The Yankees have designated outfielder Greg Allen for assignment, per a club announcement. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to lefty Justin Wilson, whose previously reported deal is now official.
The 27-year-old Allen won’t get into a game as a member of the Yankees, who acquired him in a minor trade that sent minor league lefty James Reeves to the Padres back on Jan. 6. The Yankees were the third organization in half a year’s time for Allen, who opened the 2020 season in Cleveland before being traded to the Padres as part of the Mike Clevinger deal and then landing with New York.
Allen could be on the move again now, although the Yankees surely wouldn’t mind holding onto him as minor league depth in the event that he goes unclaimed on waivers. The soon-to-be 28-year-old has just a .239/.298/.343 batting line in 618 Major League plate appearances, but he’s also gone 32-for-38 in stolen bases during that time. More importantly, Allen is considered a solid defender in the outfield and is capable of handing all three spots out there.
Unfortunately for Allen, he’s also out of minor league options, which left him looking like a potential roster casualty as the Yankees made a slew of one-year additions late in the offseason. While he wasn’t technically the corresponding move for Brett Gardner’s return, which the Yankees also announced today, that deal may have been the final nail in his 40-man roster coffin.
The Yankees will have a week to trade Allen or, as previously noted, attempt to pass him through outright waivers. That the Padres were able to find a trade for Allen the first time around — one for a minor league pitcher and not simply cash or a PTBNL — suggests there was something of a market the last time he was designated. However, many clubs have made other outfield additions and filled up the fringes of their 40-man roster in the six weeks since that time, so it’s certainly possible the Yankees could sneak him through waivers.
That didn’t last long. I don’t see Allen make it thru waivers.
Bring him back to Cleveland
Tribe needs outfielders who can hit, and Allen doesn’t fit that description
No thanks, Cleveland has enough of what he can provide but from players with a higher ceiling.
I couldn’t agree more. I was disappointed when the Indians traded Mr. Allen last year and Lord knows we could use his speed and defense in the outfield. He has shown moments of ability at the plate, I’d like to see him given more of a chance. Yes he’s not one of the popular swing-for-the-fences guys so popular today, but a guy who gets on base and scores runs is always valuable, even today. With the ball being deadened this year, a guy like Allen should be more valuable. I’d love to see an outfield of Allen, Mercado, and Daniel Johnson. Great speed and excitement!!!! Yeah, I know, only in my dreams. But no team was more fun to watch the Cardinals
Of the 80’s.
What if I wanna stay on your lawn
You are correct- those mid 1980s Cardinal teams were fun to watch.
ATTENTION CLE FRONT OFFICE: We all know Allen is a solid citizen with a great attitude and clubhouse presence, but he still can’t hit, so don’t talk yourself into bringing him back. Besides, you already have Allen in camp, and his name is Billy Hamilton.
As poor as Greg Allen was in 2020, he still out performed Billy Hamilton.
Yeah, even if you do terrible, it’s not hard to outperform a guy that has a triple slash line of .125/.171.219 with a .390 ops and a 7 ops+ and he only had a positive ops+ because he had a 154 ops+ in a tiny sample size with the Cubs after posting an ops+ in a small but larger sample size with the Mets of -63. Yes, you heard that right, -63.
No surprise there.
This has Brewers written all over it.
Would make a lot more sense than JBJ
Well Greg Allen was a part of the trade vetoed by Lucroy back in July 2016 so there might still be an interest..
Poetic justice for his Uncle Ted—he was Chopped!
Cashman’s favorite offseason addition already DA’d lmao
What a waste. They gave up Reeves for nothing. I thought it was a bad move at the time. He may not be a top prospect, but his numbers in AA were fantastic. Oops!
Reeves is irrelevant. They picked up Allen as a hedge as they needed someone on the roster who could play CF in case Gardner didn’t return, and Reeves is the insignificant price you pay for that hedge.
Agreed. The market is fluid and it’s so easy to say “should’ve, could’ve” in hindsight.
I don’t know… a lefty who averages well above 9
K/9 in AA, with an ERA under 2 isn’t exactly irrelevant. I’d say an outfielder who’s already shown he can barely hit over .200 in the major leagues and has no minor league options is less relevant. Especially on a team like the Yankees. Either way not a big loss, but that was a win for the Padres
It makes you wonder if Greg Allen was ever going to hit in the majors? I liked him because of his depth, being able to play all 3 outfield positions. Yes, definitely thinking he will get claimed.
I guess they prefer Tauchman more even though he’s out of options.
Yes thinking the Yankees are looking at Tauchman’s 2020 as just a fluke. They are definitely feeling like he will hit this season. If he doesn’t hit in 2021 he will likely be gone.
I liked Allen as a prospect…until I saw him play for a few years.
His game is based solely on speed, but the things he needs to do to make that speed viable he can’t or won’t do.
He doesn’t take walks…and he absolutely can’t get a bunt down.
Defensively, Allen is good, not great. He is certainly no Hamilton.
Outfielder who was designated for assignment? Have fun in Atlanta, Allen
I’ll take him back in Cleveland. he’s never been given the opportunity to win a position. everytime he’s had one, it was always temporary. I’d welcome him back
They’re going to need to bring in folks like him if they truly are considering an extension for Bieber, which would be a very prudent move IMO.
If he could clear waivers,he is a perfect September callup/playoff bench piece. Pinch run for voit, sanchez, or even Torres late.