3 Yankees players who shouldn't make the postseason roster

The New York Yankees have clinched a playoff berth, but can't relax completely yet, as there's still work to do in order to secure the seeding and bye they desire. Excited to be part of the "rest vs. rust" argument this October after watching the Braves be the main characters for the past two years!

While each game still matters until both of those things are sewn up, expect a degree of experimentation the rest of the way as the Yankees look to get their postseason ducks in a row. Two of the current members of the active roster won't make it to October, as the post-Sept. 1 expansion gets reduced once more back to 26 players. There's also a chance that someone from Triple-A is elevated to replace someone in the current mix (as well as the possibility that a recently injured player returns to nab a roster spot).

Given the current constraints, these three players need to be on the outside looking in when the first-round playoff roster is finalized.

MLB Playoffs: These Yankees should not make the 2024 Postseason Roster

Tim Mayza, LHP

Ok, we've had our fun with this audition and, yes, things have improved since his rocky early days in the Bronx. Even though Tim Mayza has survived the DFA Fields, there's still no discernible reason to include him as a second left-hander for October, especially given the possibilities attached to Nestor Cortes out of the bullpen.

Mayza made it on the 40-man roster longer than Nick Burdi and Ron Marinaccio, and remained on the active roster when Scott Effross was demoted. The Yankees have taken as long a look as they could've ever desired at Mayza, but 3 2/3 bullpen-saving innings against Boston in the Gerrit Cole/Rafael Devers game have not swung the momentum here. Nor has a 3.29 FIP in 13 games.

Mark Leiter Jr. remains an implosion risk, but for the last man in the bullpen, give me strikeout upside over lefty mop-up work. But don't make me type this any longer. I might change my mind.

Now, do the Yankees rush an injured Jake Cousins back, or do they rely on Clayton Beeter? Give Beeter a chance over the next six games to prove his upside. If he can translate his Triple-A resurgence to the MLB level, selecting him over Mayza gives the Yankees a potential wild card (though a healthy Cousins is still preferred).

Trent Grisham, OF

The Yankees have telegraphed their plans for Trent Grisham since long before they officially promoted Jasson Dominguez to the MLB roster. His last contribution was the garbage-time grand slam that delayed the inevitable against the Texas Rangers at the start of the month. His last meaningful contribution was ... uh ...

Grisham seemed to be an essential fourth outfielder/defensive replacement earlier in the summer, though his casual corralling of a single-turned-double in the July 4 series against the Reds turned us off to his effort level forever. Now that the Yankees are using Alex Verdugo in a similar role, there seems to be no reason to clear a postseason path for Grisham, who's received six at-bats in September, and 31 since the start of August.

He'll be non-tendered in the offseason as well, as his 2025 salary will exceed the $5.5 million he's being paid in 2024. $5.5 million! What?!

DJ LeMahieu

While it seemed like this went without saying as recently as Friday, DJ LeMahieu is now purportedly hitting off a tee and experiencing baseball activities (in shining, shimmering 4k!).

LeMahieu's hip injury felt like a convenient and graceful way to end his season, and hopefully, Aaron Boone's just sharing more platitudes here to make his progress sound genuine. Even if the veteran stalwart rounds into acceptable shape before October, there is no chance on earth he should be considered over Jon Berti, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Jasson Dominguez. All three of those players, plus Jose Trevino and Alex Verdugo, should make up the postseason bench. All five players listed in this section might start a postseason game, at some point, and LeMahieu never would. Case closed.

Actually, no. Stating that the case is now closed implies that the case was opened at some point. It was not. With love for LeMahieu's past exploits, case nonexistent.