On August 30, the Yankees announced the names of seven Baby Bombers who would be headed to this year's Arizona Fall League, tabbing four pitchers and three position players within that group.
There is still time to add to that, though, as the Yankees can send another position player as part of the Glendale Desert Dogs' "taxi squad," a group that is only allowed to play two games in any given week. That doesn't mean those players are an afterthought, as they are the first to be promoted to the "main" roster upon injury, and even if they aren't, they still have quite a few chances to impress.
Who might be a fit for that seat in the taxi this fall? Here are five names to consider.
KYLE HOLDER
We start with last year's Yankees rep on the taxi squad in Holder, who hit .333 in 11 games as part of that squad to cap off an amazing 2017 season overall, one that had seen him hit .271 in 104 games at Class-A Advanced Tampa. This year, though, injuries limited Holder to 48 games and 206 at-bats across three levels (plus whatever he gets in the postseason with Trenton), so he could be a prime candidate for some extra action - with the bonus being that, because Holder is Rule 5 eligible this winter, the Yankees could get another limited look at him ahead of a possible roster decision.
CHRIS GITTENS
Minus the prior Arizona assignment, Gittens is in the same boat as Holder; he had a strong but injury-shortened 2017 in Tampa (.266/.372/.472, 13 HR, 43 RBI in 74 games), and more injury issues this year limited him to 57 games, a .193 average, and six homers between Trenton and Staten Island. Gittens is Rule 5 eligible for the second time this winter and could use the at-bats, and given that the only actual first baseman on Glendale's roster is fellow Baby Bomber Steven Sensley, it might be a good marriage.
DONNY SANDS
A third catcher is almost guaranteed to be a taxi squad addition, and with the Indians and Dodgers already having backstops on the roster, there's a one-in-three chance the Yankees will be tabbed to add the extra one. Sands would fit the bill here, as he also had an injury-interrupted season, and ended up playing just 28 games because of a broken forearm. The bonus here: Sands grew up in Tucson, so an assignment would be a homecoming of sorts.
MARK PAYTON
Injury that limited his season? Check, only 62 games thanks to knee surgery that cost him the first two months. Rule 5 eligibility? Check, actually the second time. A guy who can play all three outfield positions, gets on base, has a little pop in a lefty bat, and will be 27 next season? Check, and one that actually had a better offensive season in 62 games this year than in 97 games in 2017. The Yankees will surely carry someone on the 40 to be an up-and-down outfielder next year, but all of the above may make Payton a guy other teams are looking at, too, so even a handful of games in Arizona could be a showcase of some sort.
ZACK ZEHNER
Speaking of potential up-and-down outfielders, Zehner had the best season of his short career in 2018 (.270/.339/.459, 14 HR, 63 RBI in 119 games between Trenton and Scranton, plus whatever he does in the Triple-A postseason), and heads to Rule 5 eligibility for the first time this winter. Possible showcase, either for the Yankees or another team who might find him an asset of greater value?
