Yankees: 3 players who definitely won’t be back in 2022

Yes, our favorite time of the year! The New York Yankees season has ended and it’s our duty to inform you who won’t be back with the 2022 version of this team that will also ultimately fall short despite shouldering high expectations.

Unlike last year, there are obvious players who we won’t be seeing again, and it really isn’t up for debate. Beyond that, though, there are some complicated situations thanks to the need to work out a trade or resolve a contract issue. We’ll get to those in the coming weeks, though.

Let’s focus on the immediate, unquestionable departures that will happen the moment the offseason begins.

We didn’t really have any emotional attachment to these players, anyway.

On that note, though, just be aware that these departures will, once again, force the Yankees to address the pitching staff, whether it’s via minor-league promotions or free agency acquisitions.

These three players will certainly not be back with the Yankees in 2022.

3. Joely Rodriguez

Joely Rodriguez was actually rock solid for the Yankees since coming over in the Joey Gallo trade with the Texas Rangers. He finished with a 2.84 ERA and 3.01 FIP in 21 games with New York. We’ll take it!

But if the three-batter minimum rule should continue to exist, Rodriguez is a bit of a liability. He’s effective against lefties as a left-hander, there’s no doubting that, but his numbers against righties are dreadful:

• .339/.380/.446 in 121 at-bats in 2021

No thank you.

The Yankees could easily find someone cheaper and more effective in free agency. Rodriguez has a team option for $3 million, but the buyout is just $500K. That can’t be too much for Hal Steinbrenner to swallow, right?

Also, while Joely was a surprise with his contributions, his 1.42 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 19 innings weren’t exactly encouraging.

2. Andrew Heaney

Another trade acquisition (why?) in Andrew Heaney has almost a 0%. chance of returning to the Bronx, and the man he was traded for (Janson Junk) is already making an impact with the Los Angeles Angels.

Usually, the Yankees would remain stubborn in their ways and hang on to a struggling player just to prove to the naysayers that they were actually right, for a short period of time, about a guy actually being able to play baseball. Got us! Great validation for ya.

If they do that with Heaney, then we really know this is the aspect of the organization that’s fully gone rogue … because there is no role for him on this team, or probably any team.

He was optioned at the end of the regular season and then designated for assignment right before the AL Wild Card Game. What’s the use for a guy who owned a 7.32 ERA in 12 games and allowed an unthinkable 13 homers in 35.2 innings? He does get batters to whiff, but he also tosses batting practice-esque stuff most of the time. It’s not sustainable. Matt Blake’s advice did bubkus. Is what it is.

Throw all the advanced stats at me as you want. We did that dance with Chad Green, too. When someone gives up hard contact, it’s a liability. When they don’t have the alternate numbers to make you feel better about surrendering hard contact, it’s not a fit.

To make matters easier, Heaney is a free agent. That’s the end of the story. If the Yankees are serious about contending, they won’t bring back Heaney to take up a valuable spot in the rotation or get shelled coming out of the bullpen. How about just fill the roster with competitive talent, instead of Brooks Kriske? Didn’t we learn from that?