With Opening Day just around the corner, teams across the league are facing tough roster decisions—and the New York Yankees are no exception. To say this spring has been rough for the Yankees would be an understatement, with ace Gerrit Cole out for the season after Tommy John surgery, reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil sidelined for months with a shoulder injury, and Giancarlo Stanton dealing with tennis elbow in both arms (which could keep him out for an extended period).
To top it off, DJ LeMahieu is battling a calf strain, and Clarke Schmidt is dealing with shoulder fatigue. Despite the injuries, the Yankees still have plenty of talent, and the American League is once again up for grabs in 2025. Amid all the setbacks, some positive developments have emerged, prompting manager Aaron Boone to finalize his lineup for the start of the season. As Boone and GM Brian Cashman make their final decisions, here’s how the team is shaping up.
Projected Yankees lineup vs. right-handed pitching
On Friday afternoon, first baseman Dom Smith opted out of his deal with the Yankees, signaling that he had fallen behind Ben Rice in the competition to replace Stanton as the DH. YES Network reporter Jack Curry later revealed that Boone was considering two intriguing options to lead off in 2025: catcher Austin Wells against right-handed pitchers, and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt against lefties. With that in mind, here’s how the lineup could look on Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers:
- Austin Wells (C)
- Aaron Judge (RF)
- Cody Bellinger (CF)
- Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B)
- Jasson Dominguez (LF)
- Ben Rice (DH)
- Anthony Volpe (SS)
- Oswaldo Cabrera (3B)
It’s clear that Cabrera will be the team’s primary third baseman, at least until LeMahieu returns from the IL. While Cabrera hasn’t been stellar, he’s shown some power and a lot of versatility. The key now will be finding a right-handed hitter to platoon with him. With Wells leading off, Boone can alternate lefties and righties throughout the lineup. If Bellinger and Chisholm Jr. thrive in their first full seasons, and if Volpe and Rice continue their strong springs, this lineup still has the potential to be a dangerous one. However, that’s a lot of “ifs,” and things aren’t as promising when facing left-handed pitchers.
Projected Yankees lineup vs. left-handed pitching
- Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
- Cody Bellinger (CF)
- Aaron Judge (RF)
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B)
- Jasson Dominguez (LF)
- Austin Wells (C)
- Anthony Volpe (SS)
- Pablo Reyes (DH)
- Oswald Peraza (3B)
This lineup faces some challenges, especially considering the abundance of left-handed hitters on the roster, which has been a problem exacerbated by the injuries to LeMahieu and Stanton. Goldschmidt is a strong choice to lead off against lefties, and Bellinger handles southpaws well, but the bottom half of the order looks weak. Reyes is a likely candidate for the fourth bench spot, while Peraza could make the team as a backup infielder and platoon option at third base with Cabrera. However, with so many lefties in the lineup and Dominguez being much stronger against right-handers, the Yankees will need to find a solution before Opening Day