Sunday, December 1, 2013


The Yankees will have until Monday's deadline to decide whether or not they want to tender a contract to a select few of players in order to make some room on the 40-man roster that currently stands at 39.

Brendan Ryan and Brian McCann still have to be added, meaning that moves are going to be happening within the next couple of days.

They may not all by via a non-tender, as some could be designated for assignment and pass through waivers completely to remain with the organization, but the Yankees will need to make decisions on several players when clearing room on the roster.

Here are a few players that the Yanks could clear of the roster tomorrow:

Chris Stewart -- After signing Brian McCann, the Yankees are now supplied with a handful of catchers that would seem to be more useful options than Stewart. With McCann being the starter, Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine are expected with battle it out in Spring Training for the backup job, with JR Murphy also sitting down in Triple-A.

We've heard some recent rumors that the Yankees could be trying to work out a new contract with Stewart in order to avoid arbitration. Stewart is also said to be drawing some trade interest, so the Yanks could decide to tender him a contract and trade him away for what ever they can get. However, I expect the Yanks to non-tender Stewart.

Jayson Nix -- He worked out well as a utility defender for the Yankees, but with Ryan now signed for the next couple of years, I don't see there be any fit for Nix on the roster. If they really wanted to, the Yanks could find another player like Nix on a minor league deal, but they also signed Yamaico Navarro not long ago, so there might not be any need for another infielder. Nix is also eligible for arbitration this year, and is expected to earn a raise, which also makes him worth letting go.

Others -- If the Yankees feel it to be necessary, they could non-tender a contract to Eduardo Nunez. To me, re-signing Ryan on a two-year deal means that Nunez isn't involved in the Yankees' future plans to replace Derek Jeter when he retires. They don't actually have to non-tender him, but I'm sure there would be some trade interest in a relatively young infielder with some potential. Could possibly trade him, maybe a non-tender, but unlikely.

David Huff and Brett Marshall are another pair players that could see themselves being axed off the roster. Marshall is expected to be one of the pitchers battling for the fifth spot in the rotation in the spring, but for the moment, he's already behind David Phelps, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno in the competition. Could make a case to non-tender, but it wouldn't be very strong.

Huff would add a decent left-handed arm out of the bullpen next season. I could see him making the Opening Day roster as long as he can put together a decent Spring Training. The crowed 40-man roster might mean he has to be moved off, though, and it would be more likely to see him DFA'd, rather than non-tendered.

Likely tenders: Brett Gardner, Ivan Nova, David Robertson, Shawn Kelly and Cervelli are all up for arbitration this winter, and the Yankees are likely to tender them contracts in hopes to avoid going to arbitration.

Matt Swartz for MLB Trade Rumors predicts that all will earn raises after their 2013 performances. After a solid offensive and defensive year, Gardner is predicted to about $4 million next season; Robertson should get around $5.5 million; Nova should be a $2.8 million; Kelly could make $1.5 million after a good season as a late-inning pitcher for the Yankees; and Cervelli figures to be at $1 million.

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