And the Winner is…
If they had to decide today, the Yankees would probably make McKinney two on the depth chart for his age. Better to take the guy who will be there for the next three or four years over the one leaving in a year or two. And better to bank on the one less injury prone.
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But the Yankees do not have to make any such decision today or anytime soon.
Camp is only ten days old and things can change rapidly. Obversely, the season starts in just over three weeks so these performances to date are still meaningful. So, this early in the process, it looks as if both Torres and Andujar would be better served starting the season in the minors.
And in an ironic twist, the winner of the first base battle might join them.
The Yankees might decide it wise to let the better of the two play every day in case of long-term need. That, for a variety of reasons, is likely to be Billy, at least based on the here and now.
Florial, meanwhile is and always was playing on borrowed time. But he seems certain to be under the same type of scrutiny at this time in next year’s camp. By then he might be trying to join established players Torres and Andujar.
But that projection can only be made right now because the performances by these three have imbued observers with cautious optimism.
Next: the Yankees Jacoby Ellsbury is Exhibit A for Why Free Agency Changed
It is still very early in Spring Training, but the Yankees youth movement seems right on track.