The MLB season is days away, and the Yankees are preparing to finalize their Opening Day roster. Two players on the 40-man roster will need to come up with a strong 2025 campaign; Ben Rice as he looks to take the next step forward, and Jonathan Loáisiga hoping to stage a comeback from injury.
Spring training is the ultimate showcase for the majority of non-roster invites, and 40-man rostered invitees. The season will act as a showcase for everyone, with more weight on some than others.
Rice was a 12th-round Yankees draft pick in 2021 who made his debut on June 18th, 2024. Loáisiga is a seven-year veteran pitcher with the Yankees. Both of these players are at different stages of their careers, yet they share the same process.
Both of these players have something to prove to the club and the league. They must showcase their worth to stay relevant in the majors long-term.
Rice and Loáisiga’s Contract Situations
Rice is fresh into the major leagues, and hoping to even land a 25-man roster spot for Opening Day. Entering his first full season, his contract is currently just above the major league minimum on salary at one year and $740,000. He is pre-arbitration eligible. A solid performance on either the minor league or major league grounds would boost his case during arbitration, and even set him up long-term in contract negotiations.
Loáisiga is currently signed to a one-year deal worth $5 million, with a club option for 2026, also worth $5 million if picked up. Loáisiga’s incentive here is to earn that extra year in 2026 and have the Yankees exercise that club option.
Jonathan Loáisiga Needs a Strong Comeback
The right-hander Loáisiga was sidelined all season in 2024 after a devastating injury. He suffered a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) which required Tommy John surgery.
The Yankees’ plan to have Loáisiga better utilize his repertoire in his setup role was halted when he was shut down last year. But the team stayed loyal and brought Loáisiga back into pinstripes.
His 2025 spring training campaign is based on fundamental work, flat grounds, bullpens, and charting work. He has not gotten into games yet. Regardless of where Loaisiga ends up, his output is extremely important.
“It was very important to me to come back. I felt that I owed it to the team and to the fans.”
– Jonathan Loáisiga pic.twitter.com/0gA1y5C2eX
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 13, 2025
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The Yankees are hoping that the right-handed reliever can inch his way back to the metrics that support his four-pitch repertoire. His fastball has touched up to 100 mph, with an average of 97-98 mph.
Given that Loáisiga has not pitched off of a major league mound since April of last season and underwent surgery, his role may stick in an absolute short relief or set-up role with approximately one to two innings per outing.
Loaisiga has pitched up to 70-plus innings of work in one season. This year, the Yankees and Jonathan Loáisiga might need to hope for 45-plus innings of work in his comeback season, considering load management.
This will be good for the Yankees bullpen, and good for Loáisiga’s profile if free agency becomes a reality at the end of the year.
Ben Rice Will Attempt to Set Up His Career for the Future
Rice was a dependable replacement for the Yankees last season when Anthony Rizzo went down. He played his role and held his own.
2025 poses difficulty for Rice, as first base has several names in the depth chart. The projected starting first baseman for the Yankees this season is veteran Paul Goldschmidt.
Cody Bellinger and Oswaldo Cabrera are listed due to their ability at the position, although they have other roles.
A curtain call for @Yankees rookie Ben Rice, who has a 3-homer day! pic.twitter.com/WhhMbEWWRU
— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2024
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DJ LeMahieu is the other name on the chart who is a first baseman proper but could be the third baseman. Rice may or may not make the 25-man cut, but still faces an important season no matter where he is.
With arbitration on the horizon, and the fact that Rice is protected on the 40-man roster, his performance will matter in 2025. Rice will be pushing the envelope for the Yankees to pay him to be the everyday first baseman.
Goldschmidt’s contract is one year, $12.5 million. He is set to be 38 years old and a free agent after the season. This has to be the perfect opportunity for Rice to secure the first base spot in the Bronx.
Defense will be a focus for Rice, but offense will be the priority. Batting from the left side, hits, RBI, walks, and on-base percentage will be where Rice shows out. He has gap-to-gap power, and will often be looking for extra-base hits.
Rice would be safer with a batting average above .270 and on-base percentage above .320. Production will be key for the first baseman to win the job next year, or even to platoon the position this season.
Photo Credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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