FEB. 22: GM Brian Cashman told reporters, including the YES Network’s Jack Curry, that Parmelee has been signed to a minor league deal (Twitter link). He’ll be in big league camp, tweets MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
FEB. 21: The Yankees have apparently reached an agreement with Chris Parmelee, as per his own Instagram page. As a left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder, Parmelee will essentially fill the spot left on the Yankees’ depth chart once Greg Bird was lost for the season after shoulder surgery.
Parmelee, who turns 28 on Wednesday, opted to become a free agent following a season that saw him hit only .216/.255/.433 over 102 plate appearances with the Orioles but a much more impressive .314/.386/.444 slash line in 272 PA at Triple-A Norfolk. Parmelee has a modest .707 OPS over 1003 Major League PA with virtually the same splits against right-handed pitching as he does against lefties.
The rumor mill has been pretty quiet for Parmelee this winter, though he was mentioned as a speculative fill for New York in the wake of Bird’s injury. Parmelee has seen most of his MLB action at first and right field, so he’ll serve as a depth option behind Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran at those respective positions (possibly from Triple-A to begin the year). Parmelee has a good chance at playing time given how those two veterans, particularly Teixeira, have battled injuries in recent years, and he could also be in for a power boost given Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch.
Yankees get off the schnied with a big one!
Doesn’t count unless it’s a major league free agent, so they’re still at zero = )
WOOHOO!!!
My reaction exactly when I learned the Orioles had signed him last year! He’s one of those guys who doesn’t do anything great, but he’s always good enough at AAA that apparently lots of GMs have his phone number in the event of an emergency.
Good luck with that…
Good luck with what? AAA depth guy with some PWR? You can do better?
Yeah he was a 1st round draft pick a while back with great expectations. Wasnt used well by the Orioles last year. He was a pawn in the middle of their Chris Davis contract maneuvering. He will give the Yankees some more depth.
What a waste…
Hal wrote “CParm” but wanted chicken parm instead. Cash messed up.
You have got to be kidding! Hicks and now Parmalee? Talk about dead wood! Give me s break!
Great signing for the Yanks!