The Yankees announced on Tuesday morning that Miguel Andujar and Tim Locastro had both been optioned to Triple-A Scranton, increasing the likelihood that the team will deploy a three-man bench to start the season.
The bench will likely consists of DJ LeMahieu, catcher Jose Trevino (acquired in a trade with the Rangers on Saturday to back up Kyle Higashioka while Ben Rortvedt recovers from an oblique injury), and Marwin Gonzalez, the veteran utilityman who told ESPN Tuesday morning that he was told he made the Opening Day roster after a monster spring training.
LeMahieu will still likely have nearly an everyday role, moving throughout the infield to get consistent playing time.
With Tuesday’s announcement, it also increases the likelihood that Clarke Schmidt and Ron Marinaccio will make the Opening Day roster in the bullpen, joining JP Sears as pitchers to make the team with strong springs. Schmidt was named the team’s top spring performer on Tuesday, the second time in three years he received that honor.
Andujar, once a promising rookie at the plate 27 home runs and 47 doubles in 2018, suffered a season-ending injury early in the 2019 season and has never recovered. Locastro was believed to be an outfield depth replacement for Brett Gardner, but he will begin the season with the Rail Riders.
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