By James Vleitstra
November 12, 2022
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The Players on the Yankees 40-man roster
The Yankees season once again ended in disappointment. After a record setting start to the year, injuries caught up with them and they were eliminated from the playoffs by their arch rival Astros in the ALCS.
GM Brian Cashman’s contract has expired, but it is expected that the front office remains mostly intact. Aaron Boone will once again be at the helm in the dugout.
So now to the players on the field where I believe there’s going to be a lot of overhauling. Somewhere between 10-15 of the players that finished the season on the 40-man roster will be out of the organization either due to trade or free agency.
All ages given are as of April 1, 2023:
RHP Albert Abreu 27
He is pre arbitration with five years left of team control. Last year he was trade and DFAd twice before returning to the Yankees. He has a lively albeit wild arm. Being that he is out of options, he will need to stay in the majors all season. As of now, I would guess his chance of reaching opening day on the Yankees active roster at around 70%.
OF Harrison Bader 28
Under contract for 2023 for $5.2M. A dynamic Gold Glove winning center fielder who came up huge in the playoffs. He’s the kind of player that you can win a World Series with him in center. The local kid will soon become a fan favorite.
OF Andrew Benintendi 28
Free Agent. Made $8.5M in 2022. A Gold Glove winning outfielder with a 120 OPS+ will be coveted I see his price tag going higher than the Yankees Will want to pay. Although if a certain right fielder leaves, he could be an alternative they look at.
LHP Zack Britton 35
Free Agent. Earned $14M in 2022 as he attempted to return from Tommy John Surgery. He rushed himself back but was quickly returned to the 60-day IL. A return is likely not in the budget unless he sees unfinished business to be done and returns at a much cheaper rate.
SS Oswaldo Cabrera 24
Exceeded his rookie status late in the season. Depending on how close his service time is, they may get a sixth year of team control if he’s sent down early in the season. On merits alone, his versatility gives him a high probability of making the opening day roster and remaining there all year. If he was on the Braves, they would hand him a 8 year $50M extension right now.
DH Matt Carpenter 37
Free Agent. Made $1M in 2022. The Yankees picked him up off the refuse pile and he produced numbers that rivaled Judge until he fouled a ball off his foot and missed the rest of the season. I see him returning at a similar discounted rate.
RHP Miguel Castro 28
Free Agent. Made $2.6M in 2022. Was a solid member of the bullpen. I would not be surprised if he was brought back on a two year deal. The team definitely will not overpay him.
LHP Aroldis Chapman 34
Free Agent. Made $16M in 2022. His seven year tenure as a Yankee ended on a sour note as he refused to participate in a mandatory work out prior to the start of the ALDS
RHP Gerrit Cole 32
Has six years and $216M left on his contract. He’s going to be the leader of the pitching staff for the next half a dozen years.
LHP Nestor Cortes Jr 28
First year of arbitration after being one of MLB’s biggest bargains of 2022, making $728K The crafty lefty surprised the opposition after bouncing around to different organizations each year from 2017-2021. He has three more years of team control and he’s looking to build on his success.
3B Josh Donaldson 37
Owed about $30M if his 2024 option is not picked up. He provided stellar defense at the hot corner but his offense was a disappointment. I anticipate the Yankees trying to unload the contract, even if it means paying much of it.
RHP Scott Effross 29
Five years of team control. They traded for him last year so I expect him to be a staple in the bullpen for years to come.
OF Estevan Florial 25
5 more years of team control but out of options. Has the arm, speed, and defense to be a star. His hitting has been his Achilles Heal. Maybe a change of scenery is what he needs.
RHP Deivi Garcia 23
Also five years of team control and out of options. He’s still young enough to make an impact in the Majors. That said, he needs to throw more strikes.
RHP Domingo German 30
Made $1.75M in 2022. Has two more years of team control. If they hadn’t traded so much of their minor league depth, I could see them getting a decent haul Instead he likely slides in as their number three starter.
RHP Luis Gil 24
Five years of team control remaining. Recovering from Tommy John surgery. Candidate to be placed on the 60-day IL in spring training to add another player to the roster.
RHP Yoendrys Gomez
Yet to make his Major League debut. May have one more option left due to injuries. Returned from TJS last year and made several appearances. This year he should get a normal spring and possibly get called up at some point.
Utility Marwin Gonzalez 34
Free Agent. Made $1.1M in 2022. The Yankees have younger, cheaper alternatives.
RHP Chad Green 31
Free Agent. Made $4M in 2022. He’s recovering from TJS. Could see them offer him a 2year/ $3M minor league deal to allow him to finish the recovery process and then return for 2024 without using a roster spot.
OF Aaron Hicks 33
He’s owes $31M over the next three seasons. His replacement is already on the team. Try to shop him for 50¢ on the dollar. At this point it’s addition by subtraction. If they can somehow get another team to eat $15M and send us a lottery ticket pitcher in return, hope they don’t get arrested for robbery.
C Kyle Higashioka 32
Made $935K last year. Under team control for two more years. Hard to DFA a catcher making around $1M that the pitchers rave about, but his offense is nonexistent.
RHP Clay Holmes 30
Earned $1.1M in 2022. Has 2 years of team control. Was the closer most of the year and is likely to remain in that role going forward.
OF Aaron Judge 30
Earned $19M in his last year of arbitration and is now a free agent. Judge is 30 years and 6 months old. Since 2017, he’s played 702 games, produced 37.2 WAR and earned about $40M. In comparison, Mike Trout is 31 years and 3 months. In those same six seasons, he’s played 596 games, produced 34.6 WAR and earned over $200M. Trout is still owed almost $300M over the next 8 years in a deal that was signed five years ago. With recent reports that both the Giants and Dodgers from his home state expect to be all in on the slugger, the Yankees need to appeal to his historic place in the franchise. That along with a 8 year/ $370M offer may show that they serious. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a team up their offer to 9/$400 or even a 10/$427 symbolic departure price of double what the Yankees offered last spring.
SS Isiah Kiner Falefa 28
Earned $4.7M last year. Has one more year of arbitration before becoming a free agent. The Yankees front office love IKF. However at $6M+ next year a trade or non tender is possible.
RHP Michael King 27
He is arbitration eligible and has three years remaining of team control. Vital contributor to the bullpen until he hit the injury list. He was able to avoid TJS and hopefully will return fully healthy in 2023.
2B DJ LeMahieu 34
Has four years and $60M remaining on his current contract. He just won a Gold Glove for his versatility as a utility player. His ideal position is still second base.
RHP Jonathan Loasiga 28
Earned $1.65M in 2022. Has two years of arbitration remaining. Was unhittable in 2021. A rocky start in 2022 was turned around into a strong finish. Hopefully he builds upon that as 2023 approaches.
OF Tim Locastro 30
Earned $900K last year and has two more seasons of team control. Known for his speed and defense. He was the number 5-6 outfielder last year. He will be one of the first DFAd if needed for another transaction.
LHP Lucas Luetge 36
Earned $905K last year. Has two more seasons of team control. The 2021 feel good story continued with a very solid campaign.
RHP Ron Marinaccio 27
Has 5 more years of team control. Came out of nowhere to be one of the most effective bullpen arms in 2022
RHP Frankie Montas 30
Earned $5M last year. Has one more year of arbitration eligibility. The trade deadline acquisition had his season cut short due to injury. The Yankees are hoping he rebounds and produces the way they were expecting when they traded for him.
LHP Wandy Peralta 31
Earned $3.1M last year. One of Boone’s most trusted pitchers in the playoffs has one more year until reaching free agency.
SS Oswald Peraza 22
Made his Major League debut late in the season and has six years of team control remaining. He is a defensive upgrade over IKF. Offensively had a .649 V-Rating, .832 OPS and 139 OPS+ in what many people consider way too short of a cameo. He will be competing for an opening day start.
OF Everson Pereira 21
Yet to make his debut. Has six years of control. Has advanced to AA and actually improved his already impressive A+ stats. Expect to hear his name as a borderline top 100 prospect and possibly getting a mid season call up.
RHP Stephen Ridings 27
Has five years of team control. Was injured all season except two late season appearances as he was attempting to make it back for the playoffs. He should come into spring training healthy and competing for a significant role.
1B Anthony Rizzo 33
Earned $16M last year and has a player option for the same amount next year. He is a veteran leader that saved his fellow infielders lots of throwing errors. Outside of Judge, the team’s best home run threat. If he opts in, great. If not, slap a qualifying offer on him and look elsewhere. (Update - the Yankees made the qualifying offer to Rizzo.)
C Ben Rortvedt 25
He has five years of team control. Was part of the Late spring training trade with the Twins last year. Was found to be injured and a trade for Trevino followed. He never got called up once healthy. Could be handed the backup role if Higashioka is non tendered.
RHP Clark Schmidt 27
Has four years of team control remaining. Will compete for a spot in the rotation during spring training.
RHP Luis Severino 29
Made $11.5M in 2022. Club option for $15M for 2023. He lost three full seasons with misdiagnosed injuries followed by TJS. Now that he’s healthy, it’s hard to imagine them finding a better option at a comparable price. I expect them to pick up the option. (Update - They did!)
OF Giancarlo Stanton 33
Owed $160M over the next five years. 0.7 WAR out of your DH is extremely disappointing and frustrating. He needs to have a bounce back. He has a full no trade clause, so please put that idea to rest.
RHP Jameson Taillon 31
Free Agent. He made $5.8M in 2022. The 2023 Qualifying offer will be $19.65M. I can see them offering it to him and maybe a three year $55M deal. I expect him to ask for something in the 5/$120M range. Especially after the Diaz contract.
C Jose Trevino 30
Still has three years of team control. 2022 was his coming out party and among his many accolades was winning the Gold Glove. Only the third Yankees backstop to do so.
RHP Lou Trivino 31
Made $3M last year. Still has two seasons of arbitration. Was acquired at the trade deadline last year.
2B Gleyber Torres 26
Made $6.25 M last year. Has two years of team control. Put up a 4.1 WAR. Had a nice rebound season. Will be likely in line for a sizable raise into the $10-11M vicinity. I can see them kicking the tires on a trade, especially with Cabrera, Peraza, and Anthony Volpe along with LeMahieu looking for playing time.
RHP Greg Weissert 28
Has five years of team control. Will be a regular on the Scranton Shuttle.
In the next couple of weeks there will be lots of speculation as to what minor leaguers will be placed on the 40 man roster to protect them from the rule five draft.
I will be giving you the most comprehensive list of eligible players to help you prepare.
Keep your eye out for it.
