)

1. Austin Wells, C

2. Aaron Judge, RF

3. Cody Bellinger, CF

4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B

5. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B

6. Jasson Domínguez, LF

7. Ben Rice, DH

8. Anthony Volpe, SS

9. Oswaldo Cabrera, 3B

When camp opened, manager Aaron Boone said he had “six or seven” considerations for leadoff hitter, with none of the names mentioned Austin Wells. But halfway through camp, the second-year catcher, known for his ability to grind out at-bats and for having one of the better eyes on the club, found himself in the leadoff spot and excelled, homering three times, including twice in his first at-bat of the game. The permanence of Wells leading off remains to be seen, especially when the opposition starts a lefty, but it appears as if the catcher will occupy that spot more times than not at season’s start.

STARTING ROTATION (5)

1. Max Fried, LHP

2. Marcus Stroman, RHP

3. Carlos Rodón, LHP

4. Will Warren (or Carlos Carrasco), RHPs

5. Clarke Schmidt, RHP

The rotation, while taking significant hits in the losses of Cole and Gil, still should be able to hold its own, but the real concern is the Yankees’ depth in this department, or lack thereof. As one rival AL scout assigned to the Yankees’ system put it on Tuesday when asked about the organizational starting pitching depth: “What depth?”

The Yankees know it, too. It's the reason Brian Cashman will spend the rest of the spring scouring the market for reinforcements, but as the GM said on Tuesday, “very little is available” at this time of year. There is, actually, but it’s a matter of cost (money if it’s a free agent or the prospect haul if it’s a stud such as the Marlins' Sandy Alcantara). Prospect Will Warren has impressed the Yankees and scouts alike this spring, but with Carrasco having a big-league out in his contract, the club might choose to break camp with the veteran so they don’t lose some of the little depth they have.

BENCH (4)

1. C J.C. Escarra

2. OF Trent Grisham

3. INF Oswald Peraza

4. DH/utility Dom Smith

Escarra has done exactly what the Yankees hoped he would to this point of camp and has all but nailed down the backup catcher job over Alex Jackson. Smith, the former Met and a non-roster invitee, entered spring as a longshot to make the roster, but unless the Yankees are successful in their on-going search to bring in another righty bat, it looks as if he will. Peraza, at one time considered a prospect at the same level as Anthony Volpe, hasn’t hit in the limited opportunities he’s had in the majors, but the infielder is out of options and surely would be claimed on waivers.

BULLPEN (8)

1. Devin Williams, RHP

2. Luke Weaver, RHP

3. Ian Hamilton, RHP

4. Fernando Cruz, RHP

5. Tim Hill, LHP

6. Mark Leiter Jr., RHP

7. Yoendrys Gomez, RHP

8. Yerry De Los Santos, RHP

The first six here are, barring injury, guaranteed to break camp with the club. The 25-year-old Gomez, signed out of Venezuela in 2016, is out of options and the Yankees prefer not to lose him on waivers. The last spot is up in the air. Should they want another lefty, the Yankees could go with Brent Headrick who, like De Los Santos, is on the 40-man roster. Also keep an eye on a pair of non-roster invitees, righthanders Colten Brewer and Geoff Hartlieb, both of whom have some big-league experience and who have thrown the ball well this spring.