Pablo Reyes elected free agency after going unclaimed on waivers, according to the MLB.com transaction tracker. The Yankees had designated the out-of-options utilityman for assignment when they activated Giancarlo Stanton on Monday.
Reyes had been on New York’s active roster for the first two and a half months of the season. He broke camp after signing an offseason minor league deal. There wasn’t much playing time available for either Reyes or Oswald Peraza, another utility infielder who can’t be optioned. The Yankees essentially needed to decide between the two players once Stanton returned from his elbow injuries. They gave a longer leash to the 25-year-old Peraza, a former highly-regarded prospect whose bat has stalled in recent seasons.
The righty-hitting Reyes is a veteran journeyman whose primary asset is his versatility off the bench. He made 24 appearances overall but was only penciled into the starting lineup on seven occasions — four times at second base, twice at third base, and once in right field. He batted .194 in 34 trips to the plate. Reyes had similarly brief playing time with the Red Sox and Mets last season. His best season came two years ago, when he hit .287/.339/.377 in 64 games with Boston.
Reyes returns to free agency as a lifetime .245/.305/.342 hitter in a little over 600 MLB plate appearances. He has some experience at every position aside from catcher. He might be limited to minor league offers but should find interest as a depth piece. Reyes owns a .278/.349/.452 line in nearly 400 career Triple-A games.
I expect the Red Sox to go after him considering they just optioned Kristian Campbell and Nate Eaton’s not an infielder – won’t be shocked if he’s in the Red Sox dugout tomorrow in San Fran.
It wouldn’t shock me to see him sign a minor league deal, but, he wouldn’t be in Boston dugout. Optioning KC makes room for abreu.
Ceddane becomes the emergency IF depth role
Ceddane can’t really play 2B/SS. And Nate Eaton has no business on the roster – that’s why I thought Reyes may end up back in Boston, because they don’t seem to what to bring up Grissom or Sogard.
Bringing someone up means sending someone down.
KC went down to activate abreu. Who gets bumped off the roster to make room for a Reyes? I don’t think you’ll find a name you’d want to dump for that weak bat.