Best-guessing at the Yankees' possible Opening Day lineup, and why it might work
TAMPA, Fla. – Across Tampa Bay, Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger continued their assault on Grapefruit League pitching Wednesday afternoon, crushing home runs at Clearwater.
A dark horse candidate when camp began, Pablo Reyes also homered against the Philadelphia Phillies, as he pushes to make a Yankees’ roster in need of right-handed hitting.
This week, Yankees’ scouts, coaches and executives are having final discussions about the 26-man roster makeup, and which players outside the organization might be available.
As Thursday’s Opening Day at Yankee Stadium against the Milwaukee Brewers nears, what is the Yankees’ best lineup?
First up, here’s how the Yankees might line up versus the Brewers’ scheduled Opening Day starter, right-hander Freddy Peralta:
Yankees projected Opening Day lineup
- Austin Wells, C (L)
2. Aaron Judge, RF (R)
3. Cody Bellinger, CF (L)
4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B (R)
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B (L)
6. Jasson Dominguez, LF (S)
7. Anthony Volpe, SS (R)
8. Ben Rice, DH (L)
9. Oswaldo Cabrera, 3B (S)
Impact of Giancarlo Stanton’s injury to Yankees lineup
It’s uncertain when Stanton might resume baseball activity, due to tendinitis in both elbows – a condition the slugging designated hitter termed “severe.’’
That opens the DH spot for an indefinite period and takes a valuable right-handed power bat out of manager Aaron Boone’s middle of the order.
Coming off a rough 2024 season overall, but with an encouraging second half and a good showing in camp, Goldschmidt slots into the cleanup spot.
It’s also an opportunity to use Judge more at DH, with Bellinger sliding over to right field and two-time Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder Grisham (batting .316, with 4 HR in exhibition games) playing more frequently in center.
But right now, Rice is the popular choice to DH against right-handers, and he's earned it by consistently barreling pitches during exhibition play.
“It got your attention last year, the way he can drive the ball, but it feels a little noticeably different this year,’’ Boone said of Rice, who added 10-15 pounds of muscle this winter.
“The biggest difference was mainly to eat more,’’ said Rice, who went for more chicken and, well, rice. “Training-wise wasn’t all that different.’’
Impact of DJ LeMahieu’s injury to Yankees lineup
Any thoughts of LeMahieu returning as Boone’s regular third baseman were crushed earlier this month, when he suffered a strained left calf in his first exhibition game.
LeMahieu has resumed swinging off a tee, but he might not be an option until May. And given his recent injury history, the Yankees simply can’t bank on his return or any consistent production.
Upgrading third base was a winter-long discussion, one that might continue until the trade deadline.
Cabrera is better served as an all-purpose utility player, and the switch-hitter is a far better hitter from the left side – even swinging left-handed against certain lefty pitchers.
For now, Cabrera appears to be the regular choice at third base, where at least he upgrades the defense along with right-handed hitting Oswald Peraza.
That’s assuming Peraza, out of minor league options, isn’t moved in a trade for pitching or outfield help in the coming days.
Yankees' unique leadoff candidate: Austin Wells
Wells was back atop the lineup for Wednesday night's split-squad exhibition game against Atlanta Braves' starter Spencer Schwellenbach, with Judge batting second.
That's the top-of-the-order look Boone prefers against right-handed starters, unusual since it'll be the first time in Yankees history that a catcher will bat leadoff.
Even as the Yankees navigated toward a pennant last year, their leadoff spot remained in flux - eventually settling on Gleyber Torres, now with the Detroit Tigers.
Boone might choose Volpe, Dominguez or even Bellinger at leadoff against lefties, but it's up to the Yankees' better balanced (yet lefty-leaning) lineup as a whole to get them back to the 800-run neighborhood.
And that's a challenge in the post Juan Soto era, subtracting a generational offensive talent and missing the historic Soto-Judge dynamic in the Nos. 2-3 spots.
We'll see if Goldschmidt can near the .818 OPS he produced over his last 54 games with St. Louis in 2024, and if Volpe can take a step forward in consistency, power and on-base ability.
Squaring up baseballs all camp, Bellinger could be a difference-maker in the No. 3 spot, contributing to a more athletic lineup that includes a full year of Chisholm Jr.'s power-speed element.
If the switch-hitting Dominguez can overcome his defensive issues in left field, he still holds the promise of being an impact offensive player in his first full big-league season.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees' possible Opening Day 2025 lineup prediction
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