(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Tampa – Pitchers and Catchers report to the Yankees Spring Training Facilities in Tampa, Fla. beginning this Tuesday, with the first spring training game taking place on Friday, Feb. 21st at George M. Steinbrenner field. Yes, we are less than 2 weeks from watching Yankees Baseball. Below are some key storylines to follow as we embark on Yankees Spring Training.
Who will hit Leadoff?
Though the Yankees made some great additions this offseason, the team did not bring in a leadoff hitter. The Leadoff position has been one with a lot of rotation. The most successful hitter in this position in 2024 was Gleyber Torres who departed to the Detroit Tigers in free agency. The team believed for a period of time that SS Anthony Volpe profiled best for the leadoff spot because of his ability to steal bases, but over 104 starts in the leadoff spot, Volpe has not excelled yet. Now, 2025 will only be his 3rd year in the Majors so there is time for this to change, but the Yankees can’t wait for a solution for this position, and will likely go internal to solve this. In an interview with WFAN, Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned two candidates for the lead off spot, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the rookie Jaason Dominguez. Chisholm hit leadoff for the Miami Marlins before being traded to the Yankees on July 27th for this past year, but his OBP is not what you would like to see come out of that spot. Dominguez however, would be a very interesting candidate for that spot. In the minors, Dominguez had a career .373 OPB, and in his short stint in the Majors (26 games), a .310 OBP. Dominguez would have to prove in spring training that he is capable of holding down the leadoff position.
Who will play 3rd?
The 3rd base position still remains unfilled as of the publication of this article. While it looks like as of now, it’s going to be an internal compitition for the position, between Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and DJ LeMahieu, the Yankees have not completely ruled out going external, if the price is right. LeMahieu has been rather unreliable due to injuries over the past few seasons, and he might not be athletic enough to hold down the position as of now. Cabrera is a player the Yankees like as a bench piece, someone who provides defensive versatility to the team to plug-in-play late in games and provide solid defense, but the bat has not been consistent in his career for a starting role. Peraza is an interesting case because he is a former top prospect who was competing for the starting short stop job in 2023, eventually won by Anthony Volpe. Peraza has been up from time to time when they need to fill a 26-man spot, but for one reason or another, the Yankees have been reluctant to give him a starting job, and unless he really earns it, I don’t see that changing. Some of the external names that the Yankees have been connected to that are still available are FA Kike Hernandez, Luis Arráez on the Padres (Via Trade) and most recently, Nolan Arenado on the Cardinals (Via Trade). I don’t know if the Yankees will add, and of course more players could become available as other teams sign free agents.
Marcus Stroman
The final key storyline is Marcus Stroman. The Yankees are still trying to find a trade partner to unload the righty on, but has been unsuccessful due to the amount of talent that is still available on the free agent pitching market. Stroman, who had his worst career season in 2024, has been well aware that he is in trade talks, so how will he react this week? Well, who knows. Stroman has always been very outspoken and public with his feelings, and I don’t see that changing. I mean, this is the player that in the middle of a game was yelling at a defender for not completing an inning-ending double play. My worry with Stroman being on this team come Tuesday (baring a trade, of course), is that he becomes a club house cancer, and could be toxic to this team.
At the end of the day, the Yankees have some work to do in spring training to fill the two major holes they have, at leadoff and 3rd base. It should be an eventful spring!
