3 Yankees playing for their jobs heading into the 2023 season

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Just because you're in the New York Yankees starting lineup this season doesn't mean your job is safe for 2024 ... or even the entirety of 2023!

The Yankees roster hasn't had too much turnover over the past few years, but it's never going to stay the same year over year. Whether you have one year or 10 years left on your contract, nobody is excused if the play isn't up to par.

Every player goes through ups and downs and some are given longer leashes than others. If you're a former All-Star, you may be given a few years to get out of your funk, compared to a minor-league veteran or fringe prospect who may only be given a few weeks or months. Professional sports is a harsh business, especially in New York.

In recent years, however, the Yankees have taken especially longer to pull the plug on some failed experiments, and we're not sure why. Nonetheless, some of these issues have come to a head in the Bronx and could be resolved sooner rather than later.

3 Yankees playing for their jobs heading into the 2023 season

Aaron Hicks

Hicks won't be a free agent until after the 2025 season, but this could be the last one in New York for the 33-year-old. After being benched a few times in 2022, it kind of felt like he wouldn't return despite his onerous contract, but he's back once again and will almost certainly be the team's starting left fielder to begin 2023.

If you surveyed 100 Yankees fans, Hicks would probably be their least favorite player at the moment, right? Based on his costly errors and inability to create any offense over the past four years, fans are fed up, and management should be too.

Despite being the black sheep right now, Hicks can redeem himself with a rebound season. With the elimination of the shift, maybe he can turn back to the player who hit 27 HR and 79 RBI in 2018? Or maybe that was a miracle season that he'll never replicate again? Maybe he can produce a decent portion of that output?

Who knows, but I'd bet that he's not even the starting left fielder by the trade deadline and he's benched for a replacement less than halfway through the season. Hicks is fighting for his job every day, so don't be shocked if he's no longer a Yankee in 2024.

Josh Donaldson

The three-time All-Star is still a very good defensive third baseman, but Donaldson's fighting father time right now. The 37-year-old could be replaced by a younger player before we know it.

With a club option after this year, the Yankees will have an opportunity to keep Donaldson for $16 million in 2024 (HA!) or buy him out for $8 million. When he was acquired last offseason, it was framed as the Yankees inheriting Donaldson's remaining two years and $50 million, which included his buyout, so don't count on him being here in 2024 regardless of his performance in 2023.

After having his worst statistical offensive season of his career last year, it would be pretty shocking to assume Donaldson returns to his 162-game averages of 32 home runs and 96 RBI. It appears he's hit the aging curve harder than anyone could've expected.

The Yankees want to move forward with their crew of young infielders in Oswald Peraza, Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera. There's also the slugging Andres Chaparro, who's starting to force the issue with his bat. Regardless, the Yankees can find a better (or younger) third baseman for 2024 when all is said and done.

Gleyber Torres

Torres is currently slotted in as the Yankees starting second baseman, but that could change sooner than later. The two-time All-Star performed terrible from 2020-2021 and then ruined his productive 2022 campaign with one of the worst August performances you'll ever see because he was shaken by trade rumors.

As mentioned earlier, the ascensions of Volpe, Peraza and Cabrera are notable, and probably threaten Torres the most since all three of those prospects play the middle infield.

Going back to those trade rumors, Torres was reportedly dangled at last year's deadline and then again this offseason. His bat has regressed considerably in more ways than one. You might look at his 2022 numbers and be content with his 24 HR, 76 RBI and 114 OPS+, but even with identical HR and RBI numbers from his rookie season, Torres saw his average dip 14 points, OBP dip 30 points and slugging percentage dip 29 points. He was dismal with runners in scoring position (.236 AVG., .698 OPS) and RISP with two outs (.209 AVG., .567 OPS). The number totals don't tell the entire story.

Throw in the hustle concerns, his poor body language, and the fact there have been a couple of feuds with the front office, and Torres may not have the longest of leashes as we approach the trade deadline, especially if the aforementioned prospect trio makes an impact.

He has one more year of club control after 2023, but look for the Yankees to save that $12-$13 million by inserting one of their more promising middle infield options.

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3 Yankees playing for their jobs heading into the 2023 season

Aaron Hicks

Josh Donaldson

Gleyber Torres

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