NEW YORK — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said it first. Then general manager Brian Cashman said it.
At the team’s end-of-season press conferences Friday at Yankee Stadium, both used the word “competition” when talking about shortstop heading into spring training 2023.
Want to bet on MLB?
See the best NJ Sports Betting sites
Throughout 2022, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was the Yankees’ unquestioned starting shortstop despite back-of-the-back offensive numbers and defensive unevenness.
That changed when Boone benched Kiner-Falefa in favor of rookie Oswaldo Cabrera in the do-or-die Game 5 of the American League Division Series, that the Yankees won over the Guardians. Kiner-Falefa also started in just two games of the Yankees’ AL Championship Series sweep at the hands of the Astros.
It sounded like come spring in Tampa, it’ll be Kiner-Falefa vs. highly regarded prospect Oswald Peraza for the full-time job, though Cabrera could get a look and fellow top prospect Anthony Volpe is expected to be invited to major-league camp.
Boone heaped praise on Peraza.
“Oswald had another strong season in Triple-A — essentially having a full year there,” Boone said. “Then earned and put himself in a position to get a September call-up, essentially. I was really impressed with what I saw from him, just makeup-wise, preparation-wise, what he was able to handle, being thrown into some situations that for anyone — let alone a rookie — wouldn’t have always been easy, and I always felt like he was up to it and handled it. So, he certainly put himself in a really good position heading into the winter coming off another strong season. He’s very young but I would say obviously we were very aware of him going into this year as a top prospect and being on the roster for the first time. I think he only helped himself moving forward now.”
It seems all but clear that if the Yankees are in early November looking at a shortstop competition for February, they’re almost definitely not going to be in the market for star free agent shortstops Carlos Correa, Trea Turner or Dansby Swanson.
Please subscribe to us now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.
Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com.
"spot" - Google News
November 05, 2022 at 05:00PM
https://ift.tt/RMlr6BA
Yankees already planning ‘competition’ at key spot in spring training - NJ.com
"spot" - Google News
https://ift.tt/CqMp8o6
https://ift.tt/1XTU7HY
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Yankees already planning ‘competition’ at key spot in spring training - NJ.com"
Post a Comment