3 Yankees who won't make Opening Day roster, but will contribute a lot in 2023

Matt Krook, LHP

The only thing holding the 28-year-old Krook back from a spot on this list is the possibility that Brian Cashman, suddenly concerned with the low number of left-handers in his 'pen, summons Krook for the Opening Day roster.

Whether the moment comes now or later, rest assured that the ex-Rays prospect will have an impact on the 2023 team.

We're going to go ahead and demote him for the Opener, though, mostly because the team probably views him as a spot starter in the JP Sears mold rather than a short reliever. Now that Domingo Germán has grabbed hold of the fifth starter spot and Clarke Schmidt is more likely than not going to the 'pen to start the year, that would also require there to be someone waiting at Triple-A who can come up and eat innings at a moment's notice.

Once upon a time, that would've been Sears, Ken Waldichuk, or Hayden Wesneski. Now? It seems Krook is the leading candidate for the job, after going 10-7 with a 4.09 ERA and 155 Ks in 138.2 innings at Triple-A last year, using that sweeping slider to perfection.

Jimmy Cordero has also shined at this year's camp, and will likely have a big-league future with these Yankees. He's a reliever through and through, though, and could crack the Opening Day roster if anything else goes wrong (or on his own merits). Krook is more likely to be the last cut, but we'll see him plenty this season.

Anthony Volpe, SS

It's not going to be March 30. It's not going to be April 15.

But, before too long, Anthony Volpe will take this Yankees roster by storm. He's got too much going on to be held down into the summer, and he's seen too much praise heaped upon him this spring -- his makeup, his bat, his speed -- to be ignored.

This is both a service time issue and a clogged-up infield issue, though. The 2023 Yankees aren't in a place to willingly sacrifice offense, especially not after the way they ended last season/didn't meaningfully improve in that department in free agency. These things tend to work themselves out, but trading Gleyber Torres away just to put the burden of high expectations on Volpe while moving the youngster to second base doesn't seem like the prudent move.

As it stands, there will be enough reps to go around for Torres, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza and Josh Donaldson, with Oswaldo Cabrera as a super sub and Isiah Kiner-Falefa ... maybe in Colorado? Volpe, with just 22 middling Triple-A games under his belt, actually does have something to prove in game action at that level.

Based on what we've seen so far this spring, though, does anyone still doubt that he'll eventually prove himself down there and bang on Aaron Boone's door before the summer comes around? The Yankees will make him force the issue because of their current roster construction, but he's basically done everything possible to make his own case so far this spring.

Don't expect him on Opening Day -- because, as Tim Kurkjian said, if he struggles, the Yankees can't backtrack. But once he arrives, he'll arrive loudly.