WASHINGTON — The Yankees inched closer to finalizing their Opening Day roster on Tuesday, but it was still not set after they played their final spring tuneup and flew to New York.
The Yankees made a handful of decisions — among them optioning reliever Greg Weissert to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and also sending reliever Ian Hamilton and outfielder Willie Calhoun there, manager Aaron Boone said after a 3-0 exhibition loss at Nationals Park — but none of those fully cleared up the picture for the final three roster spots.
“We’re still working through some things,” Boone said.
Outfielders Estevan Florial (who is out of options) and Rafael Ortega (who is not yet on the 40-man roster) were both set to fly to New York with the Yankees, Boone said, though there is only room for one of them on the 26-man roster as the final bench player.
“There’s nothing guaranteed there with either right now,” Boone said.
With Weissert and Hamilton both out of consideration, the Yankees’ final bullpen spot could go to someone outside of the organization — either through a waiver claim or a trade. The Yankees could use a pitcher capable of providing long relief, especially early in the season, with Michael King currently their only reliever built up to pitch more than two innings.
Hamilton, who did not let up a run across nine innings this spring, initially had an opt-out in his contract that was set to trigger on Tuesday if he was not added to the roster. But that opt-out has been moved to April 5, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported. Boone said the Yankees hadn’t added Hamilton to the 40-man roster “yet.”
Meanwhile, Boone said the conversations with Weissert and Calhoun, a non-roster invitee, were “tough.”
“Willie came in here and was a pro.” Boone said. “Just good at-bat after good at-bat.
“With Weiss, he’s a big leaguer. He’s an important part of that team and will be an important part of this team. So it is difficult. It’s unfortunate with our team and not having a lot of optionable guys. You don’t want to get into a situation where you have to burn an option early in the year. It is difficult, because he’s a big part of what’s going on in there and will continue to be. Just important for him to go down and keep getting after it. Those are two tough ones.”
The Yankees also have a roster spot open for the fifth starter, though it is likely to be filled by Jhony Brito.
Nestor Cortes made his third and final start of the spring against the Nationals, throwing 74 pitches across four innings of one-run ball (he did not finish the fourth inning but, taking advantage of spring training rules, came back out to record the first out in the fifth inning).
After starting camp with a hamstring strain, Cortes believes he is physically ready for the regular season, and the Yankees have said he will start the fourth game.
“It was a good buildup,” Cortes said. “I feel like I’m in a good spot. The hamstring is good. … As far as my arm, I’m in a good spot.”