The Yankees announced Wednesday that they’ve designated outfielder Michael Siani for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster goes to newly acquired reliever Angel Chivilli, who just came over in a trade with the Rockies.
Siani, 26, was only claimed off waivers five days ago. The Yankees will now presumably hope to pass him through outright waivers and retain him as a defensive-minded depth piece in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, though no team has been able to get Siani through waivers yet this winter despite multiple attempts.
Siani has bounced around the DFA circuit frequently this offseason, going from the Cardinals, to the Braves, to the Dodgers, to the Yankees since the season ended. He’ll now be traded or placed on waivers within the next five days.
An over-slot fourth-rounder with the Reds back in 2018, Siani has spent his entire playing career in the National League Central. He very briefly debuted with Cincinnati back in 2022 but made only 25 major league plate appearances with his original organization before being claimed off waivers by St. Louis in September of 2023. He was a frequently used, defensive-minded fourth outfielder with the 2024 Cardinals when he logged a career-high 334 plate appearances.
In parts of four major league seasons, Siani owns an anemic .221/.277/.270 batting line (58 wRC+) but good grades for his defense and baserunning. He’s played 1014 major league innings in the outfield — primarily in center but with fleeting corner appearances mixed in — and been credited with overwhelmingly positive marks from Statcast’s Outs Above Average (16) and from Defensive Runs Saved (7). He’s also gone 21-for-26 in stolen base attempts, giving him a success rate of nearly 81%.
The left-handed-hitting Siani still has a minor league option remaining. He could be a pickup for any club looking to bring in a speed-and-defense option off the bench — particularly one who can freely be shuttled between Triple-A and the majors.
Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers and Yankees this offseason.. who’s next on the Siani merry go round?
Feel a little bad for guys in this position. Tough to make any plans or figure out where you may have to go work/live next year.
I don’t. He’s a professional ball player, and he made the choice to chase the dream of playing in the Major Leagues. If he ends up sticking on a team long enough to make the league minimum, it’s a choice that will pay off pretty well. There are far worse jobs to have.
derail
“I don’t”
Nearly guaranteed that people who say this are the ones who complain the most about everything at work in their own lives
I don’t. lol. I’m self employed, and have no employees. I love my job, and I love my life. I’m a surfer and the flexibility that my job offers allows me to surf in the morning before I go to work. Most days I can pull it off, some days I can’t because I’m too busy. If I quit my day job and surfed every single day, and spent two to three times as much time at the beach chasing waves than I do, there’s a slim to none chance that I could gain enough sponsors to travel the world and surf for a living.
But I’m not quitting my day job anytime soon. I’m a people person, and for Siani’s case he’s had 4 teams try and stash him, so he has a far better chance at being a Major Leaguer, than I have at being a professional surfer. He’s out training, trying to make a ball club and chasing his dreams.. that’s enviable, and I doubt that he wants or needs any empathy from me.
They have to know this time a year when they’re claimed they very likely will be cut in rapid order. Just as long as there’s a final landing spot.
And after 4 teams have tried to stash him, I think that it’s an indication that teams value his skill set, and that a final landing spot is pretty secure.
Let’s start from scratch and say Reds…
Thank you for your many hours of service.
Cold-blooded…but pretty dang funny.
Charlie Murphy!
There’s still a chance he passes through waivers and Yankees stash him in the minors.
I hope they give him a swag bag and a sack lunch to go.
Joe he didn’t even strike out a single time.
I wish teams had to pay even a small severance to designate these guys just to avoid having to read how Siani was designated for the third time.
good idea!
Ditto. As enviable as it is to be a guy chasing his dream, the frequent claims and dfa’s are tantamount to emotional abuse. As is the frequent optioning from aaa to mlb. These are human beings afterall… some teams do this so frequently its hard to stomach but until there is a rule change it will continue
So much for having him on that wall…
Clearly he didn’t stick
I guess the upside is, he keeps getting picked up after not clearing waivers? That’s positive, right?
He had a nice little stint with the Cards for a minute, but definitely looks like a 4A player. Pulling for the kid.
4A is a stretch. But a nice depth piece, for short fill in role.
I hope you’re right. Even as a 4th outfielder, he’s not having much luck sticking with a team or getting much playing time, so…
Great glove and speed, but the hit tool just hasn’t shown up enough.
If he hit from the right side he would probably still be in STL.
4A defined.
4A would suggest too good for AAA and not good enough for MLB. He’s below average offensively for AAA. Above average MLB defender.
The most disappointing thing about the article is the they change Siani’s picture.
Spider-Man Siani?
I wonder who holds the record for DFA’s in a career?
Guy is living the off-season on a rollercoaster.