:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63292684/usa_today_12317581.0.jpg)
Welcome to Yankees Pros and Cons, a weekly column at Pinstripe Alley!
Each Monday we point out a series of players who either impressed or underperformed. This week the Yankees finalized their 25-man roster ahead of Opening Day. A few surprise decisions and one candid interview led to an interesting final few days of spring training. It was difficult to pick just six items. I think I gathered some of the more interesting points, though.
So, on to the list:
Pro: Mike Tauchman
The Yankees acquired Tauchman on Saturday afternoon in a small trade with the Rockies. The team hinted that he could see big league action in the near future. Then, before lunchtime on Sunday, the club confirmed he made the Opening Day roster. The 28-year-old outfielder hit .196/.327/.283 this spring, but the Yankees are apparently comfortable with him as outfield depth.
Con: Tyler Wade
To make room for Tauchman on the roster, the Yankees optioned Wade to Triple-A. That came as a surprise considering Wade had a fantastic camp, slashing .320/.358/.520. The 24-year-old did not take the decision kindly.
Wade received the news of his demotion earlier this morning. Told after today's game he still sounded "pissed," Wade replied: "Very."
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) March 24, 2019
Can’t say I blame him. Wade did everything he needed to do to crack the big league roster, and he still got a ticket to Scranton.
Pro: Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton had a monstrous game against the Phillies on Friday. He clubbed two home runs, and that deserves the video treatment.
Sun goes down. Ball goes up ☝️ pic.twitter.com/ebfBNmCwq2
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 23, 2019
Unleash this man on the regular season and let him put pitchers in a world of hurt.
Con: Domingo German
Thursday afternoon didn’t treat German too kindly. The 26-year-old got knocked around by the Cardinals. He finished the day having allowed five runs over 3.2 innings. Let’s hope a bad dress rehearsal makes for a good opening night.
Pro: Domingo German
On Saturday afternoon, the Yankees confirmed that German earned a spot in the starting rotation. Combine his strong spring showing with an improved changeup, and it makes sense why he received a chance to start. With Luis Severino and CC Sabathia on the shelf, German has a chance to come up big for the Yankees.
Pro: Stephen Tarpley
I traditionally do three pros and threes cons, but in the spirit of Opening Day, here’s another pro. Tarpley quietly had an excellent spring, logging 11.1 innings out shutout ball. The southpaw reliever impressed down the stretch last year, now he gets another chance to build off that success.