The 2024 regular season has come to an end, but the Yankees still have work to do.
Unlike last year, the team is heading to the playoffs. In fact, the Bombers have a first-round bye after winning their division and securing the best record in the American League.
With those boxes checked, the Yankees have a few days to kill before opening the American League Division Series at home against the Orioles or Royals on Saturday. That time will be spent determining who will make the club’s roster for the series.
Only a few spots are up in the air. Let’s take a look.
The Starting Nine
- Austin Wells – C
- Ben Rice– 1B
- Gleyber Torres – 2B
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 3B
- Anthony Volpe – SS
- Jasson Domínguez – LF
- Aaron Judge – CF
- Juan Soto – RF
- Giancarlo Stanton – DH
With Anthony Rizzo suffering fractures in his right ring and pinky fingers on the second-to-last day of the season, this projection is leaving him off the Yankees’ ALDS roster. Aaron Boone said the Yankees plan on seeing if Rizzo can tolerate the pain this coming week, but the manager acknowledged the unlikelihood of his availability. This is Rizzo’s glove and follow-through hand we’re talking about.
“We’re going to buy some time,” Boone said. “I don’t necessarily expect him for the Division Series. I still view that as very much a long shot, but I think we want to see these days unfold.”
Erring on the side of caution, Rice is slotted in a first.
“He could be playing a big role for us,” Boone said of the rookie, who was recalled for Sunday’s regular season finale.
The Yankees could also have a platoon situation in left field, as Verdugo and Jasson Domínguez may rotate based on matchups. Domínguez has shown himself to be a liability in left field – an expansive portion of ground to cover at Yankee Stadium – but offers more upside at the plate. Verdugo is the better defender but is coming off the worst offensive season of his career.
Boone said during the final week of the season that defense will be a “big factor” when determining who plays in left this October, which would be to Verdugo’s benefit. However, the manager added that “both guys can really help us win games in whatever role that may be,” and Domínguez got more starts over the Yankees’ final home stand.
Verdugo, meanwhile, spent some time in right, which could foreshadow a late-inning defensive replacement role for both corners. On Sunday, he said he didn’t know what his role would be.
The Bench
- Alex Verdugo OF
- Jose Trevino – C
- Oswaldo Cabrera – UTL
- Jon Berti – UTL
- Duke Ellis – OF
Boone said that the Yankees may carry “an extra position player” since the ALDS is only a best-of-five series. That would mean a five-man bench and a 12-man pitching staff.
While DJ LeMahieu hopes to return from a hip injury, it’s hard to see the Yankees using him after the worst year of his career. The same, to a lesser extent, goes for Trent Grisham. He ended his season on a high note Sunday but hardly played in September.
Instead, this projection gives the last reserve role to Duke Ellis. The outfielder only appeared in three games for the Yankees this season, but he possesses the elite speed that teams love to stash on their playoff rosters. Think of him as a designated pinch-runner.
The Yankees actually have some wheels throughout this bench, as Domínguez, Berti and Cabrera can all run. Berti and Cabrera also give the Yankees a ton of versatility and could help Boone beef up his defense – perhaps replacing Torres at second – late in games. Cabrera is also an option at first.
The Rotation
- Gerrit Cole
- Carlos Rodón
- Luis Gil
With the ALDS being a short series, the Yankees only need three starters. Cole, who finished the season looking like his typical self, and Rodón are locked in.
Here, the third spot goes to Gil. His iffy command makes him a riskier pick than the consistent Clarke Schmidt, but the Rookie of the Year contender’s electric stuff also comes with a higher reward. In this scenario, the Yankees could keep Gil on a tight leash and turn to Schmidt at the first sign of trouble. The inverse could be dicey if Gil enters and can’t find the zone.
“We feel like we have a tough decision,” Boone said, “but a good decision because we have a lot of confidence in whoever pitches.”
The Bullpen
- Clarke Schmidt
- Luke Weaver
- Clay Holmes
- Tommy Kahnle
- Tim Hill
- Ian Hamilton
- Jake Cousins
- Tim Mayza
- Marcus Stroman
With Luke Weaver essentially taking over the closer’s role from Clay Holmes, the Yankees’ bullpen looked a lot better toward the end of the season. Still, this is a questionable group entering October.
Here, Tim Mayza makes the cut because fellow southpaw Nestor Cortes, a starter expected to pitch out of the pen, suffered an elbow injury. Marcus Stroman, another starter, is also on this list. A case can easily be made that Cody Poteet would be more useful after Stroman’s disappointing second half, but the Yankees optioned the swingman just before the season ended.
This roster does not include Mark Leiter Jr., the Yankees’ biggest bullpen pickup prior to the trade deadline. He recorded a 4.98 ERA over 21 games with the team.