Fansided

5 Yankees still fighting to make the Opening Day roster

By Rucker Haringey

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 26: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 26: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Yankees rumors, Tim Locastro
SEATTLE – JULY 7: Tim Locastro #26 of the New York Yankees runs during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 7, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 5-4. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

4. Tim Locastro

The Yankees’ front office clearly wants more athleticism on this year’s squad which makes Locastro’s speed an intriguing skill to add to the Opening Day roster. Unfortunately, the outfield in the Bronx is pretty crowded which may see the veteran squeezed down to AAA to start the season.

Locastro’s best bet to break into the Majors is to soak up some games in center field when Aaron Hicks inevitably misses time due to injury. The problem for Locastro’s short-term prospects is that Hicks is currently healthy and looks ready to be Boone’s Opening Day starter in center field.

The other guy Locastro figures to be competing with for an outfield bench spot is veteran Marwin Gonzalez. He has more positional flexibility than Locastro which is another strike against the native New Yorker.

Locastro is a bit of a long shot to start the season in the Majors at the moment, but he’s only one injury away from making the Opening Day roster. The Yankees would prefer him to start the year in the minors but he remains a valuable piece of organizational depth for Brian Cashman’s front office.

Home/New York Yankees