Yankees Opening Day Roster Projection: How Much Do Injuries Impact New York?

Outfield: Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Trent Grisham

The Yankees outfield may be the best in baseball on Opening Day if Aaron Judge is in the lineup. The three new additions of Soto, Verdugo, and Grisham bring a lot to the Yankees: the hitting ability of Soto and Verdugo plus the stellar defense of Trent Grisham could be vital late in games.

Designated Hitter: Giancarlo Stanton

The slimmed-down Giancarlo Stanton will likely spend the majority of his time occupying the designated hitter role while Aaron Judge may spend some time there to prevent injury. 2023 was a massive disappointment for Stanton, batting just .191 with 24 home runs. The Yankees would love for Stanton to stay healthy and productive missing significant time the past three seasons.

Bench: Kevin Smith with Trent Grisham and either catcher

The last bench role will be filled for now most likely by Kevin Smith who brings versatility and could step in at third base. The final piece on the Yankees bench, however, will likely be a late free agency signing or waiver claim.

Now let's look at how the pitching staff shakes out.