The Yankees’ offense ranks 29th among 30 MLB teams with an 86 wRC+ since Aaron Judge went down in late May, and 27th with a 78 wRC+ since Cody Bellinger’s injury (July 26th). The two former MVPs are of vital importance for Aaron Boone’s lineup, as is a healthy Giancarlo Stanton, another past recipient of the honor. The three sluggers are expected to return at some point this season, with Bellinger and Stanton projected to beat Judge as things stand.
How would the Yankees’ lineup look when they are fully healthy? They added Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos before the Trade Deadline, not to mention Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. from their own minor league system in recent weeks. There will be a lot of movement, but the rosters expanding to 28 players in September will definitely help accommodate most of those who deserve a spot.
Our community evidently believes that the injuries to the star players and the inconsistent offense are certainly concerns heading into the stretch run, so it doesn’t hurt to look at the picture when everybody is fit to play.
Here’s a peek at how the Yankees’ offense would look against righties most nights when the injured stars return:
Ideal lineup vs. RHP:
1B Ben Rice
RF Aaron Judge
LF Cody Bellinger
DH Giancarlo Stanton/Luis García Jr.
CF Trent Grisham
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
SS George Lombard Jr.
3B Ryan McMahon
C Austin Wells
Rice has hit second most of the season, but he does have 16 starts from the leadoff spot. It would be quite a statement by the Yankees: here’s our 143-wRC+ hitter to open the lineup. Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton comprise a formidable heart of the order, provided that they can reach peak form at some point. Remember, this is a hypothetical exercise.
Stanton, of course, won’t play every game vs. righties. When he rests, the Yankees could just use Rice a DH and García at first. If he’s still on the roster (unclear if everyone is back) Amed Rosario is also a candidate to get some starts from that spot or at third base, and José Caballero would spell Lombard, McMahon, or Chisholm if they are unavailable.
Bellinger will probably alternate between the outfield and the DH spot in his first few games back (with an offday sprinkled here and there), coming off a lower-body injury.
It remains to be seen what the Bombers will do with García in the event that everyone is healthy. Will Boone primarily keep in the lineup at first base against righties? Could they try him at second base, where he had -17 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) last year?
Ideal lineup vs. LHP:
1B Paul Goldschmidt
RF Aaron Judge
LF Cody Bellinger
DH Giancarlo Stanton/Ben Rice
3B Amed Rosario/José Caballero
SS George Lombard Jr.
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr./José Caballero
CF Trent Grisham
C Alí Sánchez/Mitch Garver
Note that Rosario has been particularly productive vs. southpaws this year (68 wRC+, vs. 133 against RHP), but he has usually been much better vs. lefties over the course of his career. He will play in these situations — again, if he’s still on the roster.
Rice is actually solid vs. lefties (118 wRC+), so he will get starts. Ramos is also an asset against southpaws, with a 129 wRC+ during his career, and is expected to get some playing time there, too, either from the left field spot—where he is a subpar defender—or at DH.
Obviously, the idea is that players such as García, McMahon, and Wells don’t sniff the plate when there’s a left-handed pitcher on the mound. I did include the recent minor-league signee Garver as a possibility behind the plate against lefties because Sánchez has been so anemic that it might be worth trying the recently-dismissed Mariners backup in the bigs. He only reported to Triple-A on Friday though, so the Yankees may take a beat to assess him before making a move.
Caballero will be a super-utility guy who will get some starts here and there, plus some pinch-running and late-game appearances as a potential defensive replacement. Jones, who is currently part of the picture, will probably be squeezed out since he has minor-league options left. Both he and Rosario are candidates to depart the big-league roster upon Bellinger and Stanton’s returns — to say nothing of Judge, who likely won’t be available until rosters expand in September regardless.