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

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).