The Yankees are Playing the Next Man Up game again... and it's only March 11

The Yankees acquired Frankie Montas in a trade deadline deal from the Athletics during the 2022 season. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Baseball is a sport where injuries come and go almost more than any other. You have to almost expect players to get injured when they ramp up training at the speeds that they do in Spring Training.

Often times these injuries are quick and each team will have a few players get injured but be back within a week.

For the Yankees this year, they have not been that lucky. Spring training has been going on for less than a month, and two of the Yankees five starting pitchers are already expected to miss time in the beginning of the season due to injury.

It is more than just the pitching staff however. This tweet from Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch details a few of the Yankees injuries with their expected returns.

Carlos Rodon is the Yankees's new 160 million dollar man. They signed him to a five year deal a few days before Christmas.

He strained his elbow during Spring Training and will be out until April.

2022 mid-season acquisition Frankie Montas is also going to miss some time. He just had to get shoulder surgery.

The problem is - he was traded to the Yankees while he was hurt.

These are two guys that the Yankees expected to pick up huge innings in the rotation in the 2023 season.

Also out for a while are two relievers, Lou Trevino (who found his way to the Yankees in the same deal that brought Montas to New York) and Tommy Kahnle. They are both going to miss some time.

Harrison Bader was traded to the Yankees at the 2022 Trade Deadline for pitcher Jordan Montgomery. (Sarah Stein/Getty Images)

The last of the big injuries right now is starting centerfielder and postseason hero Harrison Bader. Bader was phenomenal in the postseason in 2022, belting five home runs in just nine games.

These are going to be some tough guys to lose to open the season, but its next man up time for the Yankees.

It feels like this is a game that they play often. "Oh this guys hurt, who's going to take his spot?" is something that Yankees fans think often.

So, who is going to fill those spots? Well, in the rotation, two familiar guys will find their way into some early season starts, Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt will take their places, both of which have been productive in their outings in spring training so far.

Guys like Ian Hamilton and have had good outings this spring, so they are immediately big candidates to find their way into some bullpen time at the MLB level. There are also still a few good bullpen options in free agency, we may see the Yankees dip into that realm as well.

As for center field, Aaron Judge will actually be a big piece. He played a lot of centerfield last season, so expect him to find some time in center. Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Cabrera will probably both find themselves some centerfield play.

It's still so early, so you can't blame anything on injuries, or even expect them to actually be hurt as long as everyone expects.

Most of the injured players previously mentioned should return to the active roster in April, except for Montas, who will be out until late in the season.

It stinks to see all of these guys getting hurt, but the Yankees have been known for the "Next Man Up" strategy to work, so expect it to do the same again.