Yankees Face Summer Challenges as Spring Training Begins

TAMPA, Fla. — As the New York Yankees gear up for the 2024 season, they confront various challenges ahead of spring training, including player position battles and health concerns. Following a World Series defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers and losing star Juan Soto to their rivals, the team is eager to rebound this year.

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone will hold his first news conference of the spring on Tuesday, and he is expected to address critical questions regarding the team’s roster. Among these is the third base position, a spot the team is projected to fill through an internal competition. Boone has indicated that Jazz Chisholm Jr. will likely transition to second base, opening up a battle among Oswaldo Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Jorbit Vivas for the third base role.

General Manager Brian Cashman noted that Chisholm’s position may be fluid depending on matchups, and ideally, one of the contenders would solidify their hold on the position. “We’re hopeful that someone takes the opportunity presented to them and runs with it,” Boone said.

LeMahieu’s health remains a concern as he missed significant time last season due to lower-body injuries. The veteran infielder still has two years remaining on his contract worth $30 million. The Yankees also hope Cabrera can take a utility role while Peraza, still seeking his first big league hit, lacks minor league options.

Meanwhile, pitcher Marcus Stroman enters the season as the No. 6 starter, a situation that raises questions regarding his future with the team. Although he has been valuable when healthy, his high contract poses a financial challenge for the Yankees. “We need to figure out how to best utilize Marcus while also considering our budget,” Boone stated.

As pitchers and catchers report, the Yankees are cautiously optimistic regarding player health. With 69 players in camp, no offseason surgeries were reported, yet there are always uncertainties as players ramp up their activity. Aside from Jonathan Loaisiga returning from UCL surgery, Boone closely monitors other players entering camp.

This spring, the Yankees also welcomed new faces such as Max Fried and Cody Bellinger, alongside last season’s stars like Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe. The addition of Fried is crucial for a rotation that needs to remain healthy following Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury last spring.

“We’re excited about the depth we’ve built in our pitching staff,” Boone said. “If they can all contribute, we have a shot at being one of the better rotations in the league.”

While discussions around Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt focus on making up for Soto’s production, both players have mixed recent histories. Goldschmidt enters spring training after what the Yankees termed a down year, raising concerns about his current effectiveness.

As the team prepares for its first full-squad workout next week, the spotlight remains on the competitive nature of spring training. Players will be working not just for position but also to overcome the mental fatigue from the previous season’s disappointments. Boone expressed hope that the new roster could help heal the scars from last October’s postseason exit.

“We’re looking to move forward, learn from the past, and make the changes necessary to contend,” he said. The coming weeks will be critical as decisions are made leading up to Opening Day on March 27.