Mar 24, 2022; Lakeland, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher JP Sears (92) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers during spring training at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
By the time Major League Baseball cuts the rosters down to 26 on May 1, don’t expect these three members of the New York Yankees to be there.
The New York Yankees roster left a lot of fans questioning how serious the front office was about winning the 2022 World Series. Their biggest additions were veterans Josh Donaldson and Anthony Rizzo along with light-hitting shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
All three of them will remain with the club all season-long barring some kind of major turn in the organization’s plans. It’s those lesser Yankees who could see their roster spot lost by May 1.
The MLB season began with an expanded roster of 28 men but will drop back to 26 on May 1. When they do, every team will have two roster changes to make. These three Yankees players, possibly even before then, will see their time with the club come to an end.
The Yankees will send JP Sears to the minor leagues by May 1
Unless there’s an injury to one of their lefty relievers, JP Sears will not be with the team on May. The 26-year-old southpaw was not used in any of the team’s first four games of the season. In the spring, he had an 8.10 ERA in 6.2 innings of work. He’s the most obvious choice to remove from the roster when the Yankees have to make a transaction.
Sears should provide the Yankees with some minor league depth for the bullpen. As a lefty hurler, he can have a vital role. However, with closer Aroldis Chapman and fellow lefties Wandy Peralta and Lucas Luetge getting used more often in the early stage of the season, it will take a serious injury for the Yankees to move forward with him in May.
And even if there is an injury, Sears could simply get demoted due to his remaining minor league options.