Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |
This Thursday was supposed to be Opening Day, but of course, there are far more important things to worry about right now than baseball.
Still, as SNY's Andy Martino pointed out in his latest article, "MLB is determined to salvage some sort of baseball in 2020." If that is a case, an extremely shortened season is most likely what will occur.
And with that, some Yankees players actually might not mind the delay. But there are others who most likely feel the opposite way.
Here's which Yankees benefit from the current suspended season, and which might be negatively affected...
POSITIVE EFFECT
Giancarlo Stanton: Manager Aaron Boone said on Monday that the slugger will certainly be ready for the start of the season. In fact, compared to Aaron Judge and James Paxton, who both still need time to heal, Stanton's Grade 1 calf strain is the least severe injury. But with his injury history from the 2019 season, it helps Stanton even more that he can definitely be 100 percent when things kick off again.
Aaron Hicks: And the reason Hicks gets his own section here, too, is because the Yankees really weren't expecting anything from him in the first half of the season. Depending on how far this suspension goes, there's the possibility the Yankees could be looking at him in center field when the season starts. But that's said with cautious optimism. Either way, the man who is recovering from Tommy John surgery benefits from this.
Luis Severino: He is still out for the entire season and most likely a little bit into the 2021 season as well. But Sevy doesn't have to stress about making it back right now with everyone on standby. He won't be missing too many starts because of the hiatus. Focusing on his rehab is the main priority and he truly can right now without any other distractions.
Masahiro Tanaka: No, he's not injured (knocks on wood). But with his still partially torn UCL a worrisome subject, having less innings to throw is definitely a good thing. Tanaka hasn't had the need to get Tommy John surgery (again knocks on wood), and the Yankees would like to keep it that way.
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NEGATIVE EFFECT
Clint Frazier: Well guess who was going to probably start in right field on Opening Day? Now that might not be the case if Judge returns healthy, and Stanton's readiness already takes another outfield spot off the board. Frazier likely makes the team as a bench option, but getting more starting experience and proving his worth is what he'd probably prefer.
Domingo German: The Yankees would've gotten German back after he served the rest of his 81-game suspension from last season. But with a shortened season and 63 games left of his ban, the Yankees might not be getting a lot out of German at all.
Deivi Garcia: He was in the spring training rotation, as the Yankees needed a fifth starter with Paxton out. But with Paxton shooting for a mid-May return to begin with, it's safe guess to think he'll be back behind Gerrit Cole when the season starts. In turn, Garcia might not be making his big league debut anytime soon.