Projecting the Yankees’ 2024 Opening Day roster

The catcher always has the best view of the diamond, and Jose Trevino expects to be looking at something great when the 2024 Yankees come together this week.

“We’re going to be a good team this year,” Trevino said. “Bringing in talent like that, bringing in some gamers — guys that love to play the game and play the game hard-nosed, it’s going to be good.”

Let’s take an updated swing at projecting the Bombers’ Opening Day roster:

Catchers (2): Jose Trevino, Austin WellsMuch of the playing time still should belong to Trevino, a 2022 All-Star who was slowed by a right wrist injury last season. Trevino said that his offseason recovery has been “really good” and that he is “itching to get back on the field.” Wells has a clear path to make the Opening Day roster after popping four homers with 13 RBIs in 19 September games.

First baseman (1): Anthony RizzoThe Yankees are predicting a return to form for Rizzo, whose productivity was significantly impacted by the effects of a May 28 concussion. Rizzo was batting .304/.376/.505 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs to that point. The rest of the way, he hit .172/.271/.225 with a homer and nine RBIs and didn’t play after Aug. 1.

Second baseman (1): Gleyber TorresTorres was one of the Yankees’ more productive offensive players in 2023, batting .273/.347/.453 with 25 homers and 68 RBIs in 158 games. Torres led the Yanks in batting average, hits (163), extra-base hits (55), doubles (28) and multi-hit games (46). Torres is eligible for free agency after the ’24 season, but to this point there have been no discussions about an extension.

Third baseman (1): DJ LeMahieuLeMahieu is the Yanks’ likely choice at leadoff, and they’ll be looking for him to replicate his performance from the second half of ’23 when he batted .273/.377/.432 with eight homers and 17 RBIs. After hitting .364 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and earning a batting title, LeMahieu has posted a league-average 101 OPS+ in three seasons since.

Outfielders (4): Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, Trent GrishamThe Yanks boast two of the game’s top offensive players in Judge and Soto, adding Soto’s elite power and patience to the mix via a December trade. Verdugo, an above-average defender as a corner outfielder, is eyeing a bounce-back year at the plate. Grisham, a two-time Gold Glover, will spell Judge in center. Look for Jasson Domínguez to join the mix sometime in the summer.

DH (1): Giancarlo StantonStanton aims to come into the season leaner and meaner after hitting a career-worst .191/.275/.420 (87 OPS+) with 24 homers and 60 RBIs in 101 games last season. Slowed by numerous lower-half injuries in recent campaigns and under contract for at least three more years, Stanton is said to be prioritizing diet and conditioning during the winter.

Utility (2): Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald PerazaCabrera appears to be the front-runner for the 26th spot on the roster, having played every position but catcher and pitcher thus far in his Major League career. After posting a 108 OPS+ in 44 games at the end of the ’22 season, Cabrera struggled in ’23, batting just .211/.275/.299 in 115 games (58 OPS+).

Starting Pitchers (5): Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, Clarke SchmidtCole stands tall as the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, having earned his hardware by going 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 33 starts. Cole paced the league in innings (209), shutouts (2), ERA+ (165), WHIP (0.98) and hits per nine innings (6.8). Rodón, Stroman and Cortes all endured injury issues last year; that group must enjoy better health for the rotation to fulfill its potential.

Relief Pitchers (8): Clay Holmes (CL), Scott Effross, Caleb Ferguson, Victor González, Ian Hamilton, Tommy Kahnle, Jonathan Loáisiga, Luke WeaverThe Bombers are cobbling together some new faces in the bullpen, including two trades with the Dodgers that imported the left-handers Ferguson and González. The most prominent setup innings figure to be assigned to Kahnle and Loáisiga, though both righties had injury trouble in ’23. Holmes, a 2022 All-Star, returns in the closer’s role after posting a 2.86 ERA and 24 saves last season.