MEXICO CITY — Aaron Boone reclined in an office chair in the visiting clubhouse. He was noticeably tired. A lot had been going on, even for the manager of the New York Yankees.
The night before, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim attended a team party at the Yankees’ swanky hotel, intended to keep players on-site so as not to risk their safety roaming the neighborhood. There was a mariachi band and loads of tacos. In just a few hours, the Yankees would face the Diablos Rojos in the final game of their series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú, where the altitude had been leaving some players and coaches short of breath. In three days, they will open their season on the road against the Houston Astros.
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On top of it all, Boone had to coordinate with general manager Brian Cashman and the rest of the club’s brain trust back in Tampa, Fla. Roster moves were coming. What’s next was anybody’s guess.
“The final iteration isn’t done,” Boone said, referring to his roster. “We’ll see.”
Here are the three biggest questions …
Is a trade coming?
With DJ LeMahieu (right foot bone bruise) beginning the season on the injured list, Oswaldo Cabrera is slated to be the starting third baseman, Boone said. But the manager said the club could make a move to change that. The Yankees like Cabrera, and they appreciate his ability to play multiple positions and his energy. Last season, Cabrera was given the starting job in left field, and he hit just .211 with five homers, 29 RBIs and a 58 OPS+, or production 42 percent lower than league average.
“We’ll see what the days will bring,” Boone said.
It’s unclear whom they could bring in externally at this point. Teams across the league are also finalizing their Opening Day rosters. Perhaps New York could target ex-Yankee Gio Urshela, who signed in the offseason with the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees were interested in Urshela before he joined Detroit and before LeMahieu and infielder Oswald Peraza (shoulder strain) were injured. Two-time All-Star Josh Harrison opted out of his deal with the Cincinnati Reds in mid-March, but he hasn’t hit well in years. The Yankees will likely aim for a third-base holdover with the ability to play elsewhere until LeMahieu returns rather than look to make a splash at the position.
Yankees catcher Jose Trevino drives in two runs against the Diablos Rojos. He’s been pumped all weekend here, considering his Mexican heritage. Nice moment for him. pic.twitter.com/WDzHylvH6P
— Brendan Kuty 🧟♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) March 26, 2024
Three catchers? Really?
Jose Trevino and Austin Wells will be on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. Boone said the club might try to keep catcher Ben Rortvedt, too. Rortvedt, a light-hitting defensive specialist, is out of minor-league options, and the Yankees could try to sneak him through waivers the day after the season opener — a move they pulled successfully with outfielder Estevan Florial last year.
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More likely, they’re listening to a trade for Rortvedt, who caught often in the majors over the final two months of the 2023 season with Trevino on the injured list. Rortvedt became Gerrit Cole’s primary catcher en route to the ace capturing his first American League Cy Young Award. The Yankees also have five catchers on their 40-man roster, and they might be able to bring in capable third-base help in exchange for Rortvedt and push Cabrera to a bench utility role.
Who else is on the bench, anyway?
The Yankees’ bench projects to consist of outfielder Trent Grisham and whoever isn’t playing that day out of Trevino and Wells. Boone said second baseman/left fielder Jahmai Jones is also still in the mix for a spot.
Monday, the Yankees demoted shortstop Kevin Smith, outfielders Oscar Gonzalez and Greg Allen, utility man Jose Rojas and reliever Dennis Santana.
Jones and Rortvedt could, in theory, be the final pieces of the Yankees’ four-man bench. But it’s hard to believe they would go into the season without a backup infielder and with a trio of catchers.
The Yankees are no stranger to late-spring deals. Last year, late in camp, they signed outfielder Franchy Cordero and acquired reliever Colten Brewer from the Tampa Bay Rays.
It’s likely the Yankees aren’t done with their roster yet.
(Photo of Oswaldo Cabrera in a spring training game: Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)
