The New York Yankees entered the last week of the regular season with several important decisions to make before defining their roster for the playoffs. Among the names that have regained ground appear Giancarlo Stanton and the prospect Carlos Lagrange, two very different cases that could offer additional alternatives to the team in October.
Stanton continues to try to complete a recovery that has been extended for much of the season, while Lagrange has returned to the mound after overcoming a right shoulder injury. Both participated on Wednesday in work organized by the Yankees at the Double-A Somerset facilities, where the club keeps several players active looking to be available for the postseason.
With the Wild Card series getting closer, Aaron Boone and his coaching staff will have to determine not only who is healthy, but also what kind of role each player could play within a roster designed for a short series.
Giancarlo Stanton approaches a possible activation again
Stanton took an important step by facing live pitchers again. The veteran took several appearances, hit a home run and also did work running the bases, one of the aspects that has required the most attention during his recovery process.
The 36-year-old batter hasn't played with the Yankees since April 24. His season was initially interrupted by a right calf injury and subsequently suffered new physical problems during the rehabilitation process, including moderate left-calf strain.
The ability to see him back in action doesn't mean he has a secured place on the roster. The Yankees still need to observe how they respond physically over the next few days and determine if there is a clear enough function to include it.
One of the alternatives would be to use it mainly as a pop-up hitter. That function would reduce the demands related to running the grassroots and could allow New York to take advantage of its power at specific times of a match.
Carlos Lagrange re-enters the plans of October
The situation of Carlos Lagrange has also begun to attract attention. The 23-year-old seemed to have little chance of helping the team this season after suffering a capsular injury to his right shoulder at the beginning of July, but his recovery advanced enough to return to the mound in September.
In his first Triple-A performance after leaving the injured list, Lagrange worked a tackle, struck out two batters and once again showed the speed that made him one of the most interesting arms of the Yankees minor league system. His straight line reached 102.1 miles per hour.
On Wednesday he launched again during the work carried out at Somerset. His speed remained around 99 and 100 miles per hour and he showed ability to place his secondary pitches in the strike zone.
Although he has not yet made his major league debut, Boone confirmed that Lagrange is part of the talks for the postseason roster. His inclusion would represent an aggressive decision, but he would also offer the bullpen an arm with an unusual speed.
The Yankees are looking for more alternatives for their playoff roster
The evaluation is not limited to Stanton and Lagrange. Trent Grisham He also participated in live turns while continuing to recover from a right hamstring injury, and New York continues to review the state of different pitchers before making their final decisions.
Injuries have forced the team to keep several possibilities open. In the case of Lagrange, his candidacy could gain importance depending on the availability of other launchers' body arms. For Stanton, the decision will be related to both your physical condition and the utility that you can offer from the bank.
The Yankees do not need to decide immediately. The last regular season games will serve to continue evaluating their players and determine which combination offers greater options for a short series, where each turn at the bat and each ticket of the bullpen can acquire a considerable weight.
Stanton and Lagrange face decisive days
The two represent possible very different incorporations. Stanton brings experience, power, and a major production history in October. Lagrange offers youth and a straight line capable of exceeding 100 miles per hour, although it still has no experience in the Major Leagues.
For now, no one is guaranteed a place. What has changed is that both are back in the conversation when it seemed possible that their respective injuries would have ended with any opportunity to contribute this season.
With the postseason a few days before starting, the next training sessions will be decisive to find out if the Yankees receive one or even two unexpected reinforcements for their quest to advance in October.