Yankees goals for 2020 to end with winning the World Series

Yankees bench

While I contend that the club should make Tyler Wade their super-utility player, Thairo Estrada will be given plenty of chances in camp to win a bench role. Both have similarities; however, I’d give Wade the nod due to his speed, prowess to play six different positions, and left-handed-hitting ability (even if it’s still a work in process).

Career minor leaguer Kyle Higashioka looks to be Gary Sachez’s understudy — and although the organization says they wholeheartedly believe in the 29-year-old, they still signed veteran backstop Erik Kratz to a minor league contract.

With Brett Gardner back in center field, at least until Hicks’ return, that leaves Mike Tauchman and Clint Frazier to battle it out for left. If Stanton is deployed in the outfield, then only one man will claim a roster spot. Following his breakout 2019, it would be surprising not to see Tauchman make the opening day roster.

However, if Stanton should become the everyday DH as a way to keep him healthy, then both Tauchman and Frazier could make the team — as a positional battle could bring out the very best in the pair.

Similarly, Miguel Andujar will be fully healed from his partial labrum tear and ready to fight to reclaim third base. Unfortunately for him, Gio Urshela had a monster year.

So unless Andujar shows his timing is intact and he tears the cover off the ball in spring — forcing himself into the DH role, he could begin the year at Triple-A because he has minor league options remaining and Urshela does not.