About Spring Training: Early Spring Training Musings

About Spring Training: Early Spring Training Musings

By Tim Kabel

February 27, 2025

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The Yankees have been playing Spring Training games for almost a week now. The regular season opens exactly one month or four weeks from today. That's the beautiful thing about February. Except for leap years, you don't have to worry about computing what day a month away will be. I have some thoughts about what we have seen and not seen so far in Spring Training.

·      I would like to correct something I have written before and offer an apology. Normally, I preach patience regarding young players. I really believe that it takes time to develop into a Major Leaguer. I think I was a bit dismissive regarding Will Warren. His appearances last year were underwhelming, and I was ready to write him off. I felt he had been given some opportunities but did nothing with them. Well, so far in Spring Training, he looks like a different pitcher. I'm not saying he will be a Cy Young Award winner. However, his confidence and ability will put him in a position to fill a rotation slot for the Yankees, if an injury occurs, or a trade is made. I think the way he has pitched this spring demonstrates that he has made great strides and may be ready to contribute on the Major League level. His emergence also seems likely to nudge Marcus Stroman out the door. If the Yankees had any hesitation regarding a trade of Stroman, which I don't think they did, Warren's performance so far would negate that hesitation.

·      Austin Wells made his Spring Training debut yesterday. He hit a long fly ball and then a two-run double. He looked very good, and it made sense to delay his debut a bit. He does not have to win the job as the starting catcher. He did that last year. This year is about improvement and development in all areas of his game.  I feel confident he will do that. Now, the Yankees just have to figure out who will be his backup. They have several options and Ben Rice can fill a dual role. He can be the backup catcher and the backup first baseman. He could also be the left-handed DH, if they need him to be. Remember, rice goes with everything.

·      Similarly, I don't have a problem with Aaron Judge taking his time before playing Spring Training games. He certainly has nothing to prove. Remember, Mariano Rivera used to pitch in a few games in Spring Training just to get ready for the season. Judge certainly knows what he's doing and he will be ready when the bell rings.

·      I am a bit confused about one thing. All winter long, Aaron Boone was banging the drum for DJ LeMahieu. He went on and on about how DJ LeMahieu was a two-time batting champion. He warned us not to underestimate DJ LeMahieu. He indicated very strongly that DJ LeMahieu was the front runner for the third base job. Seemingly, every time Boone spoke in the last few weeks, it was to praise DJ LeMahieu. Third base is an open position. There is supposed to be a competition among Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu, and Jorbit Vivas. Unlike Austin Wells and Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu does have something to prove. He does have a job to win. Last season was dreadful for him, and he was on the verge of being released. He has been increasingly awful each season. He ended last season on the IL, although Aaron Boone continually threatened to drag him onto the field during the playoffs and World Series. So, this is why I'm confused. Why has DJ LeMahieu not even made a single appearance in a game yet. Unless Aaron Boone is convinced that LeMahieu has the job secured and simply needs to be eased back in to action, like a rest home resident into a warm bath, there is no reason for his absence. It's as if he's in the witness protection program. I do not believe that even Aaron Boone is convinced that the job is LeMahieu’s. The fact that he is not participating in the competition yet makes me think that he's either injured or has nothing left. At this point, I would say that Oswald Peraza would be the front runner simply because Oswaldo Cabrera fits so nicely into the super utility player role.

·      It is nice to have depth on your roster, but if you're depth pieces never make it onto the field, it sort of defeats the purpose. Scott Effross came to the Yankees at the trade deadline in 2022. He pitched in thirteen games for the Yankees that season before becoming injured and requiring Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire season in 2023 and then had more injuries in 2024 and appeared in three games last season. On his first pitch in Spring Training this season, he injured his hamstring. The man needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap and kept in a safe, cool place. Similarly, the Yankees acquired JT Brubaker before last season. He was recovering from an injury and surgery. He never pitched in a game for the Yankees last season. In his first Spring Training appearance this season, he was hit by a batted ball and has not been seen since. When your reinforcements need reinforcements, it's a problem.

·      As I noted above, the regular season opens in exactly one month. Giancarlo Stanton has not swung a bat in several weeks. He is not even at Spring Training, reportedly due to “personal reasons.” I don't think we need to know what his reasons are. That's between him and the team. However, there is absolutely no chance he will be ready for Opening Day. There are reports that he may require surgery. We will find out the answer to that soon enough but, since he reports he is in a great deal of pain in both elbows and has not lifted a bat at all in several weeks, we will not see him in a game or a long time. If he requires surgery, he might not make it back until after the All-Star break. Think about it, he misses time every season and he never recovers quickly. He is always out for the maximum amount of time predicted, and sometimes longer. That means the Yankees will need someone else to be the designated hitter. Dominic Smith has hit two home runs so far in spring training. I hope the Yankees are not fooled by this. This could be another Willie Calhoun situation. Smith was a flop with the Mets and then went to the Red Sox and the Reds last year. I think the Yankees would be better served by using Everson Pereira in that role. Let's see what happens in Spring Training but I would rather go with promise and potential than a faded veteran who never had much talent to begin with. It would be fine to keep Smith in Scranton as an emergency replacement but, I would not count on him as the full -time or even platoon DH. 

·      Yesterday, the Yankees played the Cardinals. So far, it seems the Yankees are not interested in trading for Nolan Arenado. I know it's early but, he seems to be slowing down as a player. The Yankees do not need someone else in their mid to late 30s who is on the decline. Paul Goldschmidt is different, because it is only a one-year contract, and he may have a bounce back year. If he doesn't, it's not a long-term commitment.