New York Yankees are making some final cuts to the roster before commencing the 2023 MLB season campaign on March 30.
The 2023 MLB season begins in just a day’s time. And the New York Yankees are scheduled to play the season opener on their home turf in the Bronx against arch-rivals, San Francisco Giants. However, the team is yet to finalize its 26-man roster that will fill the bullpen for the 2023 season. Moreover, the team traveled to New York yesterday with more than 26 players and will likely take a final decision in the next 24 hours.
As many as three spots are left to fill as of now. While the team seems to be in dire need of quality pitchers, a recent move from the front office has baffled the fans to the core. The team decided to demote two of the quality bullpen arms back to the minor league. With opening day circling over the head, the move came in as a surprise to many fans who expressed their disappointment.
Yankees Assign Weissert, Hamilton, and Calhoun To Triple-A
In a fresh roster cut, the New York Yankees have demoted relief pitchers Greg Weissert and Ian Hamilton and outfielder Willie Calhoun to the minor league. All three players had been in contention for spots on the team’s roster but ultimately fell short in their bids to make the team. The move came as a surprise as the team lacks pitching depth and has only one reliever in the form of Michael King. Moreover, Willie produced good numbers in the spring and was a possible contender for left field.
Explaining the decision, skipper Aaron Boone admitted to having a tough discussion with these guys. He specifically spoke about Willie and Weissert and referred to them as big leaguers. However, for now, the team had to make some tough decisions as there isn’t room for many in the final roster. Also, Boone said they want to save these players for the latter half of the tournament and ensure they do not run out of fuel. Apart from this, the team also carried Estevan Floria and Rafael Ortega to New York, but none of them have a confirmed spot on the roster and are mere standbys for the moment.
Unhappy Fans Speak Out On Yanks’ Latest Roster Cut
Meanwhile, the infamous New York Yankees fans once again called out the organization for making bizarre roster cuts. The latest demotion of Greg Weissert, Willie Calhoun, and Ian Hamilton did now sit well with fans, who blasted the front office on Twitter. While the decision may have caught everyone off guard, it’s important to understand that the roster consists of 26 members, and at the end of the day, there isn’t room for everyone.
Although, the Yankees are still open to making a last-minute trade to grab one key pitcher for the lineup. The fifth starter spot is still up for grabs. While Jhony Brito looks like the most probable candidate, a trade deal at this stage would hurt much. Regardless, the Yanks think tank has 24 hours of time to come to a final conclusion.