The Yankees’ 3 major roster battles for spring training: Oswald Peraza? Aaron Hicks?

With about two weeks until spring training begins, the Yankees’ roster seems all but set. They accomplished their biggest goals before the new year, re-signing Aaron Judge and bringing aboard lefty ace Carlos Rodón. Keeping Anthony Rizzo fortified first base. Signing Tommy Kahnle strengthened the back end of the bullpen. Even the front office got a boost with the additions of Omar Minaya, an ex-Mets general manager, and Brian Sabean, the architect of the Giants’ three World Series wins in the 2010s.

At the moment, adding significant payroll seems unlikely. Per Cot’s Contracts, the Yankees’ luxury tax payroll sits at $289 million — just $4 million shy of the highest luxury tax tier of $293 million. The club seems unlikely to exceed it, according to a person with knowledge of the team’s personnel decisions.

Still, key questions persist. Who’s going to start in left field? What about at shortstop? And who fills out the final spot in the rotation?

Let’s dive into the Yankees’ three position battles heading into camp:

Shortstop

The candidates:Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Oswald Peraza, Anthony Volpe

The prediction: Peraza

Owner Hal Steinbrenner, manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman each have used the same word to describe how the Yankees see shortstop heading into spring training: competition. On paper, it makes sense for the veteran Kiner-Falefa to battle it out with top prospects Peraza and Volpe. But there isn’t much reason to believe that the Yankees internally won’t have the 22-year-old Peraza atop their leaderboard going into the first workouts. Ranked No. 76 on Keith Law’s top 100 prospects list, Peraza isn’t just a defender with skills that are on par with or better than those of Kiner-Falefa. Peraza brings a higher offensive upside (19 home runs at Triple A in 2022) than the light-hitting Kiner-Falefa. Plus, the Yankees signaled a willingness to finally trust Peraza when they started him in the American League Championship Series following Kiner-Falefa’s defensive miscues.

Of course, then there’s Volpe, whom the Yankees have told to prepare this offseason as if he has a shot at the starting job. Volpe took the advice seriously, starting his workouts at the team’s player development facility in Tampa in late November. Volpe has said he wanted to be in regular-season shape at the start of spring workouts to best showcase his abilities. Experience, however, is working against Volpe. Though Law ranked the 21-year-old as the eighth-best prospect in the minors, he’s played only 22 games at Triple A, and the Yankees’ player development track record suggests the team would prefer Volpe to get more time in the minors.

Left field

The candidates:Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Cabrera, Estevan Florial, Willie Calhoun, Rafael Ortega

The prediction: Somebody else

In a recent interview, Cashman said he “suspects” that Aaron Hicks will “be the one that emerges” in left field. Does that sound like a ringing endorsement of Hicks? Then there’s the fact that Cashman admitted the Yankees “certainly have our lines out” on trade talks. It would seem likely the Yankees’ Plan B — not their Plan A — will be to go with Hicks or any of their internal options on Opening Day. The Yankees are among the teams who have shown serious interest in Pirates All-Star Bryan Reynolds, and they have been connected to the Twins’ Max Kepler. Hicks has by far the most experience of the Yankees’ current options — not to mention another three years and $30.5 million remaining on his contract. He’s been terrible offensively the last two years, hitting a combined .211 with just 12 homers in 162 games, and his confidence looked to be in the tank when he made some ugly mistakes in left field at Yankee Stadium late last season, forcing the Yankees to turn to Cabrera.

But those looking for reasons Hicks could rebound point to the fact he’ll be even further removed from his May 2021 surgery to repair a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist. A restriction to infield shifts could also help the switch-hitting Hicks from the left side of the plate, where he’s pull heavy. Cabrera, an infielder in the minors, profiles more as a utility player. The Yankees haven’t had enough confidence in Florial’s bat yet to give him an extended major-league look. Calhoun and Ortega are left-handed bats with lots of MLB experience, but they’re non-roster invitees.

Fifth starting pitcher

The prediction: Germán

Expected fifth starter Frankie Montas (shoulder inflammation) is expected to be activated from the injured list around May 1. Thanks to three scheduled off days from Opening Day through April, the Yankees may only need a fifth starter two or three times, which makes this roster battle a less pressing question than the others. Germán, entering his sixth season, has the most experience and 4.52 ERA over 70 career starts — not terrible for back-of-the-rotation production. The Yankees could carry him as a swingman for the back part of the bullpen, too.

Schmidt posted a 2.74 ERA in 26 appearances last year as a reliever, where his career might be heading considering his long injury history. But considering the Yankees’ current lack of starting pitching depth, it would seem likely the team would prefer him to stay stretched out at Triple A to be called upon if needed. Brito and Vasquez are two righties toward the end of the 40-man roster hierarchy. Brito made 18 starts with a 3.31 ERA last year at Triple A, where he’ll probably begin the season. Vasquez hasn’t pitched above Double A yet. Journeyman Ryan Weber, signed to a minor-league deal, could earn spot starts throughout the season.

(Top photo of Aaron Hicks: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)