Latest on Yankees’ final cuts, who’s going to D.C., for exhibition
TAMPA — Sunday was a day of celebration for the Yankees, who trumpeted their decision to put No. 1 prospect Anthony Volpe on their season-opening roster.
They tweeted a video of manager Aaron Boone sitting at his office desk telling a nervous Volpe that he’d made the club and released another of Volpe hugging his parents in the Steinbrenner Field dugout. After leaving the ballpark, Volpe celebrated with family and teammates at Del Frisco’s, a popular Tampa steakhouse.
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This big decision by the Yankees brought disappointing news for their other shortstop prospect, as Oswald Peraza was optioned to Triple-A after playing in Sunday’s game.
The morning after, new travel bags were sitting in front of all of the Yankees’ lockers, the ones who for sure will be on their 26-man roster plus the few remaining bubble boys.
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The way it’s looking, the Yankees will leave Florida after Monday’s game in Tampa against the Rays still having to make final cuts.
The remaining decisions include deciding whether Estevan Florial, Willie Calhoun or Rafael Ortega will stick around as a reserve outfielder.
Florial is on the 40-man roster, but out of options, while the others are non-roster players. Calhoun has hit the best of three by far, but his competition is far advanced defensively.
“I don’t know yet which way we’re going, so we have not made that decision,” Boone said before Monday’s game. “I think each one brings a little bit something different to the table. Each one’s a little bit of a different circumstance around it. So that’s all things that we’re internally debating.”
The Yankees also have one last bullpen opener for either Greg Weissert, a 40-man roster player with an option, and Ian Hamilton, a non-roster player who has a 0.00 ERA this spring in 8 1/3 innings over seven appearances.
Maybe.
“Hamilton has some contract language,” Boone said.
All five bubble players are on the list of Yankees traveling to Washington, D.C., for Tuesday’s 12:05 p.m., exhibition against the Nationals.
Why the delay?
“There’s still the end of the spring as far as the baseball world, too, and seeing what makes the most sense,” Boone said.
Baseball world stuff translates to a possible waiver claim or trade.
It’s believed the Yankees are looking to deal for a starting pitcher before Opening Day, so they may be waiting to make final cuts until see who’s around after a deal.
Right-hander Jhony Brito is the leading candidate to fill in for injured starter Luis Severino, who might miss only three or four springs. Brito looked great pitching 5 1/3 perfect innings in a start against the Blue Jays on Sunday, but no decision has been made if he’ll be on the opening-day roster.
Second baseman. Gleyber Torres is a candidate to be dealt, as is Florial, who is out of options. If Florial makes the club, he could be designated for assignment when center fielder Harrison Bader returns from an oblique injury, perhaps as soon as late April.
The Yankees will take 41 players to DC. Extra players scheduled to make the trip are pitchers Kaleb Cowart, Tyler Danish, Deivi Garcia, Alex Mauricio, Aaron McGarity, Matt Minnick, catcher Carlos Narvaez, infielders Max Burt, Andres Chaparro, Ben Cowles and Caleb Durbin, and outfielders Brandon Lockridge and Jeisson Rosario.
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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.
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