The current 2021 Yankee roster:
D.J. LeMahieu
Anthony Rizzo *
Aaron Judge
Giancarlo Stanton *
Gleyber Torres *
Brett Gardner *
Gary Sanchez
Gio Urshela
Joey Gallo *
Luke Voit *
Kyle Higashioka
Tyler Wade *
Rougned Odor *
Gerrit Cole
* Jameson Taillon
Cory Kluber
Nestor Cortez Jr.
Jordan Montgomery
Luis Gil
Jonathan Loaisiga
Aroldis Chapman *
Wandy Peralta
Clay Holmes
Lucas Luetge
Albert Abreu
Andrew Heaney *
* Luis Severino
* Domingo German *
* Miguel Andujar *
* Michael King
* Aaron Hicks *
Now that the season is almost officially over, let's look at the current roster with an eye toward 2022, assuming that season happens at all (labor negotiations are forthcoming and some are predicting a strike or lockout).
While the list above is not the complete 40-man roster of the moment, it is 31 players most likely to be used right now. An asterisk before the player's name indicates he is currently injured.
An asterisk AFTER the player's name indicates someone I hope (and not always believe) will not be on the roster next season.
Let's take them one-by-one:
Rizzo: I think he wants to go back to the Cubs and he hasn't shown me enough offensively or defensively to cry if he doesn't come back.
Stanton: Let's face it. That contract is not movable. But man was that a blunder. The guy gets white hot twice a year and the rest of the time he's an obstacle.
Torres: He's not a shortstop. He's now showing us that he's not a second baseman. He's Miguel Andujar with better credentials. There are a million great shortstops on the free agent market this winter. Gleyber can go.
Gardner: It's time. Yeah, he's been hot lately but he'll be pushing 40 next year and it's been made clear this season that you can't count on him being a part-time player. Get a full-timer and let Gardy retire with dignity.
Gallo: Because we hadn't seen enough strikeouts yet? Very good defensively, nice arm. Hits home runs. But he strikes out the rest of the time and we need more rally builders, not rally killers.
Voit: You don't get to be a diva after having one-and-a-half good seasons. Get out of the clubhouse and take your stone glove with you.
Wade: I've been hearing for five years that if we got to see the REAL Tyler Wade we'd love him. Guess what-this is the real Tyler Wade. I just sort of like him.
Odor: Yeah, energy in the clubhouse. Yeah, the occasional home run. Everything else, no.
Chapman and German: Domestic abuse isn't welcome in my clubhouse. Leave.
Heaney: Do I even have to say?
Andujar: He needs to go somewhere that he can play every day. It's not here.
Hicks: He's not going anywhere with that contract extension. But I barely remember what the guy looks like. He gets hurt and is out for the season every year.
No, I am NOT interested in getting rid of Gary Sanchez. For one thing, who have you got that's better and no, don't tell me Higashioka. He's not an everyday catcher. If Cole wasn't such a diva he'd be playing maybe once a week.
It's got to be a winter involving a major overhaul. Those calling for Cashman's head aren't going to get it. Those calling for Boone's very well might. Beyond that, who knows?
