S.T. Game 19. Final spring training game sees Yanks lose 5-3; Couple of rookies make the opening day squad; AAA season starts tonight.

The Yanks lost their last spring training game today, 5-3 to Detroit, and wound up spring training with a record of 8-10-1. The open the regular season at home vs. Boston on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the AAA season starts tonight for SWB, and I’ll report on that game in another post. The other minor league levels start their seasons on Friday.

In looking at recent spring training lineups, it appears as if manager Aaron Boone will separate the big power but high strikeout guys like Judge, Stanton and Gallo with guys more inclined to make contact. Looking at those lineups, Rizzo was hitting third between Judge and Stanton, and LeMahieu was separating Stanton from Gallo.

In the game today, Gallo had two hits.

One-time Yankees’ prospect Manny Banuelos started for the Yanks, and he will be going to AAA SWB (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) to start there. Banuelos gave up a 3-run HR to Miguel Cabrera, he of the 502 MLB HR.

The pitching line:

Banuelos (L) 3 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 2 K. gave up 1 HR
King 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K
Castro 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K
Marinaccio 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K
Brito 3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR.

Ron Marinaccio has made the opening day roster. The 26 year old RHP was 2-1, 2.04 in AA/AAA last year, with 105 K in 66 1/3 IP.

Another rookie making the team is J.P. Sears, 26, LHP. Sears was 10-2, 3.46 in AA/AAA last year, 136 K in 104 IP.

The roster will be 28 players for the first month because of the shortened spring training caused by the lockout. The Yanks will carry 16 pitchers, 12 position players. The 12 position players are: Higashioka, Trevino, Rizzo, Torres, LeMahieu, Kiner-Falefa, Donaldson, Gallo, Hicks, Judge, Gonzalez and Stanton.

The 16 pitchers are: Cole, Severino, Montgomery, Taillon, Cortes, Chapman, Loaisiga, Green, Luetge, Marinaccio, Schmidt, Sears, King, Holmes, Peralta, and Castro.

Some that look to be starting the season at AAA are: Tim Locastro, Banuelos, Oswald Peraza, Deivi Garcia, Luis Gil, Ender Inciarte (if he accepts the assignment), Miguel Andujar, Estevan Florial, Oswaldo Cabrera, Max Burt, Hayden Wesneski, Rob Brantly, David Freitas, Max McDowell, Ron Guzman, Ryan LaMarre … and (wait for it)

Greg Bird. The one-time Yankee was re-signed by the Yankees today to a minor league deal after failing to make Toronto’s team and being released by the Blue Jays.

Yesterday the Yanks made a move I am scratching my head about, picking up David McKay from Tampa Bay for cash considerations. McKay has 26 MLB games under his belt, is a 27 year old RHP who is 0-0, 6.08 in his MLB career, ERA+ 79.

S.T. Game 18. Judge powers Yanks to 5-2 win over Phillies.

Aaron Judge went 3 for 3, including a game-deciding 3-run HR, as the Yankees (8-9-1 in spring training) defeated the Phillies 5-2 Monday afternoon.

The Yanks play their last spring training game tomorrow, Tuesday, then have an off day before opening the regular season at home vs. Boston this Thursday, April 7.

Besides Judge’s blast, Gleyber Torres also homered, a solo shot. Joey Gallo added two hits, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa had two hits and an RBI.

The pitching line:

Sears 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Luetge 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K.
Holmes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Loiasiga (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Chapman (S) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.

S.T. Game 17. Yanks fall to Toronto, 7-5.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson each hit a 2-run HR, but Luis Gil struggled as the Yanks (7-9-1 in spring training) lost to Toronto 7-5 Sunday afternoon.

Besides Donaldson having two hits, Max McDowell also had a two-hit game for the Yanks.

Pitching Line:

Gil 2 1/3 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 1 W, 2 K. Also a WP, Balk, and an error.
Schmidt (L) 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR
Gomez 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Miller 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

Cashman stays busy. Trades Joely Rodriguez to Mets for Miguel Castro.

Brian Cashman stays busy. Not long after parting ways with Albert Abreu, Cashman has traded away another member of the Yanks’ bullpen, sending LHP Joely Rodriguez to the Mets for RHP Miguel Castro.

Rodriguez, 30, has been in the majors with the Phillies (2016-2017), Rangers (2020-2021) and Yankees (2021). Last year he was 1-3, 5.93 for Texas and 1-0, 2.84 for the Yankees. Combined 2-3, 4.66, ERA+ 94. His Yankees’ tenure last 21 games. 3-5, 4.61 in his career, ERA+ 96 in 102 games.

Castro, 27, has been with Toronto (2015), Colorado (2015-2016), Baltimore (2016-2020) and the Mets (2020-2021). Last year he was 3-4, 3.45 with the Mets, ERA+ 116. In 299 MLB cames, he is 11-22, 4.13, ERA+ 107.

Yanks trade Abreu and minor league P to Texas for catching depth in Jose Trevino.

While most of us were consumed by the Final Four last night, Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman was busy making a trade. With Ben Rortvedt most likely missing the start of the season due to an oblique injury, Cashman wanted more catching depth other than David Freitas, Rob Brantly and Max McDowell. He traded RHP Albert Abreu and minor league LHP Robert Ahlstrom to Texas for C Jose Trevino.

In 30 games as a Yankee in 2020 and 2021, Abreu was 2-1, 5.68, ERA+ 77 in 38 IP. He is 26.

Ahlstrom, 22, hasn’t pitched in a minor league game yet, spending last year at the University of Oregon, where he was 9-3, 2.50 in 14 starts.

Trevino, 29, has been with the Rangers from 2018-2021, appearing in 156 games, hitting .245-9-55, OPS+ 70. He bats righty.

S.T. Game 16. Higashioka stays red hot, hits 2 HR as Yanks crush defending champs, 10-0.

Kyle Higahioka probably wishes this WAS the regular season. The red-hot Yankees catcher hit two more HR today (Saturday) as the Yankees (7-8-1 in spring training) crushed the defending WS Champion Atlanta Braves, 10-0 in a rain-shortened, 5 1/2 inning affair.

Higashioka, who now has seven HR in spring training, drove in 3 runs. The Yankees scored in each of their five innings. Aaron Judge had 2 hits, including a solo HR. Anthony Rizzo also had two hits, including a solo HR. D.J. LeMahieu was 3 for 3 with an RBI. Aaron Hicks was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI.

After a scare earlier this week with a bit of a sore arm, Luis Severino was everything the Yankees could have hoped for today. If he can get back to being the Severino of 2017 and 2018 and be a solid #2 starter behind Gerrit Cole, that will be key to the Yankees’ success this season. Both he and Nestor Cortes, Jr. pitched well today.

Severino 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Cortes 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.

S.T. Game 15. Yanks beat Tigers 6-2. Higashioka stays hot.

You hope he doesn’t leave it in spring training. Kyle Higashioka is red hot.

Higashioka had 2 hits and 2 RBI, including his FIFTH HR of spring training as the Yankees (6-8-1 in spring training) beat Detroit 6-2 Friday afternoon.

Anthony Rizzo had 2 hits and 2 RBI, Isiah Kiner-Falefa had 2 hits, and minor leaguer Carlos Narvaez had a 2-run Double.

The Pitching Line

Cole 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 5 K
Marinaccio 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K
Holmes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K
Green 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. Gave up HR
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Abreu 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.

S.T. Game 14. Yanks fall to Phils, 5-3.

Miguel Andujar had two hits and an RBI, but those two hits were half of the Yankees’ total amount as they lost to the Phillies 5-3 Thursday afternoon in spring training action.

The Yankees are 5-8-1 in spring training play.

The Pitching Line:

Taillon (L) 3 2/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Peralta 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K
King 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Luetge 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Rodriguez 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.

S.T. Game 13. Yanks lose, 11-3.

One-time Yankees’ prospect Manny Banuelos pitched well, but a couple of minor leaguers got lit up by Toronto in the Yankees’ (5-7-1 in spring training) 11-3 loss on Wednesday night.

Josh Donaldson had 2 hits and an RBI, and minor leaguer Max Burt hit a 2-run HR for the Yanks.

Banuelos 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Sears (BS, L) 1 2/3 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Marinaccio 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Weber 2 1/3 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 4 K. gave up 1 HR.
Espinal 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.

Luis Severino came through a throwing session ok and is on track to start the second game of the season.

S.T. Game 12. Yanks crush Phils, 14-2.

The Yanks (5-6-1 in Spring training) crushed the Phils, 14-2, in Spring training on Tuesday.

After Clarke Schmidt started, the rest of the pitching was of guys who all should be bullpen to start the season.

Marwin Gonzalez continued to crush the ball, hitting a 3-run HR, driving in 4 runs, and going 3 for 3. The swtich-hitter who can play six different positions appears to have mde the team in my eyes.

Kyle Higashioka also continued to be hot this spring, crushing his fourth HR of spring training.

Minor Leaguer Max Burt hit a grand slam, and minor leaguer Ben Cowles also homered.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa had 2 hits.

Pitching line:

Schmidt 3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Luetge (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Peralta (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Holmes (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Abreu 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.

Hopefully nothing serious. Luis Severino with some arm soreness. The rotation to start the season is Cole, Severino, Montgomery, Taillon, and Cortes.