Pitchers and Catchers Have Reported

The Super Bowl is over and that means one thing to me: It’s baseball season. Spring training sites are springing to life this week including Legends Field in Tampa where the Yankees will start defense of their 2024 AL pennant. Here are a few thoughts I have as we get this thing started. Lets get to it.

Pitchers and catchers report.

I know everyone loves those four words, but I prefer these four words: Welcome to Opening Day.

Look, we all love baseball and the start of spring training means the season is upon us, but we still have six weeks before they start playing games that count and I often find spring training a long slog to Opening Day. After all, this is practice, and the only thing that really matters between now and March 27 when the Yankees host the Brewers is that everyone avoids injury during what, to me, is a far too long schedule of exhibition games.

As the Yankees hit the back fields in Tampa this week, they still have some things to figure out:

Third base: What are they doing?

The building of a seasonal roster doesn’t really end until the trade deadline, so there’s nothing that says Brian Cashman can’t still bring in a third baseman from outside the organization. I seriously doubt they will spend to sign Alex Bregman who remains a free agent, and I hope they aren’t considering a trade for Nolan Arenado who I don’t think would be worth it given his salary, age and declining bat.

For now, it’s a competition between DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza, and none of that looks promising. My guess is it will end up being a platoon between LeMahieu and Cabrera. Aaron Boone said Tuesday in his opening press conference that LeMahieu is completely healthy and if he stays that way, he still has something left to give. I am highly skeptical about that.

“I’m not going to put anything past a healthy DJ LeMahieu and his ability to hit,” Boone said. “Hopefully he’s healthy. Hopefully he’s one of those guys that kind of kicks the door in and grabs it and runs with it. (We) certainly know what he’s capable of, coupled with being outstanding defensively. Oswaldo Cabrera is going to get opportunities to really kick that door in, if you will. Peraza, (Jorbit) Vivas - all of those guys that you’re kind of looking for someone to step up and grab it or if it becomes a shared position, that’s possible, too. Those are some of the exciting questions that are in front of us. Hopefully we get answers to that.”

Left field: Is Jasson Dominguez ready?

The lasting image we have of Dominguez is him out there in left field looking like a drunken sailor trying to catch a fly ball. His defensive struggles rendered him a non-option in the postseason and the Yankees had to stick with Alex Verdugo which was less than ideal.

Dominguez is on the spot now. He has been considered the Yankees No. 1 prospect for several years and while his Tommy John surgery in 2023 screwed up his progress, he’s past that now and it’s time for him to win a starting job.

“I’d love for him to secure and grab it, and my expectation is that he will,” Boone said. “I’m looking forward to seeing his continued growth. … He’s in a good spot right now. He’s got a good look in his eye, and he’s going to get every opportunity to be that guy. We certainly are hoping he shows us that.”

I’m not sure I agree with Boone’s plan to put him in left field, though. He’s a natural center fielder, but the Yankees apparently feel that Cody Bellinger - who came over from the Cubs in a trade - is better defensively. Like Dominguez, Bellinger is a natural center fielder and has played very little left field in his career, but Bellinger might only be with the Yankees for one season because he has an opt out after 2025, while Dominguez is controlled for several more years.

My preference would be to stick Bellinger in left field and let Dominguez play his more natural position. The kid already has enough on his plate trying to hone his batting skills against big league pitching and now he has to learn how to play competently in the toughest place in Yankee Stadium, that cavernous left field spot.

Catcher: Austin Wells can’t play every game

Now that the Yankees have traded Jose Trevino to the Reds, there is a gaping hole to fill behind Wells, and the options aren’t exactly promising.

Coming over from Cincinnati was Alex Jackson, a very good defender but an utterly awful hitter. If he ends up winning the backup job, it means that the one or two times a week he plays, the Yankees will essentially have an automatic out in the batting order.

J.C. Escarra is the better hitter as he batted .261/.355/.434 with 32 doubles, 12 homers and 64 RBIs in 124 combined games for Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, but he’s 29 years old and since turning pro in 2017 has never played a major league game.

Ben Rice might be in the picture, given that he can also be a backup at first base. Rice came up as a catcher when the Yankees drafted him in 2021 out of Dartmouth, then began learning first base in Single-A and played both spots as he climbed the ranks. Last year, he was the primary replacement at first when Anthony Rizzo got hurt, and he was average at first and after a flashy start at the plate, he cratered.

As for Wells, he made noticeable improvements defensively throughout 2024, but his bat was crazy streaky and unfortunately, when the postseason arrived, he didn’t hit a lick. It would be nice if he could get back to being the hitter he was in Triple-A.

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Starting rotation: Does Marcus Stroman have a role?

The Yankees explored the trade market for the righty who pitched poorly in the second half of 2024 and didn’t even make a postseason appearance because of that steep decline. With an $18 million salary, Cashman couldn’t find any takers, at least not yet. Remember, injuries happen in the spring and there could be a team over the next month-plus that has a glaring need for a veteran starter who would be willing to bite on Stroman.

If not, then he’ll be on the roster as a swing starter, and as we know, you can never have enough pitchers. The rotation is set with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, but there will be injuries, we know this, so having someone like Stroman to plug in isn’t a bad thing.

Something to watch is this: He’s a ground ball pitcher, and the Yankees’ infield defense should be much improved now that Gleyber Torres will be putzing around for the Tigers and Rizzo - a former Gold Glover who really fell off - is no longer on the team. With Jazz Chisholm at his preferred second base spot, Paul Goldschmidt at first, and perhaps LeMahieu - who is still a solid defender - at third, this should theoretically help Stroman.

“The bottom line is, we’re getting him ready to pitch,” Boone said. “Those things have a way of working themselves out, especially as we sit here in the middle of February. Cream rises to the top. I feel like it’ll work itself out. Right now, it’s about getting him ready to go to be a real contributor.”

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Bullpen: Back end looks fine, what about the rest?

There are already two injuries that have popped up. Jake Cousins, who was a nice addition last season, and Clayton Beeter, who is trying to graduate from Triple-A and earn a spot on the 26-man roster, are dealing with arm problems and their starts in camp will be delayed. Boone is optimistic that both will be ready by Opening Day, but then again, Boone is probably optimistic that Elon Musk isn’t going to destroy democracy.

For now, even if Cousins isn’t ready for Opening Day, this looks like a pretty good group, but there are definitely concerns.

Devin Williams was a tremendous trade acquisition because when he’s healthy - and that has been an issue for him - he’s as dominant a closer as there is in MLB. His arrival pushes Luke Weaver back into the role that he is best suited for, a one- or two-inning set up man. And Fernando Cruz, who came over from the Reds in the Trevino trade, has a wipeout splitter that the Yankees believe can make him an outstanding late-inning reliever.

Beyond that, the Yankees need some guys to come through. They re-signed Jonathan Loaisiga, a very talented hard thrower who is almost always hurt. Ian Hamilton is another guy who has great stuff but can’t stay off the injured list. And Tim Hill was just re-signed and while the journeyman was a revelation last season, you have to wonder if he can have the same success. And then there’s vast uncertainty about Mark Leiter Jr. and Scott Effross.

This will be a very interesting aspect to pay attention to in the spring, which candidates emerge in the bullpen. Hey, maybe someone like JT Brubaker or Tyler Matzek who was just signed the other day, can show something and win a roster spot.