After joining Yankees, Jose Trevino says, 'That was my dream'
Yankees leftfielder Joey Gallo scores behind Rangers catcher Jose Trevino during the eighth inning of an MLB game at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 22, 2021. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
TAMPA, Fla. — Jose Trevino certainly knows how to immediately get a fan base on his side.
In his first day in his new clubhouse, the catcher, acquired Sunday to serve as Kyle Higashioka’s backup to start the season, said he’s been a lifelong admirer of the Yankees, tabbing Derek Jeter as his favorite player to watch.
“I feel like everybody says this, but as a kid growing up, you look at the Yankees,” Trevino said. “You admire the guys that played in the pinstripes and played for the city. As a kid, you just admire this team. As a kid, you always wanted to be a Yankee, and for me, that was my dream.”
With Ben Rortvedt, acquired from the Twins last month to be Higashioka’s backup, slated to start the season on the injured list with a right oblique strain, that put the Yankees back in the market for catching depth. They were able to obtain Trevino from the Rangers in exchange for righty pitching prospect Albert Abreu and lefty prospect Robert Ahlstrom.
Trevino hit .239 with five homers, 14 doubles and 30 RBIs in 89 games with the Rangers last season, and while the Yankees believe there might be some untapped potential with the bat, his calling card is his defense, something he fully embraces.
“I care about the pitchers a lot,” Trevino said. “That’s going to be the thing I pride myself on the most is taking care of the pitchers, making sure the pitchers are good to go, and then after that, we’ll see where we’re at.”
Roster nearly set
With the Yankees’ announcement earlier in the day that righties Deivi García and Luis Gil had been optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and that non-roster invitees Manny Banuelos and outfielder Ender Inciarte had been assigned to Scranton, the 28-man roster the club plans to leave town with Tuesday night appeared just about finished.
After Monday’s game, Boone said righties Clarke Schmidt and Ron Marinaccio — both of whom threw the ball well at times in spring training — have “an excellent shot” of being on the Opening Day roster and that lefty JP Sears, who despite an 8.10 ERA had his moments during the Grapefruit League season, “likely” will be on the roster.
That was a bit of a hedge after Sears said Boone had told him he would be on the roster after he came out of Monday’s game.
Boone said the club had not yet made a decision on whether to carry 16 pitchers — which would mean a three-man bench — or 15, but that it was “leaning” toward 16.
In that event, DJ LeMahieu and Trevino are locks to be on the roster, with Marwin Gonzalez fairly close to a lock. If the Yankees go with 15 pitchers, that likely would mean a spot for Tim Locastro, a speedy outfielder who is in camp on a major-league deal.
Yanks get McKay
The Yankees acquired righthander David McKay, 27, from the Rays on Monday for cash. He had a 6.08 ERA and no record in the 2019 and 2020 seasons with Seattle and Detroit before missing last season after hip surgery.
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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