The New York Yankees will have some tough roster decisions to make ahead of Opening Day.
New York has some veterans on minor-league deals looking to earn a roster spot, like outfielder Randal Grichuk and infielder Paul DeJong. DeJong is battling with the likes of Max Schuemann, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Jonathan Ornelas for the final roster spot.
Although DeJong is on a minor-league deal, Yankees insider Pete Caldera of NorthJersey.com predicts he will make the team’s Opening Day roster.
“Assuming Cabrera – coming back from last year’s ankle fracture – is delayed a bit, either DeJong, Ornelas or Schuemann could fill one of the final position player spots,” Caldera wrote. “DeJong and Ornelas are non-roster invitees and Schuemann – an intriguing player for Boone due to his versatility, including an ability to play the outfield – is on the 40-man roster. But DeJong’s nine-year MLB track record, with experience at all four infield spots, might give him the edge in this field.”
DeJong was an All-Star in 2019 and is a veteran player who can play all over the diamond, which is why Caldera believes he should get the final bench spot.
The 32-year-old has also been a bench bat before, so he should be comfortable when he doesn’t play for a couple of days and then gets inserted into the lineup.
In spring training, DeJong is hitting .174 with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs, but his glove and versatility could be the reason why he wins a roster spot.
Yankees Manager Praises DeJong
New York inked DeJong to a minor-league deal to provide more depth in the infield.
Although DeJong’s bat hasn’t been great this spring training, he’s a bottom-of-the-order batter anyway. But, more importantly, he’s a solid fielder who can play all over the field, which has impressed Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
“Boone said veteran non-roster invitee Paul DeJong has looked really good and that Max Schuemann’s versatility is really appealing,” Yankees insider Brendan Kuty of The Athletic wrote.
DeJong has appeared in 925 career MLB games. He’s a career .229 hitter with 146 home runs and 423 RBIs.
New York is ‘Hungry’ for a Championship
The Yankees brought back a very similar roster to last season with the addition of some depth pieces.
Entering the season, the Yankees have one of the best rosters in baseball, and Boone said the team is hungry to win.
“I feel like the last two years its been a really hungry group. I felt that hunger in ’24, again with kind of a different makeup and cast last year in a lot of ways it was there. We gotta develop that hunger,” Boone said. “It seems like guys have that look in their eyes and they’re ready and they know what the mission is, but you gotta fight for that.”
So, ahead of Opening Day, Boone said the goal of winning the World Series is the only goal the team has.
“It bothers me a lot. It’s definitely as big a motivator and what drives me to still do this as much as anything” Boone said. “That chase to ultimately get number 28 is as big a reason as any and it does bother me.”
The Yakees have the second-best odds of winning the World Series at +1000.
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