Yankees May See Players Missing for Spring Training
ORLANDO, Fla. — It looks like the Yankees could be short a few key players during spring training, depending on decisions made by the players themselves.
Aaron Judge is currently the only Team USA captain confirmed to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but there’s a chance he might be joined by some teammates for the event kicking off on March 5.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has shown interest in representing Great Britain. He previously played for them in the 2017 qualifiers, and head of delegation Gary Anderson emphasized this shared enthusiasm during Tuesday’s winter meetings.
“Everyone is eager for this to happen,” Anderson stated. “Every team wants to ensure their players are well looked after. In England, we are collaborating with MLB to put the necessary support systems in place. We aim to finalize the roster by mid-January. Our hopes are high.”
On the Puerto Rican front, former Yankees team GM Carlos Beltrán has indicated that relief pitcher Fernando Cruz is likely to join the team.
“I have a great appreciation for Fernando,” Beltrán remarked. “He brings tremendous energy and knows how to get outs. He’d be a fantastic addition to our bullpen. We’re excited to utilize him effectively in games.”
The Yankees’ closer, David Bednar, who pitched for Team USA in 2023, is again on manager Mark DeRosa’s radar for the next tournament in 2026.
“His personality is infectious,” DeRosa shared. “He’s always been one of my favorites.”
Meanwhile, Austin Wells is a potential candidate for the Dominican Republic, eligible due to his mother’s heritage, with GM Nelson Cruz confirming Tuesday that they are considering him for catcher.
“We need to sort through insurance and other matters,” Cruz mentioned. “But he’s expressed interest in joining.”
In another development, Team Panama is keen on having Jose Caballero play for them.
“He’s definitely interested, and we’re very eager to have his competitive spirit and skill on board,” general manager Damaso Espino noted. “We fully expect him to join.”
Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai could start visiting interested teams soon, but his agent, Scott Boras, indicated that he needs to narrow down options first. Although he hasn’t made any visits yet, the Yankees are reportedly among the interested teams.
“With Imai, we’re looking at a 27-year-old pitcher who has a rather eye-catching record,” Boras stated. “Teams are intrigued, saying, ‘Honestly, I never imagined we’d have a player of this caliber available.’”
