LAKELAND, Fla. — The Yankees had been dragging their feet on the final bench spot all week. Then Randal Grichuk forced their hand. His agent called the Yankees on Thursday and delivered a simple message: either guarantee a roster spot or the veteran outfielder would walk.
By Saturday morning, the Yankees made their choice. Grichuk was in. And the most surprising name headed out was Max Schuemann, the 28-year-old infielder and outfielder who had put together one of the best springs on the roster after arriving in a February trade from Oakland.
Schuemann slashed .321/.486/.429 with a team-high nine walks, six runs scored and two stolen bases in 14 Grapefruit League games. He was hitting the ball hard and walking at a rate that stood out across the entire camp. But none of it was enough to beat out Grichuk, whose opt-out clause and big league track record tipped the scales.
Grichuk’s opt-out clause forced the Yankees into a corner
Grichuk signed a minor league deal on Feb. 25, late enough that he did not arrive until spring training was already underway. He had a Friday opt-out built into the contract. When his agent notified the Yankees on Thursday that he would exercise it unless assured of a roster spot, the clock started ticking.
Manager Aaron Boone met with Grichuk on Friday. The decision was tabled overnight. On Saturday, Grichuk was told he would be on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster for Wednesday’s season opener in San Francisco.
“He looks what we hoped,” Boone said before a 3-1 loss to the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. “Feel like he’s in a good spot and he can help us. He’ll be a factor.”
Grichuk had played just seven spring games and was only 2-for-19 with a .308 OPS through Saturday. But the Yankees valued his career numbers against left-handed pitching, a .268 average and .819 OPS, over the small spring sample. The 34-year-old will earn $2.5 million and is expected to start in left field when the Yankees face lefties, with Trent Grisham sliding to the bench and Cody Bellinger moving to center.
“Obviously I think it was a good opportunity, that’s why I came here and was excited to be here,” Grichuk said. “With the late start and some things out of your control, I tried to make the most of it. Glad I did enough to crack it.”
Schuemann’s hot spring was not enough
The Yankees acquired Schuemann from the Athletics in a February trade. The 28-year-old made an immediate impression in Yankees camp with his plate discipline and contact skills. His .321 average and .486 on-base percentage were among the best of any Yankees position player this spring.
But the numbers that mattered most were on the other side of the ledger. Schuemann is a .212 hitter in 234 career big league games, all with Oakland over the past two seasons. His .603 career OPS at the major league level gave the Yankees pause. Grichuk, by contrast, has hit 20 or more home runs five times in his career and has years of experience producing in a bench role.
Schuemann was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he will begin his time in the Yankees organization. He is not expected to make a significant impact at the Yankees’ big league level this season, but his spring performance will keep him in the conversation if injuries create an opening.
Cabrera and others head to the minors
Schuemann was not the only notable cut. The Yankees also optioned fan favorite Oswaldo Cabrera to Triple-A. The switch-hitter had been fighting an uphill battle since arriving at camp still working his way back from a broken ankle suffered last May. He was 2-for-14 with one RBI in seven spring games.
“Oswaldo just needs to play,” Boone said. “I really like the corner he’s turned the last month, but then even more specifically in the last week or so. But now he just needs to play and stack days. Obviously we know what he’s capable of when he’s healthy.”
Infielder Paul DeJong and first baseman and outfielder Seth Brown were reassigned to the Yankees’ minor league camp. Reliever Yovanny Cruz was also farmed out after Saturday’s loss. The Yankees still need to drop one more position player, and infielder Jorbit Vivas, who is out of options, is likely to be designated for assignment.
Yankees bench takes shape for Opening Day
The four-man bench heading into the March 25 opener against the Giants in San Francisco will be catcher J.C. Escarra, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, utility man Amed Rosario and Grichuk. Boone called it one of the better groups of reserves he has had in recent years.
The Yankees are down to 32 players and need to reach 26 by Wednesday. Two of those moves will come from placing pitchers Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole on the injured list, joining Clarke Schmidt.
The final two roster decisions involve the bullpen. Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest and left-hander Brent Headrick are the favorites to claim the last two spots. Jake Bird is also in the mix.
“I have an idea of the 26, but I’m not quite sure yet,” Boone said.
Randal Grichuk summed up his approach to the bench role with the kind of bluntness that tends to play well in the Yankees clubhouse.
“I don’t want to say it too bluntly, but it’s, ‘eff me or eff it,'” Grichuk said. “I changed my mindset to, ‘eff it,’ and kind of took off. Not, ‘Poor me,’ in any situation, if I haven’t gotten at-bats in a while, if you’re facing a tough guy, whatever the case may be. I feel like it’s allowed me to play free and loose and just be ready when my name’s called.”
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