3 Yankees players who won't be on the roster by May 1

While Carlos Rodón's return is trending slightly later than May 1, Luis Severino seems to be on track to be added to the Yankees roster around the end of the month. His most recent throwing session was reportedly pain-free and, if you believe that, he shouldn't be forcibly placed on the shelf much longer.

Add in the team's two injured offensive players in Harrison Bader and Josh Donaldson, and there's a good chance that three separate Yankees rehabs will end on or around the start of next month. Bader and Donaldson played catch in the outfield before Thursday's game against the Twins, and the outfielder will reportedly begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Monday.

That means it's already time to begin thinking about who might be shucked off the roster when this trio returns.

We'll level with you: there's a pleasant answer to this question, and then there's a pretty unpleasant answer to this question (which seems impossible now, but might feel different a few weeks down the line, when choices actually must be made).

Every Yankee mentioned here might be gone by early May, and we've ranked them from "first to go" to toughest decision.

3 New York Yankees players who'll be pushed off roster by May 1 (or soon after)

Willie Calhoun

It's very tough to see the Yankees' most recent fill-in, Willie Calhoun, making it through Bader's rehab and sticking on the roster. Even with Giancarlo Stanton's additional injury, Oswald Peraza seems like a safer bet to seize playing time.

No matter how this ends, though, Calhoun has already had his moments. His bases-loaded single in Tuesday night's blowout victory over the Cleveland Guardians helped set the tone, and during his next few weeks in the Bronx, the 5-8, 205-pound outfielder still has a chance to become a folk hero.

A can't-miss prospect who missed, fell out of favor in Texas after being included in a blockbuster trade, and is still trying to latch on, Calhoun has plenty to prove, whether his future is in the Bronx or elsewhere. He's going to do the most he can with the reps he still has remaining in New York and, above all else, he got to wear the pinstripes for a few weeks.

It can be difficult to say goodbye to favored fill-ins. Calhoun's departure will (probably) be a little easier to stomach. But we wish him well.