Four for the Yankees
However, for now, we will assume there are eight players for four spots: Two starters and two back-ups. And the candidates are Walker, Torres, Andujar, Drury, Austin, McKinney, Tyler Wade and Ronald Torreyes.
The third is the easiest to sort out.
If Drury wins the competition, Andujar will go to Triple-A for a short while until he becomes the everyday third baseman. His bat is as ready for a long look in the majors as any young player’s; the Yankees will start that look no later than May.
When that happens, Drury will likely be cut, traded, or relegated to back up. He’s a good player, but Andujar is younger and hits for both average and power.
Second, though, is more muddled.
Torres has been pressing, but he is no more going to be traded than I am to win the second base job. He will likely head to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a few weeks until he has his first big offensive explosion. The Yankees will insert him in the line-up during that time and he, and the team will not look back.
Until then, the odds have to favor Walker to win the Yankees second base bag, with Tyler Wade the back-up. And that puts Ronald Torreyes back in the minors.
There is a chance that the Yankees eschew both McKinney and Austin, which would open the door for Torreyes. But, again, their bats and Ellsbury’s health put the odds against that.