3 Yankees players who could see larger role in 2025, and 2 who should not

The New York Yankees are rounding into October looking like almost-kinda-sorta a finished product for the first time in years. Promoting Jasson Dominguez will do that to a team. We're just over here crossing every finger and toe in our collection before the postseason begins.

That doesn't mean there are no questions remaining about next season, though. Some of the second-half offensive surge has been thanks to Gleyber Torres' emergence in the leadoff spot; the likelihood of him returning has only risen marginally, though, from somewhere below zero percent to somewhere hovering under five. Clay Holmes will no longer be the closer (normal). Alex Verdugo will probably open up a permanent left field hole, but (gulp) Juan Soto might open a portal in right, too.

While some shifts are obvious (there's no reason for Dominguez not to enter 2025 atop the depth chart), others will be subtler. Are there any other spots available in the starting lineup? Does any one everyday Yankee require more consistent breathers? And what about the bullpen and rotation depth? As we see it, here are the Yankees who should rise up, as well as those who should fall off, next year.

3 Yankees Who Should See Increased Playing Time in 2025

Oswaldo Cabrera

After admitting that Anthony Volpe was worn down at the end of his rookie year, the Yankees went ahead and wore down Anthony Volpe again in 2024.

While Brian Cashman was hoping for an unequivocal development success story when he swore at Joel Sherman during the 2023 GM Meetings, he did not receive one; Volpe's early confidence might've been fueled by BABIP luck, and his disappearing power stroke (by design?) made 2024 look a lot like his rookie season. The defense was spectacular, but the offense might've been even worse; at least he hit the 20-homer mark last season.

Oswaldo Cabrera may never play a starting role for these Yankees, but the confidence and zazz he plays with deserve to be rewarded. He's also come alive in the second half as Volpe has declined, posting a .785 OPS and 123 wRC+ (avg. is 100). The Yankees pinch hit Cabrera for Volpe in the ninth inning with no one aboard in Seattle on Thursday. Expect a potential playoff start (!) this October, followed by increased reps at short and second base (currently wide open) next season.

Ben Rice

Since Ben Rice has gone back down to the minors, he's predictably hit like a house aflame. And, while he didn't show nearly enough during his MLB stint to earn a job at a power position outright next spring, his first few months were oddly reminiscent of Austin Wells' April/May, where he checked every box except "production."

Anthony Rizzo returning on some middle-ground contract between his expensive option and retirement feels like a stronger possibility now than it did in the middle of the summer, but given the possibility of increased regression, that should be more of a budgetary issue than a Rice issue. The best players should play, and Rice homering seven times and slugging .685 since his September demotion indicates he's not done yet.

Clayton Beeter

Is Clayton Beeter a starter or reliever long-term? Regardless, he's a coup, given that he was obtained in exchange for Joey Gallo, who was penning thinkpieces about the Yankee Stadium crowd and could not have been more devalued at the time of his departure. He was basically pulling a George Costanza, dripping sauce on vintage memorabilia and dragging the World Series trophy around the parking lot behind Jon Voight's LeBaron.

Meanwhile, Beeter shook off a somewhat serious shoulder injury to come back throwing disappearing darts out of the bullpen down the stretch. The playoff roster feels like a longshot, but seven frames of two-hit ball with 11 Ks? He already made the 2024 Opening Day roster, and should make next year's too.

2 Yankees Who Should See Reduced Playing Time in 2025

Will Warren

If not for Cody Poteet's midsummer injury, the wily veteran subsisting on guile probably would've been the Yankees' first choice for spot starts, rather than their scuffling top prospect. But Will Warren and his magical sweeper were the default next-in-line choice when the Yankees needed innings this summer, despite a 5.91 ERA on the minor-league season.

Warren pitched well enough to defeat the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field during his time in MLB, but that's about it; he trudged back to the minors after the Cardinals got his goat with a 9.55 ERA across five big-league starts.

He's not ready yet. He might be, at some point next season, but his horrendously hittable location gave no indication that he should be the Yankees' ready-for-primetime choice when the curtain rises on next season.

Mark Leiter Jr.

The Yankees acquired Mark Leiter Jr. because A) they loved his swing-and-miss splitter, B) he was coming off a heater in Chicago and they hoped no one had noticed, and C) he was cheaper, in terms of prospect capital, than Tanner Scott and Jason Adam.

It appears the Yankees got hoodwinked. While Leiter Jr. was the dawg he was advertised to be in his first few series after the trade (he was thrown directly into the fire in Philly after hopping off the plane), he's missed location in nearly every other appearance, getting torched by the home run ball to an absurd degree. He's already been demoted ahead of the postseason -- is it good if your big relief deadline acquisition hasn't been trusted in weeks? -- and next year should bring more of the same. Perhaps he'll rise back into the circle of trust at some point, but he shouldn't be handed anything next season just because of his lineage and midseason "savior" status.