Yankees' latest demotion hints at surprising change to Opening Day roster

With Giancarlo Stanton down for the count long-term (as we all desperately seek to find out how long the term actually is), the New York Yankees need lineup reinforcements.

Losing Stanton from the everyday group will free up the DH spot for rotational use, allowing the Yankees to give their starters half-days off throughout the early-season sprint. That's good! Unfortunately, losing Stanton also means losing the power bat that carried the team through the ALDS and ALCS last October.

If they can get him back for the postseason or stretch run, they'd be receiving a huge boost. No one is ever upset about seeing a healthy Stanton, except maybe Darwinzon Hernandez. For now, though, losing the slugger opens up lane for an additional contributor to crack the Opening Day roster.

While veterans Dominic Smith and Pablo Reyes, both in camp as non-roster invitees, remain possibilities, MLB.com Yankees insider Bryan Hoch posited this week New York will veer in a younger direction (and go with someone who's currently on the 40-man roster).

Everson Pereira may not be able to readily play the outfield after undergoing Tommy John surgery midway through last season, but he can DH to start. Hoch predicted he'd make the team and be called upon as the starting DH against left-handers, while Ben Rice absorbs many of the duties when righties are on the mound. Oswald Peraza, Trent Grisham, and JC Escarra would then round out the theoretical bench.

It makes all the sense in the world! Which is why Pereira's demotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Tuesday's game, just one day after the convincing column was posted, flummoxed us. Spencer Jones, after a strong start to spring, was also officially demoted to continue to work on his swing in the high minors.

Yankees rookie slugger Everson Pereira demoted after being predicted to make Opening Day roster

Are the Yankees now making room for Smith or Reyes? Or do they have something else in the works?

Pereira's MLB cameo in a lost September in 2023 didn't just get overshadowed on account of Jasson Dominguez's boisterous arrival. The rookie wasn't good enough, and wishes the world would forget it. After batting .151 without a homer in 93 at-bats, Pereira struggled to stay healthy at Triple-A last season, though he posted 10 home runs and an .858 OPS in 40 games before succumbing to elbow surgery.

Joel Sherman's hinted at a possible trade for a right-handed bat a number of times recently, and perhaps that's why Pereira has been squeezed off the roster. With just over two weeks before Opening Day, it seems the kid had the inside track until things suddenly flipped Tuesday afternoon. Now, we're just waiting to find out why.