With all eyes on the Yankees’ high-profile acquisitions in the outfield and the concerns hanging over their starting rotation, the club’s bench has flown under the radar.
If the season started today, here’s who would be on the pine:
Center fielder Trent Grisham, infielder Oswald Peraza, utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera and either Jose Trevino or Austin Wells, whoever isn’t starting behind the plate.
Not too bad, right? It’s certainly an improvement from last season.
FIXING THE YANKEES:
The Yankees are poised to have one of the better catching duos in baseball if Wells takes a step forward this year. They missed Trevino badly after he had wrist surgery last summer. Grisham can play a significant role with his elite defense and speed. The youngsters are still looking to prove themselves at this level, but they’re valuable thanks to defensive versatility.
From there, it’s unclear where the Yankees would turn for depth. Outfielder Everson Pereira is on the 40-man roster, but he struggled mightily in his first taste of MLB action last fall. Second baseman Jorbit Vivas was acquired from the Dodgers this winter, but he’ll likely need more seasoning in Triple-A having only played in 26 games at that level with Los Angeles. Speedster Greg Allen signed a minor-league deal with the team a week ago, one of several non-roster invitees eager to compete for a spot this spring.
To add another proven big leaguer to that mix would be a plus. That’s where Tony Kemp could come into the picture.
To add another proven big leaguer to that mix would be a plus. That’s where Tony Kemp could come into the picture.
The Yankees have shown interest in signing Kemp in free agency, per Robert Murray of FanSided. Murray reports that the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Reds and Pirates are also interested in Kemp.
Kemp, 32, will enter his ninth big-league season in 2024. He’s a .238 hitter in his career, coming off a season where he slashed just .209/.303/.304 with Oakland. While the left-handed hitter is far from a slugger, Kemp can play multiple positions, he’s quick (he stole a career-high 15 bases in 2023), he’s durable and the veteran carries a strong reputation.
With their passive approach in the reliever market in recent weeks, the Yankees have proven that they’re on a budget at this stage of the offseason. A payroll north of $300 million means the Yankees will need to endure a slew of luxury tax penalties in 2024. Time will tell what Kemp costs. He made just under $4 million last season, his final year of arbitration.
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