3 Yankees who don't deserve a 40-man roster spot heading into 2024

On Monday, the New York Yankees did some 40-man roster maneuvering when they sent Matt Gage to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a trade for lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson. Though Gage appeared to be a fit, the Yanks are going with a known quantity in Ferguson.

Funny part is ... many fans thought Gage would be an asset to the 40-man roster. And maybe he would've been. But Ferguson is definitely a safer bet and helps better paint a bullpen picture as we get closer to spring training.

The bullpen, however, could use some upgrades. Though the roster is definitely "ready" for the 2024 season, it's far from perfect and moves could still be made to address the deficiencies. In fact, per reports, the Yankees are not satisfied with their pitching staff and could still strike a trade over the next month or so.

So who's on the roster bubble? Who could get the axe if the Yankees make a 40-man move? These few might be in danger if push comes to shove.

3 Yankees who don't deserve a 40-man roster spot heading into 2024

Carlos Narvaez

Let's preface this by saying none of this is designed to run a player out of town. It's just an exercise of where the Yankees have a surplus or where they need more fortification. For Carlos Narvaez, his case falls in the former.

The Yankees have FIVE catchers on the 40-man roster and it's clear they're rolling with Austin Wells and Jose Trevino in the bigs with Ben Rortvedt (Gerrit Cole's best friend piñata) at Triple-A. Then you have Agustin Ramirez, a promising young slugger that needed protection from the Rule 5 Draft after Kyle Higashioka was traded to the Padres. The 22-year-old Dominican has reached Double-A and has impressed the last two seasons.

Narvaez was protected from the Rule 5 Draft as well, but he's already 25 years old and reached Double-A for the first time in 2023. He doesn't sport the same power as Ramirez and his defense cratered a bit once he reached Triple-A.

The Venezuelan is by no means an inadequate player -- he's just on the bottom of this totem pole. Watch for the Yankees to trade him in a larger deal for some pitching or infield depth.

Matt Krook

Has Matt Krook gotten a fair shake? We wouldn't say so! He lost all of 2020 (like Narvaez) to COVID in what was supposed to be a crucial development year. He joined the Yankees three years ago heading into his age-26 season and has remained at Triple-A ever since.

Fans wanted to see him last year because he seemingly plateaued at Scranton and the bullpen needed a lefty able to eat some innings. Krook was mostly a starter his entire career until the Yankees transitioned him to a reliever at the start of last season. It seemed as if he could be the next Lucas Luetge, coming out of the 'pen to absorb a few frames and save the day from the pitching staff being abused.

Instead, the Yankees and manager Aaron Boone decided to debut the left-hander in the middle of June at Fenway Park with the Bombers trailing 7-1. No better time to help the kid build confidence! Did we mention he was called up 12 games prior and ... not used once?

Boston's offense was already rocking, and tagged Krook for five earned runs in 1.2 innings of work. He gave up four hits and a walk, including a monster home run to Justin Turner (following -- what else -- an infield misplay). Krook wouldn't pitch again until July 1, and he was once again knocked around for two earned runs on two hits and three walks across 1.2 innings against the Cardinals. But the final blow came during his fourth and last appearance of the season in Milwaukee, when he allowed four earned runs on two hits and two walks without recording an out. That was the last we saw of him.

So, yeah, we're just not sure what the Yankees are doing with him, which makes his place on the roster feel obsolete.