Yankees release 2022 ALDS roster with 3 important omissions

The Yankees almost looked poised to enter the 2022 MLB Postseason nearly at full strength, but according to the final ALDS roster released on Tuesday morning, they made an important last-minute health determination that should be for the better … and also ran into an unexpected disaster.

They also made another decision that probably wasn’t in their best interest, but it’s difficult to be too judgmental considering it was fairly obvious to predict the direction they’d go.

Slugging surprise Matt Carpenter defied the odds and was named to the roster on Tuesday after pummeling bombs against Luis Severino over the weekend in a final test for an October run.

Unfortunately, the rest of the bench won’t have as much thump as it could, given the two names who won’t be making the trip.

Though the determination waited until the last minute, the Yankees ultimately moved off DJ LeMahieu, whose troublesome toe greatly hindered his power whenever he tried to test it in August and September. More annoyingly, Oswald Peraza wasn’t given a fair shake to steal a bench spot, even with the Yankees going with a 12-man pitching staff.

Oh, and about that. Scott Effross, likely the de facto closer, didn’t make the roster, either. Turns out he came down with an elbow injury and needs Tommy John surgery, an awful last-minute blow that tears the Yanks’ pen apart this year and next.

Yankees postseason roster misses Scott Effross, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza

The “good news”? Effross was acquired in part due to his dominance, and in part because he is under control through 2027.

The awful news? He was about to play a massive role in settling an unsettled bullpen. And just like that, he’s gone.

The LeMahieu injury was foreseeable; when he was active, it wasn’t quite working, and it’s probably for the best that the Yankees carried a pinch runner instead of someone who didn’t quite fit into the lineup mix.

The Peraza move? Even though he hit .306 with a 139 OPS+ in limited playing time, true fans knew he wasn’t destined for the active roster. He’ll probably hang along on the bench and watch the action.

Losing Effross? That indicates that Aroldis Chapman wrongfully would’ve lucked onto the roster anyway, if not for his latest malfeasance, and the righty’s absence throws a smoke grenade into an already-unsettled bullpen picture. Nothing short of disaster.

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