We’re still three weeks away from Opening Day, and things are already all over the place for the New York Yankees. The team is dealing with injuries, roster shuffles, and some big names still lingering in free agency.
It’s not exactly the smooth-sailing spring training Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone hoped for. But hey, this is the Yankees. Drama is part of the package.
So what’s going on? Let’s break it all down.
Yankees Pushing Away Alex Verdugo
Alex Verdugo showed flashes of being a solid defender but struggled mightily at the plate last season.
He’s still sitting on the free-agent market, waiting for a team to offer him a starting job. According to the New York Post, that belief might be what’s keeping him unemployed.
The Yankees, meanwhile, have moved on. Their plan? Unless Jasson Domínguez completely falls apart over the next few weeks, left field is his job to lose.
Domínguez has had some shaky moments defensively this spring, but the team isn’t panicking. They believe in his talent, and right now, they’d rather give the kid a chance than go back to Verdugo.
Could Verdugo return? Sure, if another Yankees outfielder gets hurt. But unless that happens, it looks like his career in the Bronx is officially over.
Luis Gil’s Injury Reshuffles the Rotation
Here’s where things get a little messy. Luis Gil is going to be out for at least six weeks, which means the Yankees need to fill a hole in their starting rotation. Here comes Marcus Stroman.
This is a wild turn of events because the Yankees were actively trying to trade Stroman for most of the offseason. His late-season struggles in 2024 and his hefty salary made him more of a burden than an asset. But now he suddenly becomes very important to the team.
The silver lining is that Stroman has a shot at rebuilding his value. Cashman might find a team willing to take him off the Yankees’ hands if he can string together some solid starts while Gil is out.
So, in a strange way, Gil’s injury could be a blessing in disguise for both the Yankees and Stroman.
Max Fried Gets a Lesson from Roger Clemens
Max Fried’s first spring outing with the Yankees wasn’t perfect, but there was one major positive: velocity. The lefty hit 97 mph on the radar gun, which is exactly what Yankees officials wanted to see as he builds up for the regular season.
But here’s the really interesting part—Fried has been spending time with none other than Roger Clemens. The Rocket himself. That’s like getting a private guitar lesson from Jimi Hendrix.
Clemens has been sharing insights on how to attack hitters, and if Fried can soak up even a fraction of that wisdom, New York may have struck gold with this addition to their rotation.
Two Top Prospects Sent Down
Spring Training always comes with its share of roster cuts, and two of the Yankees’ top prospects—Roderick Arias and Cam Schlitter—have been sent to minor league camp.
No surprises here. Arias is only 20, and while he’s still their No. 7 prospect per MLB.com, he needs more experience at the lower levels. The organization is hoping for a breakout season from him in Class A.
Schlitter, 24, is a little closer to the big leagues but still needs to refine his secondary pitches if he wants to stick as a starter. He’ll start the year in Double-A, getting as many innings as possible to develop his arsenal.
Final Thoughts On Yankees
So, where does this leave the Yankees? They’re navigating some bumps in the road, but it’s not all bad.
Domínguez has a huge opportunity ahead of him, Stroman might become valuable again, and Fried is throwing gas while being mentored by a legend.
The biggest question is whether they can avoid more injuries before Opening Day. Because if there’s one thing New York doesn’t need, it’s another curveball before the season even begins.
