On one side of the New York Yankees clubhouse, Aaron Judge’s locker stands near the door to the training room, where the reigning AL MVP is receiving treatment for a toe injury that has kept him out since June 3. All the way across the room, next to the door that leads to the batting cages, lockers for three outfielders stepping up to take critical at-bats in New York’s hobbled lineup occupy another corner. The outfielders themselves are usually down the hall, taking swings.
Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney and Willie Calhoun — all 27 or 28 years old, all acquired within the past 13 months for cash or in minor-league free agency — were pegged for a combined total of 148 plate appearances this season (all by Calhoun) in preseason projections at Baseball Prospectus.