Yankees Claim Breyvic Valera

The Yankees have claimed infielder Breyvic Valera off waivers from the Giants, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly. He will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for his new club. To make room for Valera, the Yankees have transferred first baseman Greg Bird to the 60-day IL, adds James Wagner of The New York Times.

Valera, 27, was designated for assignment by the Giants not long after he was acquired from the Orioles. The Yankees will mark his fifth club since 2017, having spent time with the Cardinals, Dodgers, Orioles, and Giants over the last three seasons. He has amassed just 86 MLB plate appearances owing to a lack of opportunities, though Valera is the owner of an impressive BB:K ratio in his minor league career.

Valera will join a Yankees infield that has been hit hard by injuries early in the season, though the emergence of Gio Urshela and Miguel Andujar’s return to Yanks’ lineup will likely limit Valera’s opportunities to receive playing time. For the time being, he slots into a organizational depth role behind the likes of Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada.