The Yankees announced Friday that they’ve signed right-hander Drew Hutchison to a minor league contract and invited him to Major League Spring Training. Outfielder Matt Lipka, too, will receive a minor league deal and a non-roster invite to Major League camp.
Hutchison, 28, once looked like a promising long-term piece in the Blue Jays’ rotation, but Tommy John surgery threw a wrench into his outlook early in his career. The righty has bounced around the league over the past several seasons, most recently splitting the 2018 campaign with the Phillies and Rangers — throwing exactly 21 1/3 innings for each club. Hutchison was pummeled for a combined 6.75 ERA in that stretch and owns a lackluster 5.10 ERA in 460 1/3 MLB innings. However, he’s been vastly better in Triple-A, where he’s compiled a 3.58 ERA with 8.1 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 and 0.8 HR/9 in 362 1/3 innings. He’ll give the Yankees some depth in the rotation heading into camp this spring.
Lipka, meanwhile, batted .240/.329/.359 as a 26-year-old in Double-A last season. A converted shortstop, Lipka has logged more than 4000 innings in center field since moving there in 2012 and brings some speed to the table, with 186 career stolen bases in 868 games. He stole 21 bags this past season, 25 in 2017 and topped out at 37 swipes back in 2013. Lipka has never hit for much power, though, and last season’s .329 OBP was his highest since a .335 mark in Class-A Advanced back in 2012.
bigwestbaseball
Yankees win!
empirejim
Is there a guy the Yankees arent going to sign?
Yelsnit
That would be Machado and Harper.
bradthebluefish
Lmao. Truth.
gotothevideotape
Lolol
luclusciano
Whoever the Mets don’t sign, the Yankees will.
Foreveryankees
That would be anybody that makes sense!
stymeedone
Yeah, Harper. With the Lipka signing, they no longer need him (as if they ever did)
Zary
Yet another insignificant bottom feeder deal made by the low-balling current Yankees front office. From a team fan since ‘62, have this ominous feel that the team of glory may reign supreme once again only when Hal, Cashman, Levine (etc.) are gone.
2019 might make a wild card spot bar injuries but don’t see a championship team constructed here (yawn….)
Downvote for the sake of , but just watch and see, unless a late inning difference maker is pulled out of the hat. Writing on the wall moves so far have suggested otherwise. The biggest concern for the front office is to fill the (everything overpriced) stadium for gain of personal further enrichment.
Win or lose again, enjoy the upcoming season!
toomuchpie
It’s a minor league deal to give the railriders innings. There always has to be someone like you to freak out over a MiLB deal.
SoCalBrave
Where’s the Russell Martin to the Dodgers post? MLB TR is really slow with the news lately…
DarkSide830
you know they actually have to make sure the reports are real and then take the time to write about the move before they post an article, right? if you know it happened then what is your issue?
SoCalBrave
The site is called trade RUMORS, not trades already made. I just can’t believe that I saw this on MLB network before I read about it here. It used to be the other way around.
terrymesmer
@SoCalBrave
Terrible comment.
Core4
These are the type of signings I’d be annoyed about if I was say, Domingo Acevedo,Joe Harvey, Stephen Tarpley, Tyler Wade, or basically any prospect who deserves a shot and mite actually have something to bring to the table . I mean, id be pissed to of earned a shot and it goes to a total scrub like Hutchinson or one of the other retreads who have stunk time and time again when given a ML opp. Let guys like Mason Williams,Brebbia, and many others walk and sign guys like this annoys me. These signings do more harm then good imo
luclusciano
Why would they lose their chance from this signing?
costanza
It’s a minor league signing. The guys you listed are all on the 40 man so how does this affect them? They would need to be clearly outperformed by signings like this to lose their roster spot.
toomuchpie
This is nothing more than a milb signing to provide innings for the RailRiders. Lay off the caffeine and stop overreacting.
Monkey’s Uncle
I feel like I have to root against Hutchison. Nothing personal with him, it’s just that every time I see his name I remember what the Pirates gave up to get him from the Blue Jays, and also that he never did anything for the Bucs, which isn’t his fault because the trade shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
thecoffinnail
I believe the trade from Pittsburgh’s point of view was more of a way to dump Liriano’s contract than to acquire Hutchinson.
qbass187
The Yankee bottom feeding continues
toomuchpie
It’s a minor league deal…jeez.
bronxboy28
Yankees should trade Hicks and a minor leaguer to Detroit for Michael Fulmer! Then sign Bryce Harper for 5 years at 30-35 million per year. Move Judge to center and Harper to right! What do you think?
jonscriff
Not even a chance.. When healthily hicks literally had the same year harper just had. Hicks is a CF , Harper and Judge aren’t.
binarydaddy
Calling it now…Blue Jays win the pennant!