The Yankees are showing the importance of minor league deals

Every offseason, there are huge moves that grab headlines and have the upside to transform franchises. Top free agents garner nine-figure deals, while other high-quality players are traded for top prospects. There are also transactions that might fly under the radar but still go on to play an important role in the future, such as waiver claims and minor league deals.

The Yankees are illustrating the importance of those minor league contracts this season, as various injuries have forced them to turn to players who weren’t on the Opening Day roster. Let’s highlight some players who had to settle for non-roster pacts, but have gone on to earn meaningful playing time for the Yanks in 2023.

December 16, 2021 – right-hander Jimmy Cordero

December 14, 2022 – first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers

December 23, 2022 – right-handers Ryan Weber and Nick Ramirez

December 31, 2022 – outfielder Willie Calhoun

December 31, 2022 – outfielder Billy McKinney

February 5, 2023 – right-hander Ian Hamilton

The Yankees have dealt with a number of significant injuries this year. Aaron Judge went on the injured list in early May due to a hip strain and is currently on the IL again thanks to a toe sprain. Harrison Bader began the season on the IL due to an oblique strain. Though he eventually returned to action, he is now back on the IL a second time because of a hamstring strain. Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson are with the club as of this posting, but have missed significant time with their own ailments. In addition to those injuries, the team has also dealt with the struggles of Aaron Hicks, which eventually led to his release. All of that has created opportunities for other players, with each of Calhoun, Bauers and McKinney getting roster spots.

Calhoun had previously received chances from the Rangers and Giants, but struggled with both clubs. He had a career batting line of .240/.299/.404 as of this winter, for a wRC+ of 84. But he also had always hit well in the minors and was a former top-100 prospect. He has now been given a roster spot with the Yankees and has received 140 plate appearances for the season. He’s walked in 9.3 percent of his plate appearances while striking out at just a 12.1 percent clip, launching five home runs in the process. His .238/.307/.413 batting line amounts to a 98 wRC+, indicating he’s been just barely below league average. For an emergency fill-in guy, that’s not half bad. And he might even post better results if his .238 batting average on balls in play ticks up closer to the .297 league average.

Bauers was in a fairly similar situation, having once been a top-100 guy who struggled in auditions with Tampa, Cleveland and Seattle. He hit .213/.307/.348 in the majors prior to this season, leading to an 82 wRC+. But in 104 plate appearances as a Yankee this year, he’s hitting .222/.308/.456 for a wRC+ of 109. He’s striking out in 32.7 percent of his trips to the plate but is also walking at an 11.5 percent clip.

Like those two, McKinney had been on top-100 lists in the past. He had put in previous action with the Yankees, Blue Jays, Brewers, Mets, Dodgers and Athletics, but had hit .206/.277/.387 for a wRC+ of 77 in the bigs by the end of 2022. He was called up recently and has only appeared in seven games so far this year, but has put up a huge .320/.320/.640 showing in that small sample. His ability to play center field is huge for the club given that each of Bader, Judge and Greg Allen are on the injured list.

The bullpen is another area where the Yanks have dealt with significant challenges. Scott Effross seemed to be emerging as a key piece for them last season, but required Tommy John surgery in October, effectively ruling him out for 2023. Jonathan Loáisiga made just three appearances before requiring surgery for a bone spur, with his return still several months away. Lou Trivino began the year on the injured list and ultimately required Tommy John surgery in May, which will prevent him from contributing anything this year. Tommy Kahnle was supposed to play a meaningful role after signing a two-year, $11.5M deal in the offseason, but he found himself on the IL for the first two months of the schedule.

Those injuries have opened the door for the minor league signees listed above. Cordero was signed way back in the 2021-2022 offseason, but the Yankees selected his contract at the end of last year to prevent him from becoming a free agent. He has tossed 27 2/3 innings with a 28.2 percent strikeout rate, 8.2 percent walk rate and 55.9 perccent ground ball rate. While Cordero has a solid 3.58 ERA, he probably deserves even better, as he has a 66.4 percent strand rate, leading to a 2.70 FIP and 3.07 SIERA. Ramirez has a 1.64 ERA in a smaller sample of 11 innings. Hamilton is currently on the IL but has a 1.23 ERA in 22 innings thus far on the season. Weber’s season is now in jeopardy as Tommy John surgery might be required, but he posted a 3.14 ERA in 14 1/3 innings before landing on the 60-day IL.

None of these players are going to be voted the Most Valuable Player or the Cy Young winner, but they have nonetheless shown the importance of depth. The Yankees have been without key players like Judge and Bader, while others have been slumping badly, but the team hasn't been buried in the standings. They are currently 39-30 and holding onto a playoff spot. Despite having one of the highest payrolls in the league with plenty of high-paid stars on the roster, they have had a few games recently where their entire outfield consisted of players who they had signed to minor league deals.

Thanks to the contributions of these various players, the Yankees are hanging in the race – with the all-important trade deadline just over the horizon. There’s an old saying that there’s no such thing as a bad minor league deal and these pacts are looking quite good for the Yanks right now.