3 Yankees who are about to lose their 40-man roster spots

2. Albert Abreu

The Yankees proved once again just how valuable their 40-man spots are this winter; when given the chance to trade for Pirates righty Jameson Taillon with a chance for him to rebound, they jumped at the opportunity but insisted on the inclusion of Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras.

Both mid-range top prospects. Both relatively close to the bigs and occupying 40-man spots. That helped make the decision easier.

Currently, Albert Abreu is the pitcher on the 40-man with the least obvious projectable future in pinstripes.

His stuff? It supposedly leveled up this spring, and was clocked at 100.4 MPH in his 2021 debut. Unfortunately, he hasn’t looked any closer to harnessing it than he did in his MLB stint in 2020.

The additional option he was granted this spring (for God knows what reason) could make him a more intriguing option for the Yankees in a year in which the last spot in the bullpen will almost certainly keep rotating in an effort to allow pitchers to remain fresh.

It could also make him a tantalizing trade candidate.

When it comes to middle-of-the-bullpen pitchers hanging onto their 40-man protection by a fringe, Brooks Kriske feels like a more known quantity than Abreu at this point, who hasn’t taken many defined steps forward since he was first acquired.