The Rockies are designating former top outfield prospect Yanquiel Fernandez for assignment, reports Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. Between the Fernandez DFA and this morning’s trade of right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli to the Yankees (in exchange for non-roster first baseman T.J. Rumfield), Colorado has cleared two spots on its previously full 40-man roster.
Fernandez just turned 23 on New Year’s Day but has exhausted two of his three minor league option years. He made his major league debut with the Rox this past season but hit just .225/.265/.348 with a 30% strikeout rate in 147 trips to the batter’s box. Fernandez has struggled in parts of two Triple-A seasons as well, hitting a combined .259/.320/.437 through 409 plate appearances despite very hitter-friendly environments.
In the 2023-24 offseason, Fernandez landed on the back end of top-100 lists at Baseball America, MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus. At the time, he was coming off a .265/.313/.486 showing with 25 home runs in 521 plate appearances across three levels, topping out as a 20-year-old in Double-A. Given that power output and his youth relative to the competition he was facing at the time, Fernandez was seen as a potential power-over-hit corner outfielder with a plus-plus throwing arm. A future as an everyday right fielder seemed attainable, but his aggressive approach and lack of plate discipline have hindered the final stages of his offensive development.
Between Jordan Beck, Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak and trade acquisition Jake McCarthy, the Rockies didn’t necessarily have immediate playing time for Fernandez. However, he still has a minor league option remaining and all four of those outfield alternatives have some questions about their health and/or recent performance, making it at least a mild surprise to see Fernandez jettisoned from the 40-man roster.
The Rockies will have five days to trade Fernandez before he has to be placed on outright waivers. Given his remaining minor league option, his former pedigree, and his plus power and arm strength, there’s a good chance another club will take a speculative look via either a small trade or waiver claim.
Okay Rockies, now go sign Framber.
Kind of odd to DFA him before anybody was signed unless he has some offer overseas or something.
I wonder if the new regime just isn’t impressed by the recent version of him
The new regime is (interestingly and I think promisingly) obsessed with athleticism, especially in the OF. Fernandez is very slow and he was just never going to get any playing time in the majors.
On top of that, he really didn’t look all that impressive. You can only live off prospect pedigree for so long. I suspect Veen may not be far behind on the bus out of town. Although he might get more time since he was a higher prospect and has 2 option years instead of one.
White Sox, scoop him
Looked better than Veen and Beck at times.
Wow. He certainly has huge upside w/ a ton of power. Weird move, but not enough info to hate on it.
Astros claim him! He has huge upside, a left handed bat, and 1 option left! Astros go!
White Sox. He even has an option left
Yeah, not like they’re bursting at the seam of MLB caliber OF
Very strange move. Fernandez may never become a star, but he just turned 23 earlier this month, was a top 5 prospect in the Rockies’ system going into 2025, and a consensus top 100 prospect in 2024. I can’t imagine he’s that much worse the Rockies couldn’t have given him another chance and don’t have anyone worse to DFA, given their current state.
Should’ve DFA’d Bryant first. Fernández is unathletic and stopped hitting. A guy with no D value really needs to rake. He reminds me of Alex Canario so I doubt they regret the DFA but Bryant should not have a roster spot.
I’m assuming ownership won’t let them flush that yet.
This is weird. Normally you cannot DFA someone unless you have to in order to roster someone else, by rule. So either the poster is mistaken, or they’ve signed two guys and it hasn’t been announced yet.
I wouldn’t use the word “cannot” as you can DFA someone whenever you want. Teams sometimes try to sneak people through at various points in the offseason and Spring Training
I don’t think that’s right. I think the DFA mechanism (as opposed to just waiving someone) is only for situations when you have to get someone off the roster right away, even if you don’t decided exactly where he goes until later. What the Rockies probably did here is just waive him.
there is no restriction listed in the definition of the DFA mlb.com/glossary/transactions/designate-for-assign…
You can DFA someone at any time. You are never required to keep someone on the roster if you do not want them. Usually teams will wait until they need the spot, but it is not required for them to. The Rockies have never really believed in leverage though. My bet is the new regime had no plans for Fernandez and are hoping to work out a trade to someone or sneak him through waivers now when teams might be less willing or able to put in a claim.