3 exciting Yankees who'll be squeezed off Opening Day roster (but will contribute)

The New York Yankees came down with a case of the common Injury Bug this spring, leading to unexpected roster gaps in the rotation, bullpen, and on the bench. "Unexpected" only if you've never followed this team before, that is.

Luckily, while there's no replacing Gerrit Cole directly, the Yankees actually have a young talent surplus this year, especially on the mound. That means that, while several intriguing candidates will be demoted from both the rotation and bullpen mixes, New York will maintain an impressive almost-ready reserve, even after dealing a solid chunk of their upper-level pitching depth in exchange for Juan Soto (who is, helpfully, literally Juan Soto).

The pitching staff is going to look significantly different this season after letting (breathes in) King, Wandy Peralta, Luis Severino, Domingo Germán, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, and Drew Thorpe go, with stalwarts like Tommy Kahnle, Scott Effross and Lou Trivino missing to begin the season as well.

Some spring standouts -- like Nick Burdi -- have already made more than enough of an impression to stick around, if healthy. Others will "lose out" on a roster spot to open the season, but likely won't have to wait all that long to get a chance to contribute. After all, the churning waves of roster manipulation certainly don't come to a halt on March 28, especially with this franchise's overall level of current health vibes.

3 deserving Yankees players who won't make Opening Day roster

Clayton Beeter, RHP

Sunday, against a significant chunk of Red Sox starters, represented Beeter's sole dud this spring -- though, even in that tougher-than-usual appearance, he still covered four innings, only surrendering three runs after a bumpy beginning.

Beeter has done more than enough to keep himself in the promotion picture this spring; it's not his fault that Luis Gil has excelled just a bit more coming off Tommy John surgery, and has the early lead on the "hybrid reliever/piggyback" role.

It remains unclear whether the fruits of the Yankees' second Joey Gallo trade (score!) can parlay his two-pitch-forward arsenal into success as a starter, but Beeter's fastball has what coaches love to call sneaky giddy-up. The zip sometimes goes unnoticed, and yet, there it is, sliding past the waiting bat yet again.

Will Warren and Gil are currently higher on the pecking order, and both seem poised to break camp with the Yankees, but Beeter remains ahead of Chase Hampton for the time being, and he will make an appearance before the end of the year.

Cody Poteet, RHP

When Cody Poteet was brought in this offseason following stints with the Marlins and Royals (and long-term surgical recovery), most fans were woefully unaware of his existence. Even Brian Cashman, who was impressed with the mysterious righty's secondary stuff enough to snap him up this offseason, struggled with his name as pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.

Luckily for the Yankees' and their propensity for roster manipulation, the 29-year-old right-hander has a full swath of minor-league options remaining; he'll make $750,000 in the bigs and $200,000 down at Scranton.

That means, like former Guardians righty Cody Morris, the swingman can be stashed and handed a ticket on the Scranton Shuttle to begin the season, after proving in March that he can still compete at the level.

The changeup artist (38.2% usage, vs. just 26.6% for his four-seamer) managed to navigate trouble and close out the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, bringing his spring totals to two earned runs, seven hits, a walk, and seven whiffs in 7 2/3 innings pitched. He's been used primarily as a reliever, hinting that his responsibilities will overlap somewhat with Luke Weaver's (and Gil's, and Beeter's...).

Too much effective pitching is a good thing, though, and if Yankees fans have learned anything in recent years, it's that a player like Poteet -- who, again, can move up and down -- will prove to be invaluable sooner than they imagined. He might not be well-known, but his stuff seems superior to previously relied-upon, last-ditch options like Asher Wojciechowski, Anthony Banda and Jacob Barnes. His time will come. You just cross your fingers it doesn't come at Fenway before he gets his legs under him (sorry, Brooks Kriske).