The Yankees are going to claim outfielder Yanquiel Fernández off waivers from the Rockies, reports Francys Romero of BeisbolFR. Colorado designated him for assignment a week ago. The Yanks haven’t yet officially announced this claim. When they do, they will need to make a corresponding move to open a 40-man spot.
Fernández, 23, was one of the top prospects in the Rockies’ system as of a few years ago. An international signing out of Cuba, Fernández boosted his stock with a strong 2023 season. He hit 25 home runs across three different levels, topping out at Double-A. Going into 2024, the Rockies added him to their 40-man roster to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. Baseball America ranked him the #3 prospect in the organization and #92 in the whole league.
His stock has dipped since then. He has taken 147 big league plate appearances with a .225/.265/.348 line and 29.9% strikeout rate. In 409 Triple-A plate appearances, his .259/.320/.437 line looks decent at first glance but actually translates to a 77 wRC+ in the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League. The declining offense is significant for Fernández. He doesn’t steal a ton of bases and is a corner outfielder. He has a strong arm but isn’t considered an especially strong defender. His best path to providing value is crushing the ball.
The Rockies just overhauled their front office, moving on from general manager Bill Schmidt in the fall. It seems the new regime, led by president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, wasn’t bullish on his chances of getting back on track. Fernández has a minor league option remaining and could have been kept in Triple-A as depth but the Rockies bumped him off the roster as they made buy-low pickups of slightly more experienced players like Jake McCarthy and Edouard Julien.
The Yankees have a fairly crowded outfield at the moment. They project to have Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger getting regular playing time on the grass with Giancarlo Stanton in the designated hitter spot. They also have Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones in the mix and have been sniffing around the market for righty platoon guys like Randal Grichuk and Austin Slater. Guys like Marco Luciano and Seth Brown are around as non-roster depth.
That picture could change over time. There are some injury concerns in there, particularly with Stanton. There has been some trade speculation surrounding Domínguez and Jones. For now, Fernández figures to be way down the depth chart. The Yankees might try to pass him through waivers at some point in the future. If he hangs onto his roster spot, he figures to get regular playing time in Triple-A.
Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images
The Yanqui way!
Apropos
But…why?
Because the Yankees only have Spencer Jones, Kennedy Corona, Duke Ellis, and Seth Brown in AAA
Isn’t Seth Brown a former power-hitting outfielder/firstbaseman for the Oakland Athletics a few years ago or is this a clone?!
Asking for a friend
Just what they needed another left hand hitting outfielder!!
Please please trade Domínguez off this team Boone is a disaster.
What does trading Dominguez have to do with Boone?
Boone has never liked the kid and never given him enough of an opportunity the kid is very talented if he is given the opportunity and Boone only wants veterans.
The Yankees were in a division race last year, and Dominguez was only about a league average hitter with a below average glove. Dominguez may be young and have potential, but those can’t be the only reasons to play him if you have better players and are in a close playoff race.
I get that part for sure you seen what the kid has in him before he blew out his arm when he came up…….my point is either give him the opportunity to play or trade him so we can get something in return now while he has good value and by using him as a pinch hitter this year where if he stays here that’s all he’s gonna be unless injury happens.
The odd thing is is he’s still gaining experience here. I don’t really see a reason to trade him. Chances are good that he gets a slot next season as long as he hits when he plays this season.
@KMFN Jasson wasn’t better than Bellinger, Grisham and obviously Judge last season. He’s the 4th OF right now. Not Boone’s fault.
I thought it was weird the Rockies cut him, but it’s weirder that 26 teams passed on him.
The never ever player changes on the 40 man roster. This is the day of the Yankees lives.
Corner outfielders with no speed and weak defense (although Yanq does have one of the best arms in baseball) are just a dime a dozen. They have very little value, just one step up from 1B-only guys. They have to CRUSH the ball to be interesting even as a claim, and he hasn’t crushed lately. He’s also one of those dudes who may eat his way out of baseball.
double_spider_man.gif
I also thought Cashman wanted to get another RH player. Andujar begging for another chance
This won’t block it.
Colorado Yankees
Is it just me, or do the Rockies jerseys pictured look like rec league softball jerseys?
Yanks replacing one waiver claim with the next one that is slightly better. If they get lucky they can get to keep the former if they clear waivers. All these players have talent with some of them being pretty high draft picks.
They will need someone to take the place of Jones in the minor leagues when Jones is up in the Majors hitting 45 home runs this year
That would be nice but I’m not betting on it. 150 K’s in 80 games more likely if he’s called up
NYY AAA has no players right now. NYY keeps trying to claim players so they can pass them through waivers and into AAA. They did it with Luciano but failed with Siani and Ort. Wouldnt surprise me if we see “NYY DFA Yanquiel” in a few days.
They don’t need to DFA Fernandez, he has an option.
Tigers Fans….. we lost another great Tiger today. The great Mickey Lolich. He was number one in strikeouts for lefties (until Carlton, Sabathia, Johnson, and Kershaw). Almost 3,000 Ks, over 200 wins.. WS champ, WS MVP and an all star. RIP great Tiger
Yanquee go home!
would have liked him in Cincy instead of Benson.