Yankees: 3 players who survived trade deadline but won’t be on 2022 roster

The New York Yankees conducted a mini makeover at this year’s trade deadline, but this roster is far from getting its full facelift.

So many other players need to go, whether it’s via non-tenders, trades or outright DFAs. But general manager Brian Cashman needed to keep his focus, and he used that energy on upgrades rather than trimming the fat.

But what his upgrades did was send a message for the future. Just because some guys survived the trade deadline doesn’t mean they’ll be here in 2022. All of these players can’t stay. There’s not enough room. There’s no more time to disrupt chemistry. There can’t be more negative headlines.

And guess what? This list definitely spans beyond just three players. But it’s probably best to zone in on the marquee names rather than those who could (and will be) easily disposed of come November.

It sounds harsh, and it might be, but these last two years better have opened the front office’s eyes to make some cutthroat moves because next year continues to feel like the last possible fortuitous opportunity to win a World Series without franchise-altering moves having to be made.

As a result, we can expect these smaller decisions to make way for bigger ones, which will hopefully put the Bombers in prime position one last time.

These Yankees who survived the trade deadline will be gone in 2022.

3. Miguel Andújar

We got an update on Andújar last week, in which Aaron Boone said the slugger is “improving but isn’t out of the woods yet.” Then he started taking ground balls on Tuesday.

He hit the IL on July 10 with a wrist strain and has been on the shelf ever since. He had similar issues that kept him out during spring training.

If he were on the roster though? Well, he might not even be here. He might be in Triple-A since he has one option remaining … because there’s no room or use for him. He’s a bad third baseman and very much not a corner outfielder, though that’s where he’s mostly been playing.

His fall from grace ever since his electrifying 2018 rookie campaign has been upsetting and notable, but it’s been a combination of bad luck and poor play. It wasn’t his fault he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2019, which paved the way for the unexpected Gio Urshela stardom. However, it is somewhat his fault that he can’t produce much at all when he’s finally given playing time.

We get it. That’s not easy to do when you’ve played in just 78 games since the start of 2019, but if you’re seeing the field that infrequently … perhaps that just tells the whole story.

The writing is on the wall. We wish it were different.

1. Zack Britton

The Yankees cannot continue forth with a high-priced bullpen and not have it work out. It’s simply no way to live.

Truth be told, we thought one of Aroldis Chapman or Zack Britton would be gone before the trade deadline given their dreadful performances, but the overhaul didn’t get that extreme. However, it surely will in the offseason.

The now cost-conscious Yankees will likely exceed the luxury tax threshold next year now that they won’t be repeat offenders, but they will ensure every last dollar is spent wisely. That means figuring out a way to get rid of one of Chapman or Britton, and in this case, we’re going with the left-handed setup man.

Britton’s arduous offseason, which featured a bout with COVID-19 followed by elbow surgery, has led to his struggles in 2021. He’s been so bad that if a few advantageous double play balls didn’t bounce in his favor, his 6.35 ERA and 1.77 WHIP would be even worse … if that’s even possible.

The left-hander has appeared in 13 games and only three of his 11.1 innings of work have been clean. Oh yeah, did we forget he went on the IL a separate time because of a hamstring issue? He’s given up a run in more than half of his outings. He’s allowed 10 hits and 10 walks, and there’s really no particular sign of improvement.

He’s owed $14 million next year. The Yankees will not be paying that if he doesn’t finish the year strong. They will either find some other team to eat the salary by attaching a prospect to him in a trade or they will eat salary in exchange for another player they could use. Someone will take a chance on Britton, too, so don’t think his trade market will be dry.

The emergence of Jonathan Loaisiga has changed a lot. There’s no need for Britton at that price if Chapman, Loaisiga, Chad Green, Lucas Luetge, Nestor Cortes and Clay Holmes (?) can perform the way they have.

Say goodbye to one of the expensive relievers in the offseason. We’re just betting it’s Britton who will be sent packing.

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