Which Yankees Non-Roster Invites Have A Shot At Breaking Camp With The Team?
The Yankees have extended big league spring training invites to multiple non-roster veterans. However, there are not many roster spots up for grabs at the major league level, so it may take an impressive spring training from one or two of these players for the Yanks to take any of the non-roster invitees onto the 26-man roster.
Jay Bruce (OF/1B/DH): When Jay Bruce signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, speculation regarding the possibility of a Brett Gardner departure became somewhat the main topic of conversation. Bruce was never going to be the reason Gardner did not return, but now that Spring Training is here and Gardner is not, the chances of Bruce cracking the Opening Day roster are much higher. Bruce can play the corner outfield spots, albeit not at a high level, and can play a little first base. He would provide a left-handed power bat to the Yankees, who are extremely right-hand dominant in the lineup. At 34 years old, Bruce would also offer a veteran presence that the team may be lacking on the bench, especially if Gardner goes elsewhere. It is worth noting that the Yankees acquired outfielder Greg Allen this offseason from San Diego, and Allen is currently on the 40-man roster. As long as Allen, along with prospect Estevan Florial, hold 40-man roster spots, then the Yankees would likely stay away from adding an eighth outfielder to it. If Bruce does make the major league roster, he will earn a salary of $1.35M for the year, with $150K in possible incentives.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 30.5 days
Robinson Chirinos (C): Chirinos certainly does not arrive to Yankees camp as a fan favorite. You probably remember him as the catcher on the Houston Astros during the 2019 ALCS who commented about Yankees fans leaving the game before the final out. Only one week later, Houston’s stadium emptied out mid-game in one of their four home losses to the Washington Nationals. Anyways, Chirinos now enters his age-37 season and must have changed his mind about playing in front of Yankees fans. He has experience catching for Gerrit Cole, but Cole ultimately decided to make Martin Maldonado his personal catcher in Houston. Chirinos signed a minor-league deal and will have a base salary of $1M with $500K in possible incentives if he makes the majors. Chirinos also retained opt-out dates in the contract, in the event that he is not placed on the active roster. Last season, he batted .162 and hit one home run with a -0.8 bWAR over 26 games with Rangers and Mets. If Sánchez and Higashioka remain healthy throughout the spring, it would be highly unlikely that Chirinos breaks camp on the 26-man roster. However, he is certainly next in line if something does happen, and just about every team uses three catchers throughout a full season nowadays. If Chirinos does not opt out early in the season, he will probably put on pinstripes in 2021.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 10.5 days
Jhoulys Chacín (RHP): Back in early January, Chacín had a busy week becoming a U.S. citizen, turning 33, and signing a minor-league deal with the Yankees on consecutive days. He only threw 5 major league innings last season, but made 24 starts in 2019. However, he was not effective that season, as he recorded a 6.01 ERA with the Brewers and Red Sox. If you go back to 2018, Chacín was very productive. He started a league-leading 35 games for Milwaukee and hosted a 3.50 ERA. His walk rate has hiked up over the past two seasons and his strikeout numbers are not very high (7.3 K/9), but he can become an innings-eater if the Yankees have a hole in their rotation or long relief spots.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Derek Dietrich (INF): He might be the best juggler in MLB, but the Yankees will have to juggle quite a few players in order for Dietrich to make the active roster. He is another non-roster, left-handed bat that can benefit from the short porch. Dietrich has flashed his ability to hit homers in bunches (ask Chris Archer), but he still does not hit for average (.197 in 2020), strikes out a ton (34.4% in 2020), and is not a Gold Glove candidate in the field. If the 31-year-old sticks with the Yankees for a full season, there is a chance he gets the call, but it is more likely that he heads to another team to find his way back to the majors.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 2.5 days
Nick Goody (RHP): Goody is not the only player on this list that has been with the Yanks before. The righty reliever was drafted not once, but twice by the Yankees. He was taken in the 22nd round in 2011 from a school in Florida, then transferred to LSU and moved up to the 6th round in 2012. He debuted in 2015 with the Yankees and made 24 appearances in two seasons. His best major league season came in 2017 after he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the offseason. He put up a 3.53 ERA in three seasons (107 appearances) with Cleveland and then went to the Texas Rangers last season. Although he did not have the best year last year, he has been generally successful in the majors and has a shot at making the big league bullpen.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 20.5 days
Adam Warren (RHP): Adam Warren is a bit like the New York Yankees’ human boomerang. The Bombers first welcomed Warren when they drafted him over a decade ago (2009, 4th round). Warren put up a 3.39 ERA and 118 ERA+ in 147 games, but then was traded to the Cubs in the deal that brought Starlin Castro to the Bronx. Just nine months later, he was traded back to the Yankees alongside a young Gleyber Torres in the Aroldis Chapman deal. He then threw to the tune of a 2.38 ERA in 117.2 innings, but was traded again (this time to the Mariners). Last offseason, he came back to the Yanks on a two-year deal, but was set to miss all of 2020 for Tommy John surgery recovery. Once the pandemic hit, the Yankees released Warren, but Cashman said outright that he would be back. Now, Warren has the chance to earn a spot on the major league roster. I would assume that Warren would stay in the Yankees minor league system if he does not make the Opening Day roster and that there is a good chance he will make an appearance for the club during the regular season.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 15.5 days
Kyle Barraclough (RHP): The back of Barraclough’s baseball card is nothing to scoff at. He owns a 3.53 career ERA in 252.1 innings, but did not appear in a game in 2020. The main reason he had to settle for a non-roster invite is that his fastball suffered a drop in velocity after he battled arm soreness in 2019. Barraclough did not pitch in the regular season in 2020, but did pitch in summer camp with the Padres. If his fastball climbs back up to the 95-96 mph range, the Yankees may have a solid depth piece on their hands.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 2.5 days
Asher Wojciechowski (RHP): As tough as his last name is to spell, Wojciechowski will have just as difficult a time in making the Yankees’ roster. The 32-year-old pitched the last two seasons in the division with the Orioles, but did not have the best luck. His 2020 ERA was 6.81 in 37 innings. He is groomed as a starting pitcher, so his best asset is his ability to serve as an innings-eater for a team without pitching depth.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Tyler Lyons (LHP): Not only does Lyons have experience with the Yankees, but he also has made it onto the team’s Postseason roster before. He was originally drafted by the Yanks in 2009, but did not sign. After six and a half major league seasons, he found himself in pinstripes. The lefty’s usage has declined drastically in the past two seasons, but he still has a 9.2 K/9 rate in his career. If the team decides to carry an extra reliever in lieu of a four-man bench, Lyons would be a potential fit to serve as a hybrid lefty specialist.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 19.5 days
Nestor Cortes Jr. (LHP): Cortes Jr. is back for a third stint in the Yankees organization. He was drafted by them in 2013 (36th round), then taken in the Rule 5 Draft by the Orioles in 2018. The Orioles allowed him to debut, but eventually sent Cortes Jr. back to the Yanks, who gave him another chance in the majors. The Cuban-born lefty pitched 66.2 innings in 2019, but did not garner the best results (5.67 ERA). He was traded to the Mariners for the 2020 season, but has now returned on a minor-league deal. It is likely that Cortes Jr. remains in the Yankees’ system this season, so it is not outside the realm of possibility that 26-year-old makes an appearance in the majors.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 2.5 days
Sócrates Brito (OF): He might have the best name in the organization, and he has been very successful in the minor leagues. Sócrates signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees around the new year after he missed the 2020 season for a tragic reason. Brito lost his brother to the COVID-19 virus. Now, he will attempt to make it back to the major leagues. The Yankees are deep at the outfield position, however, so he may be showcasing his talents for other teams this spring.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Andrew Velazquez (INF): The Bronx is already a familiar place for Velazquez, who graduated from Fordham Prep high school in the borough. He has already played for the Rays, Indians, and Orioles in just 68 major league games in his career. The 26-year-old runs the bases well and is athletic enough to play multiple positions. He is only 5’9” and 170 pounds, so he is not a power threat. Velazquez will most likely stick in the minors or be moved to a new team.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Rob Brantly (C): Brantly came over to the Yankees via trade during the 2020 season. Now he has landed a non-roster invite to big league camp, but the move is really just to have another catcher on board for the long spring. Brantly has played on four major league teams since 2012, making appearances in six different seasons. He has only caught one game in the majors since 2017, but played 82 games in Triple-A for the Phillies in 2019 and had a .314 batting average. Brantly will not see time on the Yankees 26-man roster, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Ryan LaMarre (OF): The former second round pick for the Cincinnati Reds is now 32-years-old and vying for time in the majors. LaMarre is not a candidate to make the Yankees 26-man roster, though, due to the depth the team has in the outfield. He last played in the majors in 2019 for the Twins, but only for 14 games.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Lucas Luetge (LHP): It has already been over half of a decade since the last time Luetge threw a pitch in the majors. He made 111 appearances for the Mariners between 2012 and 2015. In 2019, Luetge was very effective in the minors for the Diamondbacks, as he compiled 68 innings of work with a 2.38 ERA in Double-A and Triple-A. If Luetge can tap into those results, he may pitch in The Show somewhere this season, but not likely for the Yankees.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Luís Garcia (RHP): Garcia has pitched in the majors at some point in each of the last eight seasons. The 34-year-old reliever has 6 saves to his name at the highest level and over 300 career innings. He struck out 11 batters in 8.1 innings last year, but his control problems were otherworldly. He walked 9 batters in those very same innings.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Chris Gittens (INF): The Yankees drafted Gittens in the 12th round of the 2014 draft and he has not left the organization since. He also has yet to register a major league appearance. He holds a respectable career slash line of .264/.370/.842 in the minors. But this year is likely no different in that he will not put on the MLB uniform.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Thomas Milone (OF): Not to be confused with major league pitcher Tommy Milone, Thomas is an outfielder with a non-roster invite to the Yankees’ spring training camp. A third round pick in 2013 by the Rays, he has yet to impress on the hitting side of things. He did string together his best stretch of 55 games in 2019 at the High-A level, including a .309 batting average and 10 triples. His baserunning skills are advanced, as evidenced by his 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts in 2019. He holsters additional value because he can play centerfield. But in reality, Milone will start the season in the minor leagues.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Kellin Deglan (C): Deglan has only played 6 games above Double-A in his career. He has a .690 career OPS in the minor leagues, but as a catcher, the bat is a lesser concern for teams. He comes to camp to assist as an additional backstop for rest days, practice time, and bullpen sessions. But he also gets the chance to demonstrate his abilities to major league coaches and talent evaluators to increase his own stock.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Michael Beltre (OF): Beltre is only 25, so he has time eventually make a major league team even if the odds are not in his favor this season. He has a respectable .720 career OPS in the minors. He has not shown a power-hitting trait quite yet (17 home runs in 487 games), but his 6’3” and 220 pound frame suggests there may be improvement in that department. The switch-hitter almost exclusively plays right field, since he has above-average arm strength, but can play left and center as well.
Over/Under (Days on Yankees MLB roster in 2021 season): 0.5 days
Spring training games begin on February 28th and the regular season Opening Day is on April 1st. That gives us one month’s worth of games to decipher which of the players above will have a shot to play in the major leagues at the start of the season. Some of the players will remain with the organization in the minor leagues, but some are certain to elect free agency if not placed on the active roster.