Ten Yankees set to benefit from potential MLB roster expansion

1B Mike Ford

As spring training came to a screeching halt, the Yankees bench seemed pretty much settled, at least from the outside looking in. Kyle Higashioka was likely the backup catcher, Tyler Wade would backup most infield positions, an extra outfielder (Clint Frazier, Rosell Herrera) would make the team and either Thairo Estrada or Mike Ford would round the roster out.

On paper, Ford is a luxury for the Yankees. Luke Voit would need to go through a significant slump to lose his job as the everyday first basemen and even then, the Yanks have D.J. LeMahieu who appeared in 40 games last season. Don’t count out Miguel Andujar as a potential option as well if his bat is too hot to keep out of the lineup.

Despite the depth at first base, Ford was tremendous last season. His 12 homers and .909 OPS in 50 games last year helped keep the Yanks afloat when the injury bug was at its worst.

At the same time, power bats off the bench in the American League aren’t that valuable, especially with a lineup as deep as the one New York has. Still, the left-handed Ford would be a useful tool to help break up the lineup when needed.

INF Thairo Estrada

Like Ford, Estrada was likely battling for the final spot on the 26-man roster heading into April. Estrada fills the role of a typical utility man. He played in the outfield and second base for the Yankees in 2019.

In the minors, he played at third base and shortstop as well. He may not have the blazing fast speed of Wade but his defensive versatility would be a valuable asset in what may be a stacked schedule.

Still, Estrada is entering his age 24 campaign and was already sent down to the minors in late March. He may be better suited to get consistent playing time down in Scranton (or wherever the minors are set to take place).

Last season, Estrada held a 250/.294/.438 line in 69 plate appearances. He may do well to get as much playing time as possible but there are certain scenarios where he can sneak onto the big league roster.

P Jonathan Loaisiga

With Luis Severino out for the season, James Paxton on the pine for the first third of the season and Domingo German serving a suspension Jonathan Loaisiga’s chances at a spot in the starting rotation skyrocketed by mid-March.

At the moment, the Yankees rotation appears to be Gerritt Cole, Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, and Jordan Montgomery, leaving the fifth spot wide open for Loaisiga

Loaisiga has spent portions of the last two seasons with the big league club as both a starter and reliever. He has flashed in both roles, even landing on the postseason roster in 2019. Still, his long-term role on the team is yet to be decided.

Does he have what it takes to be a starter? Or is he better utilized in short bursts out of the pen? With an expanded roster, Loaisiga could begin the season as a starter and if it appears to much for him to handle at just 25-years-old, he could make a smooth transition to the later innings.

There is reason to believe that he can become a legitimate weapon out of the pen late in games. Loaisiga boasts a high-to-mid 90s fastball and a wicked breaking pitch that hitters barely touched last season, hitters were only able to muster .125 batting average when facing his curveball, according to baseballsavant.com.

P Ben Heller

Just a quick look at Ben Heller’s numbers from 2017 and 2019 show that he could be a solid bullpen arm. Albeit injuries essentially wiped out his 2018 and most of last season, and his other Major League stints were very short, he did push for a roster spot this spring.

Heller was optioned to Triple-A in late March but reports indicated that Heller could right back in New York if the MLB were to expand rosters. In it until the end, Heller is one of the more likely candidates if the Yanks are able to keep an extra arm or two.

Heller was sent to the Yankees back in 2016 in the Andrew Miller trade, hopefully, he can finally make his mark in 2020.

OF Clint Frazier

The longer his career in pinstripes lasts, the more it feels like Clint Frazier’s timing is just not right. Prior to the season, he looked poised to get one last chance to prove that he belonged on the team. Aaron Judge came down with a fractured rib, Aaron Hicks continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery and Giancarlo Stanton was set to miss the beginning of the season after suffering a calf strain.

Now with the season delayed, Judge and Stanton could heal and just like that, Frazier is back in Scranton. With the starters getting healthy, there is no reason to have Frazier sitting on the bench instead of getting consistent swings in the minors.

However, if Judge, in particular,  is unable to go, Frazier still may get solid reps in right field. Stanton likely won’t be getting significant reps in the outfield with his injury history, leaving Mike Tauchman and Brett Gardner to man center field and left field on most days.

Defense will continue to be a reason for worry until Frazier can prove 2019 was nothing more than a blip in the radar.

However, he has proven himself at the dish. In March/April of last year, he helped carry a Yankees offense that was desperate for production.

He held a .324/.342/.632 slash line in the first month of the season, smashing six homers and 17 RBI. Frazier’s talent is hard to ignore, he may just not get a legitimate opportunity in 2020. Either way, an expanded roster will help Frazier stick around in the big leagues, regardless of his role on the team.

OF Rosell Herrera

The biggest name coming out of Yankees spring training was Rosell Herrera. He hit .400 with four extra-base hits after finding himself in the conversation for an outfield spot. Alike Frazier, returning players may cause him to miss the 26-man roster but if baseball decides to increase that number, Herrera may go from non-roster invitee, to the bench in short order.

Could he follow in the footsteps of Gio Urshela and his remarkable 2019 season?

P Michael King

If the Yankees need to add an arm that can provide length out of the pen, Michael King is their best bet. He can serve as a long reliever or emergency starter in a season that could call for an innings eater.

King made his MLB debut last season and pitched in four games giving up four runs in 9.1 innings. He doesn’t appear to be a highly-touted prospect, with his ceiling sitting as a backend starter, so if he can throw strikes, it might be a good option when games get out of hand or another inevitable injury strikes.

P Deivi Garcia

After a subpar spring training (6 ER, 7.1 IP) the Yankees will likely keep Deivi Garcia in the minors for the majority of the year. He can also force the team’s hand with another strong campaign but expanded roster could have him on the team at some point in 2020.

Garcia flew up the Yankees farm system a year ago, starting in High-A and landing in Scranton by the time the season was up. There was even buzz that Garcia would get the call up in September and get a chance to be a bullpen weapon in the postseason.

It is probably best to let Garcia takes his time, there’s no pressing need to rush his development with the season pushed back but he’s a prospect to keep a close eye on as the season progresses.

P Tyler Lyons

The Yankees have liked Tyler Lyons for over a decade now. Well, that is if you consider they drafted him in the 10th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. Lyons was signed as a free agent last year after being released by the Pittsburgh Pirates in August. The lefty pitched in 11 games for New York posting a 4.15 ERA.

He was nothing special but the Yankees bullpen could use a left-hander as Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman are typically saved for the 8th and 9th innings.

P Nick Nelson

Nick Nelson is a 40-man pitcher who could find himself in as the longman in the Yankees pen. He spent the majority of 2019 in Double-A Trenton where he pitched well, going 7-2 with a 2.35 ERA. He only allowed 48 hits in 65 innings with the Thunder but his 35 walks may be what holds him back at the Major League level.