New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes his club is in a good spot heading into the 2022 campaign.
“We can win now with what we have,” Boone said Sunday, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
The only players who have received major-league contracts from the Yankees this offseason are reliever Joely Rodriguez and outfielder Tim Locastro.
New York’s 40-man payroll is over $222 million. The first level of the competitive balance tax is now $230 million after increasing by $20 million for this season when the league announced the new collective bargaining agreement.
The Yankees’ lineup is strong, but there are question marks at shortstop and first base. Boone said that Gio Urshela will start at short right now but added, “The landscape could change along the way.” New York expects Luke Voit to man first if the team doesn’t make any more moves.
Meanwhile, the club’s starting rotation includes Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes, and Domingo German. Jameson Taillon will join the group when he’s recovered from ankle surgery.
Boone also acknowledged his concern about playing the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada since there are Yankees players who aren’t vaccinated. Unvaccinated major leaguers reportedly won’t be able to play games north of the border under current travel restrictions in the country.
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