Construction of the 2022 Yankees

By James Vlietstra

May 19, 2022

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In order to have a successful baseball organization it is important to be able to build a strong farm system and then use the organization’s strengths to fill in places of need on the Major League roster. A healthy team will have players that have been drafted, some that were traded for, and then the final pieces are usually signed as free agents.

Across the Yankees' organization, there are approximately 300 minor league players. As they accrue service time, they eventually will be added to the 40-man roster or traded away instead of being lost for nothing. For example, this year the Yankees have about 130 players eligible for the Rule 5 draft so I expect a very busy trade deadline.

Including players on the 60-day Injured List, the big league Yankees are currently carrying 43 players. I am going to quickly review each of the players, how they became Yankees, and possibly highlight a couple that may be in danger of losing their spots.

The following players (In alphabetical order) were drafted by the Yankees:

• Ron Marinaccio 19th round of the 2017 draft

• Jordan Montgomery 4th round in 2014

• Clarke Schmidt 1sr round 2017

• Kyle Higashioka 7th round 2008 (longest tenured)

• Aaron Judge 1st round in 2013, compensatory pick for Nick Swisher

These players were signed as International Free Agents (the date is the signing date):

• Deivi Garcia 7-2-15

• Yoendrys Gomez 7-2-16

• Luis Medina 7-8-15

• Luis Severino 5-31-12

• Oswaldo Cabrera 7-2-15

• Oswald Peraza 7-2-16

• Miguel Andujar 7-20-11

• Estevan Florial 3-19-15

• Everson Pereira 7-2-17

The Yankees have signed a host of MLB Free Agents. Here they are:

• Zack Britton 1-11-19

• Aroldis Chapman 12-15-16

• Gerrit Cole 12-18-19

• Nestor Cortes 1-4-21 (He had been originally drafted by the Yankees)

• Jonathan Loaisiga 2-9-16

• Lucas Luetge 12-11-20

• Stephen Ridings 1-18-21

• Marwin Gonzalez 3-21-21

• DJ LeMahieu 1-27-21

• Anthony Rizzo. 3-17-22

• Tim LoCastro 3-13-22

These are the players the Yankees have acquired via trade:

• Miguel Castro (.5 WAR) traded from Mets 4-3-22 for Joely Rodriguez (0 WAR)

• Domingo German (3.2) traded with Nathan Eovaldi (3.6) and Garrett Jones (-.6) from Marlins 12-19-14 for David Phelps (4.5) and Martin Prado (5.7)

• Luis Gil (.6) traded from Twins 2-16-18 for Jake Cave (1.7)

• Chad Green (8) and Luis Cessa (3.6) traded from Tigers 12-9-15 for Justin Wilson (2.3)

• Clay Holmes (2.3) traded from Pirates 7-26-21 for Hoy Park (-.4) and Diego Castillo (.3)

• Michael King (1.6) traded from Marlins 11-20-17 for Caleb Smith (2.9( and Garrett Cooper (3.3)

• David McKay traded from Rays 4-4-22 for cash

• Wandy Peralta (1.2) and Connor Cannon from Giants 4-27-21 for Mike Tauchman (0)

• JP Sears (.1) with Juan Then from Mariners 11-18-17 for Nick Rumbelow (-.4)

• Jameson Taillon (3.0) from Pirates 1-24-21 for Miguel Yajure (-1), Roansy Contreras (.3), Maikol Escotto, and Canaan Smith

• Jose Trevino (0) traded from Rangers 4-2-22 for Albert Abreu (.1) and Robert Ahlstrom

• Gleyber Torres (8.1) traded with Adam Warren (2.4), Billy McKinney, and Rashad Crawford from Cubs on 7-25-16 for Aroldis Chapman

• Joey Gallo (.8) with Joely Rodriguez (.3) from Rangers 7-29-21 for Glenn Otto (-1.2), Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran, and Trevor Hauver

• Giancarlo Stanton (9.7) with cash from Marlins 12-11-17 for Starlin Castro (4.4), Jose Devers (-.2), and Jorge Guzman

• Ben Rortvedt, Josh Donaldson (1.1), and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.3) traded from Twins 3-13-22 for Gary Sanchez (.2) and Gio Urshela (.2)

Obviously not all trades are created equally. Some are money dumps, some wrap up several Rule 5 eligible players into a package. Sometimes players are still 4-5+ years from making the big leagues when they are acquired, and some will never get an opportunity in pinstripes. Each transaction, though, has consequences for future deals to be made or not.

For example, Yoendrys Gomez has been on the 40 man for three years and is still probably 2-3 years away. He is at risk of being dropped. Miguel Andujar very well may turn into a star on another team, but his days in NY are numbered. Marwin Gonzalez is a super utility player on a team that doesn’t need one.

One thing I find interesting is that when the Yankees are comfortable with someone, they often bring him back, especially if he has proven capable of handling the New York pressure. Zack Britton resigned after being traded for. As did Aroldis Chapman. Nestor Cortes was drafted by the Yankees, traded to the Orioles, returned to the Yankees, went to Seattle and returned again. DJ LeMahieu resigned after his contract was up. Anthony Rizzo resigned after being traded for. Giancarlo Stanton opted in to remain a Yankee.

Brian Cashman has had his share of detractors but the team he has assembled, and the way it was put together, has him in position to earn Executive of the Year right now. He has been winning his trades and this summer he will certainly be dealing from a position of strength as he fine tunes this team.