3 surprise players Yankees could lose in 40-man roster shuffle

1. Chad Green

We know, we know. But of all the Yankees’ vaunted back-end arms that rivals could be inquiring about … wouldn’t the Yanks at least consider dealing Chad Green?

It wouldn’t be “selling low” in the vein of, say, Gleyber Torres. Green was quite good in 2021. He posted an 0.88 WHIP, 99 whiffs in 83.2 innings, and his lowest ERA since 2018 — weird thing to learn!

Of course, his high-profile meltdowns soured many Yankee fans on his high-leverage bonafides. The concern there is real. It takes an awful lot of bad luck to end up with seven losses (and 10 wins!) as a back-end reliever. That means you let a lot of leads escape, resulting in either a permanent mark on your record or an accidental victory after the offense bailed you out. Unfortunately for Green, his list of offenses in 2021 can’t be counted on just one hand.

Green’s a free agent after next season and turns 31 in May. We don’t know whether the Yankees would be willing to part with him, but we’re fairly certain other teams will be calling. Teams that don’t know Green’s tendencies quite as well as we do.

Though he’s not on an expensive contract a la Adam Ottavino, there is some similarity there between Green entering his final arbitration year in pinstripes and Otto finishing up his three-year deal. Both have big-game warts, but both also have strikeout stuff and tons of experience.

Are the Yankees really going to extend Green after the season? Almost definitely not. So, if they’re confident in Holmes, Loaisiga, and a few emergent pieces behind those two (Ron Marinaccio, who also needs protecting), wouldn’t you at least consider a Green trade to clear a surprising roster spot? Maybe the borderline-contending Tigers could be interested in a reunion?

Just spitballing here as the clock ticks. Based on context, teams are asking. The Yankees could be tempted to listen.

Yankees: 3 players you should be prepared to lose this winter

The New York Yankees are going to have to prepare to lose these three players this offseason, whenever the 2021 campaign wraps up.