Every offseason, there are huge moves that grab headlines and have the ability to transform franchises. Top free agents get nine-figure deals while other high quality players are traded for top prospects. Though there are also transactions that might fly under the radar but still go on to play an important role in the future, such as waiver claims and minor league deals.
The Yankees are illustrating the importance of those minor league deals this year, as various injuries have forced them to turn to players that weren’t on the roster initially. Let’s highlight some players who had to settle for non-roster pacts but have gone on to earn meaningful playing time for the Yanks in 2023.
December 16, 2021 – right-hander Jimmy Cordero
December 14, 2022 – first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers
December 23, 2022 – right-handers Ryan Weber and Nick Ramirez
December 31, 2022 – outfielder Willie Calhoun
December 31, 2022 – outfielder Billy McKinney
February 5, 2023 – right-hander Ian Hamilton
The Yankees have dealt with a number of significant injuries this year. Aaron Judge went on the injured list in early May due to a hip strain and is now there again thanks to a toe sprain. Harrison Bader began the season on the IL due to an oblique strain. Though he eventually returned, he’s now back on the IL a second time because of a hamstring strain. Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson are with the club now but have missed significant time with their own ailments. In addition to those injuries, they also dealt with the struggles of Aaron Hicks, which eventually led to his release. All of that has created opportunities for other players, with each of Calhoun, Bauers and McKinney getting roster spots.
Calhoun had previously received chances from the Rangers and Giants but had continued to struggle. He had a career batting line of .240/.299/.404 as of this winter for a wRC+ of 84. But he had always hit well in the minors and was a former top 100 prospect. He’s now been given a roster spot with the Yankees and has received 140 plate appearances for the season. He’s walked in 9.3% of his plate appearances while striking out at just a 12.1% clip, launching five home runs in the process. His .238/.307/.413 batting line amounts to a 98 wRC+, indicating he’s been just barely below league average. For an emergency fill-in guy, that’s not half bad, and he might even get better results if his .238 batting average on balls in play ticks up closer to the .297 league average.
Bauers was in a fairly similar situation, having once been a top 100 guy who struggled in auditions with Tampa, Cleveland and Seattle. He hit .213/.307/.348 in the majors prior to this season, leading to an 82 wRC+. But in 104 plate appearances as a Yankee this year, he’s hitting .222/.308/.456 for a wRC+ of 109. He’s striking out in 32.7% of his trips to the plate but is also walking at an 11.5% clip.
Like those two, McKinney had also been on top 100 lists in the past. He had been put into action with the Yankees, Blue Jays, Brewers, Mets, Dodgers and Athletics, but had hit .206/.277/.387 for a wRC+ of 77 by the end of 2022. He was called up recently and has only been in seven games so far this year, but he’s put up a huge .320/.320/.640 showing in that small sample. His ability to play center field is huge for the club, with each of Bader, Judge and Greg Allen on the injured list.
The bullpen is another area where the Yanks have dealt with significant challenges. Scott Effross seemed to be emerging as a key piece for them last year but required Tommy John surgery in October, effectively ruling him out for 2023. Jonathan Loáisiga made just three appearances before requiring surgery for a bone spur, with his return still several months away. Lou Trivino began the year on the injured list and ultimately required Tommy John surgery in May, which will prevent him from contributing anything this year. Tommy Kahnle was supposed to play a meaningful role after signing a two-year, $11.5MM deal in the offseason but he was on the IL for the first two months of the schedule.
Those injuries have opened the door for the minor league signees listed above. Cordero was signed way back in the 2021-2022 offseason but the Yankees selected his contract at the end of last year to prevent him from becoming a free agent. He’s tossed 27 2/3 innings with a 28.2% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate and 55.9% ground ball rate. He has a 3.58 ERA but probably deserves even better since he has a 66.4% strand rate, leading to a 2.70 FIP and 3.07 SIERA. Ramirez has a 1.64 ERA in a smaller sample of 11 innings. Hamilton is currently on the IL but has a 1.23 ERA in 22 innings thus far on the season. Weber’s season is now in jeopardy as Tommy John surgery might be required, but he posted a 3.14 ERA in 14 1/3 innings before landing on the 60-day IL.
None of these players is going to be voted the Most Valuable Player or the Cy Young winner, but they have nonetheless showed the importance of depth. The Yankees been without key players like Judge and Bader while others have been slumping badly, but they haven’t been buried in the standings. They are 39-30 and still holding onto a playoff spot. Despite having one of the highest payrolls in the league with plenty of high-paid stars on the roster, they have had a few games recently where their entire outfield was guys whom they’d signed to minor league deals. Thanks to the contributions of these various players, they are hanging in the race with the all-important trade deadline just over the horizon. There’s an old saying that there’s no such thing as a bad minor league deal, and these pacts are looking quite good for the Yanks right now.
Cashman and staff have been good building depth, particularly in the bullpen. However, they have dropped the ball when acquiring key members of the team. Everyone knew they needed a solid everyday left fielder, and depth in the starting rotation but Cashman only built depth when he needed players that were solid cogs.
Yes, he’s only interested in maintaining the status quo. They’ll get to the postseason every year somehow ,with the expanded playoff system, and as far as winning in the postseason ,neither he or his bosses care. The money keeps rolling ,in so does the Yankees front office with their Maintenance of the status quo. The fans are irrelevant to hem.
Agreed still baffles me why Cashman signed Rodon. The guy couldn’t stay healthy until his contract year and Cashman sees him as the missing piece. He has been burned so many times in the past signing off injured players you would think he would have learned his lesson by now. Meanwhile Benintendi signs an affordable contract with Chicago and Cashman replaces him with minor league signings. A Bader/Benintendi 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup would be excellent table setters for the rest of their lineup. Still can’t figure out why Cashman let him walk.
Yeah, because no other teams do these deals. The Yankees are the tip of the spear of minor league deals. Bravo!
Seriously! This article is really fishing the depths of trying to find something nice to say about the Yankee front office.
How much did Cashman pay to write this article?
i don’t think any other team in the major leagues is having this much success with minor league deals. That’s a very fair point.
They’re just pissing away over $100MM a year to Stanton, Lemahieu, Donaldson,Rodon, Hicks, and Montas. They’d be dead in the water if these minor league deals didn’t hit.
Or… if you would just build the team properly you wouldn’t need to go dumpster diving every year.
Every team does these types of deals. Keep up.
Hahaha. Quite true!
Agreed. This article is kind of like praising the designer of a ship for having good life boats…after the ship sank.
The Yankees invested millions years ago in the Carl Pavano Memorial MRI Tube and have to justify the cost of it’s upkeep every year. That’s why every off-season you see smoke coming out of Cashman’s shoes when an expensive oft injured player like Rodon becomes available in FA. He doesn’t want them to risk injury until after they sign with the Yankees so he goes to them.
eppler leaves a lot to be desired as a GM but he helped build a powerhouse pro scouting department during his time with the yankees. i now take it for granted that they’ll find at least one hidden gem per season
Is this article supposed to be a joke? Most of these guys mentioned have been awful in the majors. I think Cashman is a great GM but these moves aren’t good
Ian Hamilton has as 1.23 ERA.
Billy McKinney is hitting .320/.320/.640, albeit in limited AB’s.
Calhoun has been average, which is fine for what they got him for (nothing).
Weber has a 2.16 ERA In 25 IP..
Article is spot on.
@vtadave: Huh? What stats are you looking at?
Weber’s ERA is actually 3.14 in 14.1 innings, and he’s on the 60-day IL, out until at least August with a forearm strain, often the precursor to TJS.
14 innings of 3.14 ball is still super valuable regardless and great value on a minor league deal. Any GM in the league would sign up for that even if they knew TJS was coming
Since he was signed to the deal, his ERA is what I stated.
Well some of these depth pieces have been adequate fill-ins without embarrassing themselves or playing around league average.
Somebody show this article to the Cardinals FO.
Meh, most of them manage to not be terrible, none are very good or barely average on a good day. They also had a minor league outfielder who was on par with them, oh nevermind that was Aaron Hicks.
What I don’t understand is why they are wasting their time on these retreads and spare parts when Florial and Peraza are hitting so well in AAA
Florial can’t hit ML pitching and has a 31% K% at AAA. Peraza is blocked by Volpe who needs more time to make ML adjustments. Way too early to pull the plug and send him down.
How would you–or anyone else–know that? He had 31 ABs in ’22 and 20 the previous year. Meanwhile Donaldson–who cannot hit ML pitching–gets ABs AND $21M. Does he strike out a lot? Yup…just like a half-dozen other Yanks. For some reason they give Volpe a pass (another guy who cannot hit ML pitching). They seem to be punishing Florial for some unknown reason. The guy has five tool talent. Could he suceed in the majors? No one knows because the Yanks won’t let him try it out.
florial is in a tough spot because he’s out of minor league options and is too talented to clear waivers. if the yankees call him up he either has to stick permanently or they lose him. i’ll be surprised if he’s not traded at the deadline
They have already tried to trade him, nobody wants him. That’s the absurdity of it, they’re afraid to lose him, on waivers, but when they have tried to trade him nobody wants him, and yet they’re afraid to play him. So quite a pickle.
At This point they should give him a shot, he’ll either do as bad as everybody expects, nothing lost, or he might surprise a few people. I’m not expecting the latter but you never know. I don’t think there’s anything to lose this point.
Cashman hugs prospects until they have no value left whatsoever. I don’t have to go through the list, I’m sure you’re aware of it.
As a Yankee fan, I can tell you they have done this with so many prospects of theirs. Maybe it’s because the media hypes them up too much, but many never get a real chance to contribute. So many starting pitching prospects get shifted to relief. Like King for example, great reliever but I’d be interested to see how he’d do in the rotation so we don’t have to pay an injury prone guy $30 mil per year
@Rollo He cleared waivers on Apr. 7th which means 29 other teams passed on him.
CASHMAN can’t seem to do anything right for some of you. If even for the Short Term these Players have helped the Team. Multiple Success Storys with this Group. Name 5 other Teams that have gotten as much production from their Minor League Deals this year and historically too.:
It appears there is a contingent on this Blog that are, “Blind in One Eye and Can’t See Out the Other.”
“Name 5 other Teams that have gotten as much production from their Minor League Deals this year and historically too.:”
BLIN7Y;
The Orioles since Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal were brought in to run their front office.
The Rays.
Both have had more success there than the Yankees have (and are ahead of them in the standings).
Orioles and rays ok that’s 2? Name 5 that did better this season which is what the original post and the comment is based on
JustajaysfanCancel;
There are others.
So what?
The Yankees are hardly geniuses at making minor league trades that pan out at times. Truth is that all teams do.
You give me money for my time, I’ll look them up.
@samuel
Money for what? Your shotty opinions? Or lack of knowledge? Money won’t help you with that.
He said name 5, you named 2 so what was the point in your comment other then to throw shade as usual
I think it would depend on who you are addressing. Yankees haters are always going to hate. There is a section of always unhappy Yankees fans. But if you’re addressing the more level headed fans, Yankees or otherwise, there are real complaints to be made about Cashman.
Ultimately he hasn’t brought a title to the Bronx since 09. He has had terrible luck in recent trades. The injuries are a huge problem. I don’t know if it’s conditioning related or they are just getting a lot of injury prone players. Maybe it’s a combination of the two.
But where I see Cashman’s most glaring problem is not getting good complimentary players. And I don’t mean the diamond in the rough guys like Cortez or Urshela. He can sign stars like Cole or Judge but not the dependable left fielder or mid rotation pitcher. Even when he does get one, he doesn’t know when to let them go like DJL.
All in all, he’s not a bad GM but the Yankees need a new direction.
well said. “stars and scrubs” rosters might work in the nba but not in mlb. my biggest complaint with cashman is he and his team don’t seem to value health as a skill. if you trade for players who lack this skill you risk getting burned. i’ve also noticed an annual trade deadline process: yankees hug prospects and lose out on their first choice (castillo) then panic and overpay for a lesser choice (montas)
Yes, great points. Too bad you cant influence Cashman. he will never change his approach, unfortunately, even though he has had plenty of evidence that it’s just doesn’t work.
What gets me, is that he appears to know what’s wrong with the team, every year he verbalizes it ,avows to make the necessary changes, but doesn’t. He verbalized the need for a left fielder in the off-season, and improved Offense, but instead of doing anything significant about it, he moved a utility infielder into the outfield ,IKF, and again relied on Hicks, who is not even on the team anymore. Where is the real left fielder that we needed,and instead he brought in an oft injured pitcher, who we have not even seen yet play.
Sure the scrubs that he brought in to fill-in, are doing what’s expected of them,but it’s certainly not good enough to get the Yankees to the next level. Same issues every year.
You’re right, cashman needs to go, we need a new direction. Even the new front office people that he brought in, that seem to signify a different thought process, have not had any effect on cashman, as he does the same things he’s always done. Much to the chagrin of the fans . But Steinbrenner is happy, as long as the money keeps pouring in, which it does from all the multiple revenue streams that they have nowadays.
The Yankees have always put top minor league free agents as a priority. They have a history of always paying top money to players they believe might help them during the major league season.
The Yankees traded Thairo Estrada to the Giants for cash…
and left whitlock unprotected, but i’m guessing every team has made similar bonehead moves
We could have played the rookies instead of veterans that time has passed them by