Yankees: 40-man roster candidates who could be traded soon

A trade is coming, Yankees fans. Who will be removed from the 40-man roster?

The New York Yankees have a full 40-man roster. Good, right? Nope! They need to make room for DJ LeMahieu and Corey Kluber after last week’s transactions. Until they do that, DJ and Klubot are not members of the team. They’re just floating in purgatory.

That makes many fans believe a trade could be on the way. The Yankees still need pitching reinforcements, and while we’re dreaming of an acquisition in the form of Cincinnati Reds hurler Luis Castillo or Chicago Cubs ace Kyle Hendricks, that may not happen, though we’re still holding out hope.

Nonetheless, two people have to go — at least! It’s just the way it’s going to be. More might have to pack their bags if a blockbuster trade is agreed to, because acquiring Castillo or Hendricks would likely be at least a three-for-one swap. So who may not be on the 2021 Yankees or the 40-man roster to start the season?

Let’s take a look and list them out for everyone:

• 3B/OF Miguel Andújar
• OF Greg Allen
• OF Clint Frazier
• OF Mike Tauchman
• 2B/SS Tyler Wade
• INF Thairo Estrada
• SS Oswald Peraza – prospect protected from Rule 5 Draft
• 1B Mike Ford
• P Miguel Yajure
• P Albert Abreu
• P Brooks Kriske
• P Ben Heller
• P Jonathan Loaisiga
• P Yoendrys Gomez – prospect protected from Rule 5 Draft
• P Roansy Contreras – prospect protected from Rule 5 Draft
• P Alexander Vizcaino – prospect protected from Rule 5 Draft
• P Luis Medina – No. 11 prospect
• P Luis Gil – No. 5 prospect
• P Michael King
• P Luis Cessa
• P Deivi Garcia – No. 3 prospect
• P Clarke Schmidt – No. 2 prospect
• P Adam Ottavino

Yup, we know. That’s 23 players, over half the roster. It sounds insane, but if we’re being completely honest with ourselves, none of these guys have an established role with the current team OR they’ve fallen out of favor in their positional hierarchy.

As for a few others, like Frazier, Tauchman, Garcia and Schmidt, they could be traded in the hypothetical aforementioned blockbuster deal for a pitcher, though that’s hardly even a rumor right now. It’s pure speculation based on their value and what it would take for the Yankees to make such an addition.

Now, we’re not going to say every one of the other 17 players are untouchable, but they might as well be, whether it be due to their role with the team or their onerous contract situations.

Either way, a move (or multiple moves) are coming, and fans should brace for at least two of those previously listed players to be gone before spring training.

Yankees’ current roster problem proves they have more moves coming

The New York Yankees have 40-man roster drama that can't be solved without removing a few players for Corey Kluber and DJ LeMahieu.