Yankees: 26-man roster projection for 2021 season

What will the Yankees roster look like in 2021?

Show of hands for those that expected to read a New York Yankees 26-man roster projection for the 2021 season in June? Now imagine being the person writing it.

At this point, the Yankees were expected to be sitting atop the AL East. With Gerrit Cole leading the way on the mound and a strong lineup mashing home run after home run.

Although the 2020 season still remains up in the air, it may soon be time to look ahead to 2021. I and many other baseball fans are still holding out hope for Major League Baseball’s return this summer but with every passing moment, it seems more unlikely.

While there is still a chance that baseball will be back this year it may soon be time to start looking ahead. For the Yankees, their 2021 roster could look quite different.

A group of key contributors including DJ LeMahieu, James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka will hit free agency and with a number of young pitchers on the cusp of the big league roster, New York will have tough decisions to make this winter.

With free agency also comes the trade market. Rumors swirled this offseason surrounding star infielders Francisco Lindor and Nolan Arenado. Could the Yankees swing for the fences make a move to give themselves their best shot yet at a championship?

At the same time, New York could stick with largely the same roster next season with hopes that health will finally be on their side.

In this way too early prediction, the Yankees will make a few notable moves but next year’s roster will be chock-full of familiar faces.

Here’s my best guess at what the Yankees 26-man roster will look like on Opening Day 2021.

Who will suit up at catcher and first base for the Yankees next year?

Catchers (2)

Gary Sanchez

No surprise here. Gary Sanchez will not hit free agency until after the 2022 season. Sanchez has proven to be one of the best offensive catchers in the sport and one of the top run producers in the Yankees lineup. It’s probably time to start talking contract extension for The Kraken.

Kyle Higashioka

The season delay hurts Kyle Higashioka. He walked into spring training with the backup job in hand but the long-time minor leaguer may not get his shot this year. Much like former backup Austin Romine, Higashioka specializes in his ability behind the plate.

Higashioka has some of the best catch framing numbers in all of baseball. According to baseball savant, Higashioka had the best strike rate in baseball and should be a huge help for the Yankees rotation.

There’s a chance the Yankees decide to grab a veteran catcher in free agency but there really isn’t a reason to find a replacement for Higashioka just yet.

First baseman (1)

Luke Voit

Last season Luke Voit was one of the Yankees’ best offensive threats as the team dealt with injury after injury. The powerful first baseman then had his own injury issues and it would limit him to just 118 games.

Still, when Voit was available he posted a .263/.378/.464 line with 21 homers and 62 RBI, proving that his 2018 stint was not a fluke.

Voit deserves to keep his job at first base and he won’t enter free agency until 2025, according to spotrac.com.

Heading into the 2020 season, Mike Ford was a serious candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Likely as a left-handed bat off the bench and occasional designated hitter. He will still have minor league options next year and he will likely have to remain in Triple-A until an opportunity presents itself.

A look at 2B, 3B and SS for the 2021 Yankees

Second basemen (1)

DJ LeMahieu

DJ LeMahieu will hit free agency after the 2020 season and its hard to imagine the Yankees letting him walk in free agency after a top-five MVP finish last year.

LeMahieu’s numbers speak for themselves and his positional versatility should keep him viable even as he enters his mid-30s in a few seasons.

Third basemen (2)

Gio Urshela

If baseball isn’t played, the Yankees will likely ride the wave at third base. Gio Urshela was phenomenal at the hot corner in 2019. To expect him to hit above .300 again may be unwise but his plus-fielding will likely keep him on the roster unless his offense completely disappears.

Miguel Andujar

His rookie season proved he can hit at the MLB level but his fielding woes have left Andujar essentially positionless. His defense would have likely hurt his playing time in 2020 but Andujar’s offense is too good to ignore.

Unless the Yankees find a perfect trade, Andujar is too young and has too many years of control to move at this point. Plus, if baseball does not return Andujar will have another year to work on his fielding and get some work at first base and in the outfield.

Shortstops (2)

Gleyber Torres

He will ONLY be 24 in 2021. Next.

Tyler Wade

Tyler Wade’s bat remains his biggest question mark. He can field multiple positions and is expected to play the super-utility role in 2019.

Thairo Estrada is probably the only in-house candidate who can take Wade’s spot next season and although there are a few veterans who can fill a similar role on the free-agent market, it certainly isn’t a pressing need.

The Yankees hope to see this fully healthy outfield next season

Left fielders (3)

Giancarlo Stanton

There is zero chance that Giancarlo Stanton opts out of his contract. Zero. Stanton is still due $25 million-plus until 2028, he would be foolish to take a chance on free agency.

Now, Stanton will likely fill the designated hitter role for the most part in order to keep him off the injured list. He should be able to fill in the corner outfield spots when needed but it looks like the Yankees have one expensive DH for the time being.

Hopefully, Stanton can silence critics and prove he can remain healthy with a normal outfielder’s workload.

Mike Tauchman

Tauchman was one of the biggest surprises of the 2019 campaign. He was traded to the Yankees just before the regular season began and quickly found himself as a fan favorite. The ‘Sockman’ filled in admirably for a unit that was decimated by injuries last season.

Before Tauchman himself was bitten by the injury bug in 87 games, he hit .277/.361/.504 displaying a swing befitting of Yankee Stadium.

Tauchman has no minor league options left, so the Yankees will need to keep him in the Majors.

Brett Gardner

While keeping five outfielders on the roster may not be the best use of the extra spot MLB was set to provide team’s before the 2020 season was impacted by COVID-19, the durability of all three projected starters is a serious concern.

One player who is rarely impacted by injuries is the wily veteran Brett Gardner. Somehow, someway Gardner yet again finds himself in a Yankees uniform for another season. The pinstriped faithful will get to witness Brett bang once more.

Centerfielders (1)

Aaron Hicks

No shocking moves here. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman locked Hicks up on a seven-year, $70 million deal prior to the 2019 season.

Right fielders (1)

Aaron Judge

All Rise for the Honorable Aaron Judge. He will be presiding over right field for another season.

Recapping the projected positions players on the 2021 Yankees roster.

Position player recap

That looks pretty similar to this year’s squad, huh?

Well, New York isn’t in a position to add flashy names and spend hundreds of millions on another free agent. It’s time for the Yankees to take care of their own players.

The Yankees have a number of long-term extensions they need to take care of in the coming years as Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino will all be free agents in 2023.

It will be hard to add another high-paid superstar to go along with Cole and Stanton with those players still waiting to get paid. The Yankees are known for spending money but they have to be careful not to handcuff themselves with another massive contract before other star players hit the market.

One way the Yankees could shake up the roster is via trade. Most notably, Miguel Andujar, Clint Frazier and even Mike Tauchman. While all three are big-league talents, the loaded Yankees roster will make it hard for them to find playing time.

While Cashman can make moves to free up space for the aforementioned trio, they could be moved this offseason if the price is right.

In this projection, Andujar and Tauchman remain on the roster. Andujar’s bat should allow him to get playing time and hopefully, another offseason can allow him to develop at other positions. While Tauchman will be the primary backup outfielder. He can play all three outfield positions and boasts a perfect Yankee Stadium swing.

The one area that could see adjustment is the Yankees outfield. The health surrounding the typical starters (Judge, Hicks, Stanton) forced me to keep both Tauchman and Gardner on the team.

Tauchman has no minor league options left so the Yankees would have to waive him and he would probably be snatched up rather quickly.

When it comes to Gardner, New York can exercise a club option, paying the veteran $10 million in 2021. Gardner’s contract does have a buyout clause that would pay him $2.5 million if it is not exercised.

Call it a hunch but the Yankees may find themselves yet again relying on Gardner for another season. Hopefully, he can end his career on top as a champion.

On the bubble

UTIL Thairo Estrada

Probably the only player currently in the organization that can fill Tyler Wade’s role. If Wade cannot prove himself at the plate this season, or early on in the 2021 campaign, Estrada could quickly find himself back in pinstripes.

OF Clint Frazier

Simply put, Tauchman jumped Frazier last season. Tauchman was able to provide similar if not better production at the plate last season and has the ability to play all three outfield positions.

If the Yankees only keep four outfielders, there is no way Frazier can be trusted to back up Aaron Hicks. Gardner or Tauchman are more viable options at this point.

1B Mike Ford

Voit has the first base locked down. With minor-league options, Ford may be in Scranton for most of next season unless the injury bug bites again.

UTIL Rosell Herrera

The darling of spring training, Rosell Herrera made plenty of noise in 2020. He is certainly a longshot to make the team next year but if the Yankees can keep him around next year maybe he forces himself back into consideration again.

The Yankees welcome a familiar face to the rotation in this 2021 projection.

Starting rotation (5)

Gerrit Cole

Will 2021 be the year Yankees fans can finally witness the debut of their new ace?

Luis Severino

While he may not be ready for opening day, Severino should be a factor for most of the 2021 season. I expect New York to have one of their in-house arms fill in while he finishes his Tommy John rehab. More on those names later.

Masahiro Tanaka

Both James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka will enter free agency at the end of 2020. Although Tanaka may not have developed into a true frontline starter, his postseason performance is more than enough to justify bringing him back, at least for a few more seasons.

Marcus Stroman

The Yankees were interested in Marcus Stroman at the 2019 trade deadline but general manager Brian Cashman didn’t think he was a “difference-maker.” That difference maker was signed later that winter. He goes by the name of Gerrit Cole.

However, Stroman could be the arm that helps fill out the Yankees rotation in the long-term. If you ask me, the trio of Cole, Stroman and Severino sounds like one of the best front lines in all of baseball.

While Paxton will certainly be an option, his injury history doesn’t quite warrant a long-term commitment from the front office in this projection.

Clarke Schmidt

The next generation arrives.

Clarke Schmidt is one of the Yankees top prospects and from all indications, he could have seen his first Major League action in 2020. Alongside Deivi Garcia, Schmidt will lead the next wave of young talent to don the pinstripes.

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com noted how many in the Yankees clubhouse viewed Schmidt as MLB-ready back in March. There are a handful of other names that could slide into the last spot of the rotation, which bodes well for the Yankees big league rotation depth.

Breaking down the Yankees pitchers in this 26-man roster projection.

Following the Gerrit Cole signing, it looked like the Yankees rotation was set. The team was ready to make another run at a World Series. And then Severino underwent Tommy John Surgery and Paxton went under the knife to solve a back issue.

Quickly, the Yankees rotation was a liability, at least for a little while. Heading into next season, Cashman will look to solve the pitching conundrum once and for all.

With Severino likely back for most of the 2021 season, Cole ready to go and the return of Tanaka, one more arm will complete the puzzle.

As much as Paxton endeared himself to the fans after his gritty Game 5 performance in the ALCS a year ago, his health may be too much of a question mark. In this scenario, Cashman decides to go with former Blue Jays star Marcus Stroman.

The Yankees were admittedly interested in him last year but didn’t view him as an ace. Now that New York has its top pitcher, Stroman will be a perfect fit in the rotation. His age is also a plus, he is two years younger than Paxton and Tanaka, so investing in him now is a more appealing option.

Now, another pair of notable names are absent from this rotation, Domingo German and Jordan Montgomery. German will likely still miss a good chunk of games next season due to his suspension, even if baseball returns for a shortened season in 2020.

For Montgomery, he certainly could be an option as one of the final starters but he doesn’t have the upside that Schmidt or Garcia has. Montgomery does have two years of minor league options left according to FanGraphs, so he will sit in Triple-A in this projection.

When it comes to the bullpen. The big addition of Stroman in free agency will force the Yankees to run it back in the bullpen. However, Loaisiga’s transition to the bullpen could be viewed as a major acquisition. The young flamethrower could be one of the team’s best weapons next year.

On the bubble

Deivi Garcia

Schmidt and Garcia are probably neck and neck at this point. Garcia flew through the Yankees’ minor league system last season and could play a factor in 2020 as well. Look out for him to sneak into the rotation as well next year.

Jordan Montgomery

Montgomery has a great chance to stay in the rotation next season but some talented arms in the minors jump him in this projection.

Various bullpen arms: Jonathan Holder, Luis Cessa, Nick Nelson

There are plenty of intriguing names that could fill out the Yankees bullpen. Here are three that are definitely in play to fill the long man and other low leverage roles in the pen.