New York Yankees is well known for its starry lineup. Every season, the club sets a bullpen filled with superstars yet, fail to cross the finish line. FYI, the Yankees have been awaiting a World Series title since 2009. Hence, fans and critics have often questioned the team’s off-season tactics and strategies. Even this off-season, the Yanks are caught in the eye of the storm after the club decided to retain two underperforming players.
Yankees, ahead of the 2023 MLB season opening day, confirmed Aaron Hicks and Josh Donaldson would feature in the starting roster of the team. The news has irked the fans who believe these two are underperformers and termed them as a liability. Meanwhile, amid the uproar, Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, took it upon himself and came out to defend the under-fire players.
Brian Cashman Defends Hicks & Donaldson’s Inclusion In The Roster
After failing to acquire a designated left fielder in the off-season, the Yankees decided to give Aaron Hicks the starting spot. Hicks underperformed last season. Still, the Yanks decided to keep him under the fold. Meanwhile, Josh Donaldson, who came in through a trade from the Twins, had an awful season with the Yanks as the third baseman. Hence, both players have failed to live up to the hype and expectations. Moreover, the salary the players are receiving has raged the fans even more. Hicks and Josh combined are earning $31 million per season.
Naturally, the question arises if the Yankees are forced to keep these players on the roster just to honor their high payroll. Yankees general manager, Brain Cashman, has come out to answer the question. As a GM, naturally, the blame falls on his shoulders. However, Cashman defended the team’s tactics and refuted the claims of giving players a spot according to their salary status. Moreover, Brian Cashman showed a lot of faith in both players for the 2023 season.
“We’re not applying that standard,” says Brian Cashman.
Yankees Roster Woes Are Far From Over
Keeping the left field and baseman woes aside, the Yanks have much bigger issues to look at. For starters, Frankie Montas’ injury has left a hole in the pitching rotation. Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt are the two available replacements. German could be the best possible option, as Clake’s performance is working against him. But after the duo, the pitching depth diminishes significantly.
On the other hand, the Yanks are still undecided on the starting shortstop position. Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe are likely to have a face-off during the spring training to claim that spot on the roster. While Volpe is the Yankees’ top shortstop prospect, Peraza’s experience increases his odds. Still, barring a few big names, the New York Yankees roster looks unsettled at the moment. With the opening day approaching in less than two months, the New York Yankees need to revamp their plan.