3 Yankees who made Opening Day roster but shouldn't have long leash

Albert Abreu

The man either looks untouchable or is among the easiest relievers to touch. There is no in between. And more often than not, he's being tagged. Yankees fans know it very well. His meltdown in Tampa back in 2021 still makes one of the top lowlights of that season.

We'll acknowledge Abreu managed to be serviceable in 2022 after returning to the Yankees (he was dealt to the Rangers for Jose Trevino). He logged a 3.16 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 1.21 WHIP and 26 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. But folks ... most of those games didn't matter. He pitched in 15 losses out of his 22 games. Yes, he limited his walks and propensity to surrender home runs, but he wasn't exactly tested.

And he's always good for one, disastrous implosion, further proving that this spring when he blew a 4-1 Yankees lead in the bottom of the eighth (and into the ninth) by surrendering five earned runs on four hits and a walk. Just like that. It always happens so quickly.

Maybe Abreu turns it around and we look silly. Would love that. His spring was very good up until that one outing. But if he has any sort of concerning hiccups in April, it's time to cut bait and call in Matt Krook or Greg Weissert.