Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ newly appointed captain, is all set to return to the lineup on Tuesday. The outfielder suffered from a mild hip strain two weeks ago and has been placed on a 10-day IL ever since. Now, as the deadline ends, the slugger is cleared by the conditioning team to return to the lineup from Tuesday without any restrictions.
However, Aaron Judge’s return would result in some collateral damage. The roster is full at the moment, and hence, the team needs to make space for the captain. Moreover, they have to replace Judge with a position player only. Hence, tough times are ahead for the Yankees front office as they have to make some difficult decisions today. We have clubbed together five potential names who are most likely to lose a spot on the roster.
5 Yankees Who Remain On The Radar To Lose A Roster Spot
Oswald Peraza: Shortstop Oswald Peraza came in as a replacement for Josh Donaldson, who remains on IL due to a hamstring strain. However, the Yankees haven’t used him much. The prospect has mostly come off the bench as a pinch runner. On top of that, Peraza injured his ankle last week and has been MIA ever since. Hence, the team might option him to Triple-A as he is of no use right now.
Aaron Hicks: Outfielder Aaron Hicks has finally found his mojo back. He smacked his first home run of the season on Monday against the Athletics. But would the single hit be enough to compensate for the years-long dry run? Highly unlikely. Moreover, Hicks has been terrible on the field as well. Hence, releasing him could be an option the Yankees should actively consider.
Oswaldo Cabrera: Utility player Oswaldo Cabrera came out on top in spring training and got a chance to start over Aaron Hicks on opening day. However, Cabrera does not have much to show offensively. His ground ball percentage is high, and the utility player has just hit two homers with an average of .204. Hence, the Yankees could demote Cabrera to minors to allow him enough time to sharpen his skills.
Willie Calhoun: Outfielder Willie Calhoun has been the find of the season for the Yankees. He got called as a replacement for Giancarlo Stanton. Moreover, Calhoun has hit two homers with an average of .323 in just a few outings. However, despite impressive numbers, the outfielder would have to make way for the seniors. Even if he gets a lifeline tomorrow, he has to make way when Stanton returns. Such is the cruelty of sports!
Jake Bauers: Demoting Jake Bauers back to Triple-A makes the most sense for the Yankees. He came in to replace Aaron Judge, and now that the captain is back, Jake must move back. He has hit one homer and shown flashes of brilliance in the field. But the outfielder will have to wait a little longer for his due.
Aaron Judge To Be Reinstated From IL On Tuesday
It’s confirmed. New York Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, came in with some good news. He confirmed that the Bombers’ captain, Aaron Judge, will return to the Yankees lineup on Tuesday without any restriction. His 10-day IL stint came to an end today, and the slugger is all cleared to participate in the upcoming matchup against the Oakland Athletics.
Aaron Judge has been MIA for two weeks after suffering from a mild hip strain. The team’s offense struggled massively during his absence. Hence, his return is crucial for the Bombers. Even the team manager, Aaron Boone, shared his excitement while making the announcement and said, “MVP back.” Boone added he would enjoy writing his name on the lineup this week.
