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.

Jorbit Vivas, INF

Vivas was demoted on Monday night, unable to parlay his torrid start into a surprise roster spot, even after DJ LeMahieu went from "healthy" to "bone bruise; foot fell off".

Despite not being able to crack the 26-man for now, Vivas' pop is extremely legit, as he proved to Yankees fans and brass by selling out a few times early in camp, showing off his Rougned Odor side with two impressive dingers.

Swiped from the Dodgers in a potential win-win Trey Sweeney swap, the Yankees were able to stash Vivas on their 40-man roster, something Los Angeles was unable to do at the time, having to welcome both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (don't rub it in). Ironically, either Sweeney or Vivas -- if not both -- would've had a chance to crack the Yankees' plans at some point this season, with the previously crowded infield now looking thinner than most imagined just last month.

Trepidatious about playing time, Gio Urshela chose a $1.5 million contract from the Tigers rather than continue to entertain a dalliance with the Yankees. In the wake of that decision, Oswald Peraza has been shut down for 6-to-8 weeks with a shoulder issue, and DJ LeMahieu managed to foul a ball off his troublesome foot in exhibition play (at a high velocity). Suddenly, there's room on the Yankees' depth chart, as Brian Cashman considers outside help like Josh Harrison and Donovan Solano. Vivas will get a chance; it's just a matter of time (and its long-publicized effect in healing all wounds).