Predicting the Yankees' 25-man roster

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Let's take a stab at identifying the 25-man roster that will open the season for the Yankees April 6 in Baltimore.

In reality, there are only a couple of variables. Among them, the makeup of the bullpen, whether the team carries 11 or 12 pitchers and who will be the utility infielder.

As of today, here is my guess.

Pitchers

SP -- CC Sabathia
SP -- Chien-Ming Wang
SP -- A.J. Burnett
SP -- Andy Pettitte
SP -- Joba Chamberlain
RP -- Mariano Rivera
RP -- Brian Bruney
RP -- Damaso Marte
RP -- Jose Veras
RP -- Phil Coke
RP -- David Robertson

Thoughts -- Edwar Ramirez (injury) and Jonathan Albaladejo will just miss. Mark Melancon and Anthony Claggett are names to watch as the season progresses. Phil Hughes will make a lot of important starts in the big leagues.

Position Players

C -- Jorge Posada
C -- Jose Molina
C -- Kevin Cash
1B -- Mark Teixeira
2B -- Robinson Cano
SS -- Derek Jeter
3B -- Cody Ransom
INF. -- Angel Berroa
OF -- Johnny Damon
OF -- Brett Gardner
OF -- Melky Cabrera
OF -- Xavier Nady
OF/1B -- Nick Swisher
DH/OF -- Hideki Matsui

Thoughts -- The Yankees don't want to carry three catchers, but my thinking is that they will have to until they are sure Jorge Posada can handle the workload. There will be days early in the seaosn the Yankees simply don't want to risk having to use Posada behind the plate. Cash makes it so that Francisco Cervelli can play every day at AAA. Also, don't be shocked if Ramiro Pena, who looks like an outstanding defensive player, takes the utility job away from Berroa. As for center field, I think Gardner ends up getting first crack at the job.

Your thoughts?

Tweet Comment 35 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

longman

I’d say the 3rd catcher is replaced by a longman. Giese or Tomko, probably Giese bc he’s on the 40 man. Cash is still a non-roster invite, in order to add him someone would have to be removed. I’d say a 3rd catcher is used if something goes wrong and Posada can’t catch at all, an emergency type thing, and even then Cash and Molina probably wont do it.

Ryan Flanders

by flandojumb on Mar 12, 2009 7:52 AM EDT reply actions

It's interesting

this is one of the main questions w/this roster. Just exactly how much will they need to protect Posada. It’s impossible to know since he hasn’t even caught an inning yet.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Re:

Girardi has said they are going to carry a long man. That battle is between Giese, Tomko, and Aceves with Giese as the front runner at this point.

Girardi has also described Coke as a “half long man” – which is someone who can pitch 2.0 IP when they need it.

I’d much rather see Robertson get a slot over Edwar – injury or not. I’ve never been a fan of Edwar at all.

by anaconda on Mar 12, 2009 9:36 AM EDT reply actions

Edwar

I love Edwar. His stuff is so different than most guys I think he can be a big plus in the pen, which he showed last year. He may never be an 8th inning guy, but he is a big league pitcher. That said, being hurt may land him in AAA to start the year. And I know Girardi wants a long man. He wanted one last year, too, and still started the season w/out one. I know they don’t want three catchers, but I am thinking they might not have a choice.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Girardi really got burned last season without a long man

So I think he’ll make sure to have one this season when the team comes north. They had guys like Ohlendorf and Britton in the long man role and they were terrible because it’s not a role that suited them.

Granted, the rotation is eons better than it was a year ago – but most teams carry a conventional long man regardless of how strong their rotation is.

by anaconda on Mar 12, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Rotation

You hit on the key thing. The rotation is better so there is less need. I do agree that a long man would be good to have and, ideally, they will. Yes, they got burned without one last year. To me it all depends on the whole two catchers vs. three catchers thing. If they have to carry three, a pitcher is going to get left off.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm thinking Melky might be the odd man out

I know he doesn’t have any options left – but they’ve been looking to trade him for awhile anyways and he has regressed considerably since his rookie season.

I also don’t see a justifiable reason to carry six outfielders. That would be pointless if they have to carry three catchers or an extra infielder with A-Rod gone.

I’m not 100% certain about this but I believe Girardi has indicated they are probably going to carry 12 pitchers.

by anaconda on Mar 12, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

See

that’s why I posted this. It’s a fun debate, and right now Girardi and Cashman don’t even know the answer.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Cashman

Did Cashman ever know the answer? He brought the Yanks: Canseco, Pavano, Wright, Kevin Brown, the lefty kid pitcher from Japan and about 10 other terrible pitchers that I luckily can’t think of this morning. Cashman has been a big disaster. The Yanks have not had a decent GM since Gene Michael. Oh and lets not forget about his great draft picks.

dylan

by dylan99 on Mar 15, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions

gardner

I completely agree that Gardner will be the one getting the chance at center field. From what I’ve been reading he’s really been producing during ST. Maybe this will light a fire up Melky’s butt!

by juliana887 on Mar 12, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

Pena

I like Pena over berroa. It would be nice to have a slick fielding utility player now that ransom is the everyday 3B

Ryan Flanders

by flandojumb on Mar 12, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Pitching

I dont mind robertson in the pen but id much rather have Phil Hughes as the long man just in case any of the starters especially pettite or burnett get into trouble. Hughes has the stuff to be a great pitcher the yanks just decided to throw him to the lions a little too early last yr. and then he got hurt……..

As for the Lineup, looks solid, with tex batting 3rd and then matsui in cleanup til may….still a dangerous lineup, i personally think its time to move jeter down closer to the 7 spot and move damon to the 2nd spot with gardener batting leadoff seeing how he’s been tearing up spring training, Gardener should be fun to watch if he can produce……..would almost get a SB every time up if he gets on.

by B_ry1085 on Mar 12, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions

Putting Hughes in the pen...

would set him back, IMO. he’s better off getting regular starts in AAA, and working on his stuff there. Bring him up as an injury replacement if and when he’s needed.

as for Jeter in the 7 hole? Not gonna happen. And I like Gardner, but he needs to prove he can hit in the regular season before they can even think of batting him lead off.

by NumberSeven on Mar 12, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Jeter in 7 hole

I know that it will not happen….probably ever, but if the Yankees want to be successful in the next few years they will need to take a big look at no. 2 …….lets face it, he isnt getting any faster and if you look at his stats over the past few years he has been hitting into more and more double plays. I agree that Gardener needs to prove himself before the bombers bat him leadoff but if he does then we will have a solid CF on our hands and we can move on from this Melky/Brett CF saga

by B_ry1085 on Mar 12, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

if brett

can get on base at a steady clip this year, he will be probably the lead off guy next year, when damon is gone. right now, I don’t think gardner is a better option at leadoff than damon.

by NumberSeven on Mar 12, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

p.s.

speed’s only good if you get on base.

Damon’s .303/.375/.461 beats Brett’s .228/.283 /.299

by NumberSeven on Mar 12, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

No chance

Hughes goes to the pen. He will go to Scranton and start, and will be the first callup when the inevitable injury hits. You don’t develop a young guy by sitting him at the end of the bullpen and, maybe, having him throw a couple of innings every two weeks. That’s for veteran journeymen like Giese or Tomko.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Predicting the Yankees' 25-man roster

Duncan??

by fan5000 on Mar 12, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

No chance

He is not on the 40-man, and someone would have to get released. Besides, where would you put him? There is no spot for him on this team.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Duncan??

There is no need for Shelly Duncan……swisher is much better defensively and can bat from both sides of the plate….hopefully Swishers .avg will be a little better this year, but overall Duncan can be used for trade bait maybe for a mid level player.

by B_ry1085 on Mar 12, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

It's not even funny

How much better Swisher is than Duncan

by Omar Little on Mar 13, 2009 4:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Jeter 7th?

are you kidding me dude?

by Nettles_9 on Mar 12, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

Huh?

Jeter is listed sixth, not seventh, because it’s by position, not the batting order.

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Mar 12, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Jeter

He is referring to the comment up above that the Yankees should move Jeter to the 7 hole. Which is a) ridiculous b) silly c) unbelievable and d) not gonna happen.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

love the confusion though...

if that was the case we’d have three catchers in the lineup going 1-2-3.. ha!!

by NumberSeven on Mar 12, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

3 catches???? I don’t think that is a good move. I would rather have an extra pitcher.

Mike

I want to
Collect Business Debt

by rrsmike on Mar 12, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

May as well

I mean, with A-Rod out, they have the luxury. I really don’t think that a roster with both Cody Ransom and Angel Berroa is a championship roster, hopefully C-Money can acquire someone better. I’m liking Teahen right now because he actually has potential to serve a role on the roster long term. They should also sign Grudzielanek too. Furthermore now that Rodriguez is out does this mean that they finally get a real CF?

by Omar Little on Mar 13, 2009 4:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Wild Card Posada

Until Jorge can put some meaningful time behind the plate, it’s a bit tough to predict what the OD roster will look like. Here’s to hoping that Kevin Cash won’t be riding pine and waste a roster spot.

by BigSlim on Mar 12, 2009 6:18 PM EDT reply actions

I think we all agree on that

Cash will only be on the roster in the event the Yanks think they need to protect Posada. We would all rather have the extra pitcher. I guess we just have to wait and see how healthy Posada really is.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 12, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Dan Giese

His minor league numbers and this team’s likely need for a long man suggest that he deserves a roster spot too. I’d personally like to see the pen:

Rivera
Marte
War
Coke
Melancon
Giese

If it’s a seventh man probably Bruney, Veras, or Robertson.

by Omar Little on Mar 13, 2009 4:17 AM EDT reply actions

Re:

Bruney is already a lock and Veras is about as close to a lock as it gets. Melancon probably won’t be among the seven even if he continues to be lights out in ST.

They want Melancon to continue to progress in Scranton. No worries, though – it won’t be long before he gets his chance.

by anaconda on Mar 13, 2009 5:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Berroa is a bum

I watched him play in Tampa, and he’s a dog. In fact, to steal a line from Tommy Lasorda, “I’m doing a disservice to dogs for saying that.”

I’d much rather see a young, hungry guy busting his hump in NY as opposed to this clown. I’m sorry for holding back. I’m just not feeling myself today.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Mar 13, 2009 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

roster

I would really like to see them bring back Horace Clarke. He can lead off and he still has speed! He can play a better second base than Cano. Trust me, Clarke is way better defensively than Cano. He has better bat speed than Robbie as well. I would rate him as a 5 tool player. Your thoughts?

dylan

by dylan99 on Mar 14, 2009 8:18 AM EDT reply actions

trade them NOW

Yanks need to use Melky and Ian Kennedy (who may be a good pitcher someplace OTHER than NY) as trade bait and get Mark Teahan who can not only play 3rd base but a great “come off the bench guy” too.

Berroa stinks and is overrated as is Shelly Duncan. Perhaps Shelly would play better in the National league but he’s a flop in NY.

Phil Hughes deserves to be the 5th starter and Joba needs to set up for Mariano and eventually become the closer.

Also, Dan Geise deserves to be in the pen. He showed he can also be a long reliever too.
Phil Coke showed he’s a better lefty than Marte who they thought was so good yet once again when in NY was a FLOP! Send him back to the National league!!

Girardi needs to leave Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter in their 1st and 2nd spots and bat Tex third where he’s the most powerful (he gets on base whether a hit or a walk..great on base percentage).

Girardi should try Cano in the 4th spot….about time this kid gets tested and a chance to redeem himself from lousy play last year and earn the huge contract he got!

Leave Gardner 9th and with Damon leading off it’s like 2 leadoff hitters.

by jimmc on Mar 14, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions