The Yankees announced Friday that they’ve reinstated outfielder Willie Calhoun from the injured list and designated him for assignment. Calhoun had been on a rehab assignment in Double-A but is out of minor league options, meaning once he wrapped up that rehab he’d either need to be placed back on the big league roster or designated. The Yankees opted for the DFA route and will now have until Tuesday to trade him. He’ll otherwise be placed on outright or release waivers.
With reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge expected back from the injured list tonight, the Yankees’ outfield is on the verge of becoming more crowded. New York could’ve parted with any of Billy McKinney, Jake Bauers or Greg Allen as a means of getting Calhoun back onto the roster, but the former two have outhit Calhoun this year while the latter provides a far better glove and a backup option in center field.
Calhoun, 28, once ranked as one of the sport’s top minor league talents but has never delivered the type of offense that was expected of him as a bat-first prospect. He signed a minor league deal with the Yanks in the offseason and has since turned in a .239/.309/.403 batting line (96 wRC+) in 149 trips to the plate. Calhoun has walked at an above-average 9.4% rate against a considerably lower-than-average 13.4% strikeout rate, showing a keen eye at the plate and strong bat-to-ball skills. Calhoun also sports a 90.7 mph average exit velocity and 42.6% hard-hit rate — both strong numbers in their own right.
Be that as it may, Bauers and McKinney have both shown more power in their also-limited time with the Yankees. Judge and center fielder Harrison Bader are, of course, locked into the regular lineup now that the former is set to return from the injured list. Giancarlo Stanton is set as the primary designated hitter. None of McKinney, Bauers, Allen or Calhoun can be optioned, so the Yankees effectively had to decide between the four — and Calhoun proved the odd man out.
There’s a chance Calhoun will be moved between now and the trade deadline, but it could be the end of his time with the Yankees regardless. Even if he’s ultimately passed through waivers unclaimed, he’d have the option to refuse an outright assignment in favor of free agency.
Just not a good enough hitter to make up for his complete lack of defensive skills.
C’mon he’s a gold glove defender compared to Jake”the rake” Bauers!
Sheesh, guy was hitting cleanup at the game I went to at TMobile last month
If Calhoun clears waivers( no chance)he can go back to batting clean-up for the Yankees at AAA then.
Nope. He can refuse an optional assignment and become a free agent.
You mean outright assignment. There is a difference.
“Ohtani trade imminent!” – Yankees fans, probably
absolutely, clearing roster space. IKF and Torres should do it
Nooooooo
Ohtani isn’t going to be traded, the Halo’s have even said already, he would definitely be a very expensive rental. Probably not worth it for about a $600 million dollar contract in the off-season.
Whoosh!!!
Nah, but the Yankees have been talking to the Padres but about that other guy who could be available though. Hint: Also on the West Coast.
Having a conversation with yourself today?
what evidence do you have that they’ve talked to Preller about Soto?
“This is what Yankees fans are going to say.” -Yankees haters, definitely
Othani don’t like it in the east coast so stop the hate. And I’m a yankee fan we can’t play Stanton and we would not see Cole every 5days if we get othani because we need six man rotation for othani. So instead of solving problem we create two problems. So no for othani and othani will be the highest paid in baseball Yankees need athletic players and younger.
No Refsnyder, no deal.
Snowmen have longer legs.
This guy was never the same after he took that fastball to the face. Look at what he did in 2019 versus the rest of his career, I don’t think he was ever right mentally after that.
A lot of guys had career yrs in 2019; Belli, Yelich and many others I do believe. I’m a little biased on this one, because Willie Calhoun always mashed for me, when I used the Texas Rangers in MLB The Show 2019.
Then just keep playing the Show, and hopefully he continues to mash for you. I wouldn’t be surprised the dude can hit a fastball.
You are right. Im watched a lot of his AB’s in slow motion. He closed his stance to hide that he bails out on anything inside. Ive watched him bail out on a lefthanders curve ball before. Front foot, and hips move away from the plate a foot. Its a serious mental block for him, and understandable. I think its made him a complete guess hitter that is feast or famine.
Someone out there should take a flyer out there on Mr. Calhoun, he can definitely hit and help some team out there.
A team that is offensively-starved just DFA’d Calhoun. What makes you think he can help another team?
Surprised the Yankees were able to make him useful for a bit. Good on him for bringing the career back.
Totally surprised too.
Calling all stations, clear the air lanes, clear all air lanes for the big broadcast. Error in Judgement’s toe will be in the line up tonight.
At least you’re a Svengoolie fan.
Rubber chicken- flingin’ Svengoolie fan here as well.
Svengoolie is very educational. Sure he’s silly, but there’s lots of nuggets in there as well.
Hitting 239, Lol. That’s more than most tigers are hitting.
If he clears, I bet the A’s or Royals take a shot as his .239 average would almost be top hitter on the A’s right now.
A terrible attitude and clubhouse cancer with an abysmal work ethic. Any team that takes a chance on him will regret every moment of his lazy presence.
You seem to say that about pretty much everybody.
@jbeer well maybe not everybody everybody, but a certain kind of everybody yeah probably
Interesting, Brian does know that DFAing is a thing.
All the Yankees mediocre players are out of options. Who’s next when Judge and Cortes gets back
Bauer’s DFA and Ramirez option. Trevino can still be moved to the 60. I think McKinney will get the majority of AB’s in left. Allen and IKF will be pr’s and defense backing up Judge and Stanton.
probably Abreu or Ramirez for Cortes. Willie was for Judge.
Calhoun wasn’t on the active roster. Doubt they DFA abreau when they can just option Ramirez.
It was tough
Detroit
The Yankee Rumor guess should be how many excuses Trashman uses for his lame wheeling and dealing? Plus, how many great deals out of the trash cans can he add to the Yankee roster.
Whe they do trade for a leftfielder dfa all except Allen. Put Florial on the 40 man roster. Best way to go this year is with pitching and defense.
But that would make sense. I’d rather trade a few prospects for someone who was almost good 5 years ago and hope he finds lightning in a bottle.
He’s a fourth outfielder competing with three other fourth outfielders. He’ll probably join Aaron Hicks and put up 2 WAR through the end of the season?
Let’s just entertain Juan Soto trade to the Yankees. What can they offer prospect wise to the Padres? I can definitely see lots of money moving from New York to San Diego to cover salary but outside of Jasson Dominguez (who hasn’t done much of anything yet) and Spencer Jones (who looks like more of a mlb player than Dominguez) who do they really have to dangle for Juan Soto?
Othani before came to play in USA he said won’t play for the Yankees
Once judge reinjures his toe they can bring calhoon back
Willie can probably have a nice little career in Korea or Japan.
Not to mention be somewhat tall for the first time in his playing career.
Haha no doubt
too bad. seems like a good guy and i had him as my “random yankee that has a huge postseason moment” pick
can Willie play 2b? M’s could use him