When it comes to the Yankees having to make tough roster decisions, no matter the time of year, general manager Brian Cashman is fond of saying “things have a way of working themselves out.”
That’s exactly what happened when it came to the team’s four bench spots for 2021, where what was seemingly a competition between Mike Tauchman and Jay Bruce was won by both – but in his end of spring media session, the GM admitted that it wasn’t as much of a competition as it seemed.
“Tauchman was never leaving unless I found a deal that made sense for him to leave. His agent reached out now and then based on the rumors, but unless someone created an opportunity for us that made sense, there was nowhere to go,” Cashman said, seeming to intimate that Tauchman was making the team all along. “I did get a lot of calls on Tauchman, but that’s routine – I get those every deadline and every winter.”
In part, it seems, because the Yankees, as well as other teams, believe Tauchman is more the 2019 version than the 2020.
“Mike provides a lot of value. He had a rough 2020 for a lot of reasons – small sample size, short season, a little shoulder injury,” Cashman said. “But he is an elite defender at all three outfield positions, he puts together a quality at-bat, and has some pop from the left side. He provides value.”
As for Jay Bruce? He will be the Opening Day starter at first base, and Cashman flat out said that it was Luke Voit’s injury that kept Bruce in pinstripes.
“Jay’s a player I’ve had a lot of interest in for some time; he’s been a real quality MLB player for some time. He’s had an amazing career thus far, and his makeup and clubhouse presence I think is something I’ve learned is really special,” Cashman said. “But the lane that got created was when Voit’s meniscus barked and had to be addressed. That injury put Jay Bruce on the roster.”
Tauchman fouled a ball off his leg on Sunday and could’ve caused even more worry – Cashman said he was, for sure – but the outfielder is “thankfully good.” He likely won’t start on Opening Day, while Bruce will…but what happens when Voit comes back if Bruce is hot?
“I hope he is – I want him to light it up, then we’ll have more decisions to make. It’s better to have those kinds of decisions than what I call the “Statue of Liberty” play – give me your tired, your poor, your weak, your hungry, we’ll take anything we can put a uniform on,” Cashman said. “That’s not a good spot to be in, where your roster and system isn’t strong enough. You don’t want to be in that spot where you’re desperate, looking for anything.”
And if the opposite is true?
“We have a 26-man roster, and I think we have more than 26 quality players who can rep the New York Yankees,” Cashman said. “That’s better than the alternative.”
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