The Yankees announced this morning that outfielder Willie Calhoun, whom they designated for assignment on Friday, rejected an outright assignment in favor of free agency.
The 28-year-old Calhoun signed a minor league deal with the Yankees over the winter, was added to the big league roster in early April, and wound up hitting .239/.309/.403 (96 wRC+) in 149 plate appearances before landing on the injured list with a quad strain in late June. He missed more than a month of action, and when his rehab assignment was up, the Yankees opted to keep Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney and Greg Allen over Calhoun. All four were out of minor league options, meaning the odd man out ultimately had to be designated for assignment.
Calhoun once ranked as one of baseball’s top prospects but has never developed the type of offense that was projected of him during his minor league days with the Dodgers and the Rangers (who acquired him as the headline prospect in the deadline trade sending Yu Darvish to Los Angeles). He’s a career .240/.300/.404 hitter in 1085 big league plate appearances. Calhoun doesn’t walk much (career 7.4%) but also has above-average bat-to-ball skills (15% strikeout rate). He typically makes hard contact at decent levels and was well above-average during this year’s stint with the Yankees, generating an average exit velocity of 90.7 mph and hitting 42.6% of his batted balls at 95 mph or more.
Calhoun has played left field almost exclusively in his career but carries dismal grades for his glovework from Defensive Runs Saved (-15), Ultimate Zone Rating (-13) and Outs Above Average (-14) in 1304 career innings at the position. Still, teams in need of a some outfield depth and, particularly, a left-handed bat could give him a look now that he’s back on the market.
Mets ,they have a help wanted sign up
Lolmets
That a boy Willie!!!
He really shouldn’t be picky at this point. Do yu speeka Korean?
bye bye Robbie Cano’s Minnie Me
Dude wants no part of the joke franchise that Cashman has created
Smart man, that Willie!
Even he does not want to be part of his train wreck. I don’t blame him. That says it all.
But he couldn’t even crack their lineup.
Yeah he could before he got hurt.
The Analytic dept and Trashman makes up the lineup. Bozo their manager doesn’t make it up. The whole organization is a train wreck.
……..and nobody cared.
All he needed was an extension……of his tibias.
He should sign with the Astros. I would.
He probably doesn’t want to be associated with cheating. I’d stay away if I were Willie.
The Stro’s never got their championship taken away for cheating, so who really cares anymore? Great Commissioner! Smh
You didn’t get your roided championship in 2009 taken away. Maybe you should. Then you would have 0 championships in the last 23 years.
You care enough to respond and defend, so there’s at least one.
@stroh- Hey dude I got news for you everyone was taking steroids back then even your precious Jeff Bagwell! Isn’t he is the Hall Of Shame? Smh
The fact that he was initially one of the more consistent, productive Yankees in the first third of the season was emblematic of the deep problems and terrible luck the organization is having right now.
With those short legs of his, he hits those newly expanded bases three times while crossing ’em.
Brewers. He could be the DH.
Agreed. But is there a 40-spot open? If not, who goes?
Fare thee well short-legged portly slugger.
Michelin man!
“Teams in need of a some outfield depth?” Someone didn’t proofread.
Steve was just channeling his inner Mario and Luigi
Rangers are in short supply of bats now that Heim and Seager are on IR. Calhoun might want to give the Ranger front office a call and ask for a chance.
am afraid he’s burned those bridges. he has a lot of confidence but nobody has any confidence in him.
Good for him. He needs a new team.
Now back to NYY non deadline moves vs Mets:
I give the Mets front office & owners some credit for making the moves NOW vs waiting & keeping. Getting better w youth, unlike the dumb Yankees Mgmt who have dead wood and nothing to offer outside of Judge, Cole, Volpe. As a lifelong NYY fan it’s a tough swallow.
Agree completely. Even Calhoun a career journeyman,doesnt want to be a part of this train wreck. Good for him. That says it all.
The real question is willie he do it ?
Let me play some NYY GM here, I WOULD NOT re-sign their impending free agents and go for the big fish in free agency along trying to strike a deal with the SDP for Soto no matter if it take depleting their prospects in doing so, b/c that’s what they are, just prospects. The FO office has rejected all offers for future hof players b/c the price has been too high on prospects. Harper, Machado and Verlander to name a few.
Quite frankly, I’m surprised Cashman is still the GM. The Dodgers are clearly the class of the rich teams. The Yankees aren’t developing, trading, or signing FAs with much savvy.
Very well said
The sad part is that Harper and Machado wanted to play for the Yankees! The Yankees are a train wreck with Hal and the Front Office calling the shots. They know nothing about baseball. What has Hal done besides inheriting the Yankees? He would be better office managing a 7-11 store.
Let me play some NYY GM here, I WOULD NOT re-sign their impending free agents and go for the big fish in free agency along trying to strike a deal with the SDP for Soto no matter if it take depleting their prospects in doing so, b/c that’s what they are, just prospects. The FO office has rejected all offers for future hof players b/c the price has been too high on prospects. Harper, Machado and Verlander to name a few.
Calhoun never lived up to expectations. Rangers got nothing for Darvish from LAD.
Maybe the Padres would trade Tatis Jr. He has a rocky history in San Diego and might already benefit greatly from a relocation.
And who would be better under NY’s bright lights? He would be the perfect Yankee villian that we all love to hate. I guess I’m just a selfish baseball fan who hates when the Yankees aren’t good enough to merit my vinegar.