...
By Nelson Espinal
Contributing Sports Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The New York Yankees made a move to pick up outfielder Michael Siani, who was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers, to free up a spot for Kyle Tucker.
On Friday, the Yankees announced the addition of Siani off waivers, and in an accompanying move to free up a roster spot, New York designed Kaleb Ort for assignment.
New York is adding a defensive specialist to the roster, their second outfield move over the past few days, as they also re-signed star free agent Cody Bellinger to a five-year deal.
Read More on MLB
The Yankees have been quiet overall this winter, but following the retention of Bellinger, things could move quickly as they scour the market for marginal and notable upgrades.
...
The Dodgers claimed Siani off waivers earlier in the offseason, adding him to the roster as outfield depth amid their struggles in the position group.
What does Siani bring to the Yankees roster?
Siani has played in 160 MLB games over the past four years, covering all three outfield positions effectively. He has 7 Defensive Runs Saved and 17 Outs Above Average, showing how elite his glove is and the range he can cover.
He does indeed have positional flexibility, but his offense is the polar opposite, having just a measly 58 wRC+, sitting well below average, and putting up a .221/.277/.270 line through his entire time in the major league.
His offensive numbers are especially lackluster, given his low walk rate: he draws a free pass only 6.3% of the time.
Siani has a .217/.329/.337 line and 77 wRC+ in the minor leagues, a bit better, but still not great and below average as a whole.
For the time being, unless there is a radical turn around, he is a defensive specialist who can fill in when the outfielders need a break or at the end of games to close out contests.
However, if the Yankees can get him to swing at an average rate, he could end up being quite the steal. The Dodgers saw potential in Siani, but the roster crunch led them to move on from him.
The Yankees could be beneficiaries of the move, especially if the hitting coaches can get his mechanics right. He already has the glove and base running; he just needs to get his bat going.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines