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3 Yankees in danger of losing 2023 roster spot after Oswaldo Cabrera debut

By Thomas Carannante |
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 26: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees looks on before the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 26: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees looks on before the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
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Whether Oswaldo Cabrera comes around on the offensive end or not, it’s evident the youngster is an asset for the New York Yankees this year and beyond solely because of his immaculate defensive versatility. He’s already logged reps at third base, second base, shortstop and right field in his first seven big-league games.

Assuming he remains a fixture on the 2023 Yankees, he could threaten a few incumbents’ roster spots come next year. Up until the first three months of this year, New York has largely struggled defensively and it has cost them dearly.

Additionally, Cabrera’s defensive versatility could open up more lineup/roster possibilities for general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone (assuming they’re both still here if the Yankees fall short of their goal of a World Series).

It’s no secret Cabrera’s impact has elevated the Yankees, perhaps more than a number of other players on the roster have in 2022 or will from this point forward. In the end, the less shifting Boone needs to do with the lineup, the better, and Cabrera may allow for a more static situation that puts others in better spots and allows the Yankees to upgrade properly.

If that’s the belief in the front office, then fans shouldn’t be shocked if these guys aren’t wearing a Yankees uniform in 2023.

3 Yankees players who could lose 2023 jobs after Oswaldo Cabrera’s impact

Josh Donaldson #28 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Josh Donaldson #28 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

3. Josh Donaldson

Per reports, the Yankees tried to trade Josh Donaldson at the deadline a few weeks ago. Any reason why that would change when the offseason arrives? Even though he’s played some stellar defense at the hot corner, there’s no need to pay $25 million for a below-average hitter when you can give more reps to Cabrera at third and sign another pitcher.

Cabrera saw 141 games at third base throughout his minor-league career, so passing off more games to him in that role wouldn’t be egregious. DJ LeMahieu can also fill in there if necessary, in addition to Matt Carpenter (if he’s re-signed).

The prevailing sentiment remains, though: paying a premium for Donaldson isn’t worth it amid this steep decline. Betting against him regressing further also wouldn’t be prudent. For what Donaldson was brought in to do, he’s hardly delivered.

He was supposed to be the trash-talking agitator, but he shelled up after his boneheaded comments directed at Tim Anderson. He was supposed to be another fearsome power bat protected by the game’s best hitters, but he’s seeing the worst power numbers of his career.

Once Cabrera’s bat shows any promise, we can start the hourglass on Donaldson’s future in New York.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa #12 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Isiah Kiner-Falefa #12 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

2. Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Maybe Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s already been threatened by Oswald Peraza’s success at Triple-A, but Cabrera’s presence puts an exclamation point on that. Why? Because, at the very least, the Yankees could’ve downgraded IKF to a utility bench role had the Yankees decided to start Peraza’s (or Anthony Volpe’s) clock in 2023.

Now, they might not even need to do that if they don’t want to! Cabrera can play shortstop, and even his bat hasn’t been bad enough for the Yankees to second guess replacing IKF’s offensive output with it.

But fans have to be optimistic. After seeing what’s transpired in 2022, there’s no way the Yankees continue with IKF as their starting shortstop and opt to either keep one of their top prospects in the minor leagues or not sign one of the many options that will be available again in free agency.

Should the Yankees bring somebody else in, IKF’s MLB experience might not even be enough to land him a utility role with the team. New York can non-tender or trade him and save millions while elevating Cabrera to the deserved opportunity, given his early impact.

He’s the definition of a “stopgap” who the fans already ruined the relationship with.

Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

1. Gleyber Torres

In what feels like the “End of an Era That Could Have Been,” the Yankees trading Gleyber Torres in the offseason doesn’t feel unrealistic in the slightest. He was discussed in multiple talks at this year’s deadline, if we’re to believe various MLB insiders, too.

Torres will eventually go down as one of the game’s most peculiar modern cases. An All-Star in 2018 and 2019 with a slick glove turned into an unserviceable/barely above-average player from 2020-2022. On some nights, he’ll belt homers and make web gems on defense like you’ve never seen before. On others, he’ll whiff constantly and choke spectacularly with runners in scoring position while seemingly losing every last one of his instincts on defense.

Fans are well aware that baseball is very much “baseball,” but the extremes in Torres’ game represent an unforeseen regression. Over the last three years, the wrong end of that “extreme” spectrum defined his game, too.

Anyway, with Cabrera, who can play second base and shortstop adequately (his two most trafficked positions while coming up in the farm system), in the fold, what dire need is there for Torres? Why not just give LeMahieu his full-time second base job back, shift Cabrera into the utility role DJLM currently holds at the moment (with the exception of the first base reps), and welcome a new starting shortstop after upgrading second base in house? Maybe IKF stays and the Yankees spend on pitching/another third baseman/another outfielder. Either way, it’s very easy to see the future without Torres, who’s done nothing to cloud it ever since he was briefly moved to shortstop on a full-time basis.

Torres’ 2022 rebound has halted rather quickly, and that’s because it seems like he’s now only able to truly reach his potential when the Yankees are at full strength. Any hit to their order of operations, and Torres slips back into the shadows, largely unable to do anything of note.

If that continues to be the story through October, the Yankees are better off finding him a new home and giving Cabrera and another youngster a chance in the middle infield.

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