Yankees continue to get a big boost from Cameron Maybin

With Giancarlo Stanton due back on Tuesday and Aaron Judge soon after, Cameron Maybin is going to lose playing time, and perhaps even a spot on the Yankees 25-man roster. However, he’s done a fantastic job of filling in.

Some guys wilt under the weight of the Yankees pinstripes, while others raise their game to a level no one thought possible. For 32-year-old journeyman Cameron Maybin, who was acquired on April 25 from the Cleveland Indians for cash — he falls into the latter category.

On Monday night, not only was starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka absolutely dominant, tossing a complete game, two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts, but Maybin provided enough offense on his own (3-for-3, a solo homer and two runs scored) to give the Yanks the 3-0 victory over the Rays.

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More than admirably filling in for the injured Yankee big boppers — in 38 games, Maybin is slashing .299/.375/.842 (107 at-bats) with 22 runs scored, four long balls, 11 RBIs and five stolen bases.

Maybin, who’s played for nine different organizations in 13 big league seasons, never reached the expectations he was saddled with as a top prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization.

However, when on a streak, as he currently is (three home runs in three games), coupled with exceptional speed and the ability to play all three outfield positions, Maybin is a valuable commodity on almost any major league roster.

But following the wise acquisition of Edwin Encarnacion, the Yankees roster crunch became even more apparent, especially with Stanton and Judge set to return this week.

While it’s assumed that veteran Brett Gardner will slide to a bench role and Mike Tauchman will be reassigned, the Yanks have lost 20 players to the injured list this season — so keeping essential backups fresh is still necessary.

If the Yankees choose to keep 13 pitchers on the 25-man roster (which they likely will because the starting rotation has been a see-saw of productivity), the club will be unable to retain a fifth outfielder (Maybin), or a defensive infield replacement (Gio Urshela).

Both are out of minor league options and would, therefore, need to be placed on waivers.

Losing either would be a “tough pill to swallow” (taking a line from the recently demoted Clint Frazier), but that’s why general manager Brian Cashman gets paid the big bucks — to make the tough decisions.

Naturally, the Yanks could look to trade one or the other, to potentially snag a lower-level minor leaguer — or package them in a broader deal that includes Frazier, top prospect Estevan Florial or a young pitcher like Albert Abreu for that “reliable starter” the Yanks so desperately need.

Although manager Aaron Boone wouldn’t discuss Maybin’s future in pinstripes, he raved about just how good he’s been for the Yanks; as told to Roger Rubin of Newsday.

"“He’s [Maybin] been a really good player and another guy that’s come in here, fit in, gelled, impacted the room. His performance speaks for itself between the lines in terms of what he’s brought: flexibility to play anywhere in the outfield, the speed he brings to the basepaths, the energy he plays the game with and brings to the dugout on a nightly basis.”"

With Giancarlo Stanton due back on Tuesday and Aaron Judge soon after, Cameron Maybin is going to lose playing time, and perhaps even a spot on the Yankees 25-man roster. However, he’s done a fantastic job of filling in.

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