TAMPA — The Yankees have their 26-man roster just about set, with an asterisk.
As of Sunday afternoon, the club had not yet informed the last few players who had made the team because it was waiting to see how the marketplace shakes out over the next few days via cuts, opt-outs, waivers and trades.
The Yankees are in the market for a right-handed bat, potentially one that could platoon with Oswaldo Cabrera at third base, while a bullpen addition cannot be ruled out, either.
“I think we know who we’re going to go with,” manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees tied the Rays 3-3 in the final home game of the spring at Steinbrenner Field. “Industry-wise, things can still happen that you never know over the next couple days. There’s always that possibility that changes things. Otherwise, we’re pretty close.”
As currently constructed, the final two bench spots would go to Pablo Reyes and Oswald Peraza, while the final three bullpen spots would belong to Yoendrys Gómez, Brent Headrick and Yerry De Los Santos.
But a move or two in the days leading up to Thursday’s Opening Day — as the Yankees have often done the past few years — could change those plans.
“They haven’t told me anything,” Peraza said through an interpreter. “We still have two more games left. For me, it’s just to focus on my job.”
Peraza’s spot may be the most tenuous of that group, as the slick-fielding but light-hitting infielder is out of minor league options.
In sporadic big league opportunities, he has yet to prove he can hit enough to stick, and in camp so far has hit .174 with a .465 OPS in 46 at-bats.
“I have full confidence in the skills that I have,” said Peraza, who is scheduled to start Monday’s game against the Mets in Port St. Lucie and then head to Miami for Tuesday’s exhibition. “I definitely want to be a better ballplayer. If you’re given the chance, the work won’t stop. Striving to be better on the field, that doesn’t stop. Just waiting to see. Definitely a decision that’s not up to me. Just looking for the opportunity. If it’s there, I’ll be right there to take advantage.”
Reyes put himself on the map with a strong spring and, despite being a non-roster invitee, may have jumped over Peraza on the pecking order.
He has flashed some pop in the bat, which Boone has raved about, and shown his defensive versatility between third base, second base and the corner outfield spots.
The bullpen competition was narrowed down to three internal relievers for three spots on Sunday after the Yankees reassigned Wilking Rodríguez to minor league camp.
The hard-throwing 35-year-old, who last appeared in the big leagues in 2014, had a strong spring as a non-roster invitee with a 2.57 ERA.
Gómez, who like Peraza is out of minor league options, appears to be the closest thing to a lock to make the bullpen.
With a tick up in velocity this spring while converting from starter to reliever, the 25-year-old has not allowed a run across 11 ¹/₃ innings.
Headrick, a lefty, could offer length (the Yankees like him in the 30-40 pitch range, where his stuff plays up) while De Los Santos has a 1.93 ERA this spring.
