Yankees Rumors: 3 players who won’t be on the roster by July 1

Yankees who won’t be on the roster: 2. Willie Calhoun

Willie Calhoun is a candidate to be DFA’d by the Yankees in the coming weeks. Since Calhoun is more of a DH than a fielder, it’s hard to see him getting reps with Giancarlo Stanton’s return from the IL creating a logjam at DH until he’s ready to play the outfield. Calhoun should survive Stanton’s return since the Yankees can option Franchy Cordero and Oswaldo Cabrera, but it’s hard to imagine him surviving past the end of June if the Yankees’ position players are healthy.

Two DHs on the roster create a lack of flexibility in the field. Calhoun will be relegated to a pinch hitter. Even when Stanton has a day off, Calhoun isn’t likely to crack the starting lineup, as the DH spot will likely be filled by another Yankee since Josh Donaldson’s return crowds the infield. He’s not a candidate for pinch-running, either.

This one hurts because Calhoun has played well lately. He got off to a slow start in his first 20 at-bats before turning things around. In his last seven games, Calhoun is hitting .360 with a .520 SLG in 25 AB. He can rake, so the Yankees have shown confidence in him as a DH.

Calhoun was previously DFA’d by the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants in 2022. He signed a minor league contract with the Yankees during the offseason and was selected to the active major league roster in April.

Calhoun should survive on the roster for now, and perhaps he’ll thrive in a pinch-hitting role. Unless Stanton shows the ability to regularly play outfield in the next month, Calhoun is likely to lose his roster spot in favor of someone who is a stronger fielder.