Days after Brian Cashman said it was a “problem” that the Yankees’ lineup is full of lefties, a right-handed hitter is returning to the Bronx.
That would be Amed Rosario. The utilityman and the Bombers are in agreement on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, a source confirmed to the Daily News. The pact includes another $250,000 in incentives.
The YES Network’s Jack Curry first reported that the Yankees were re-signing Rosario.
It’s no surprise to see Rosario back with the Yankees, as they had tried to land him on a few occasions before successfully doing so ahead of the trade deadline this past summer. Acquired in a trade that sent right-hander Clayton Beeter and outfielder Browm Martinez to the Nationals, Rosario only played in 16 games for the Bombers. However, the ex-Met hit .303 with a .788 OPS, one home run and five RBI while working around a left SC joint sprain.
More importantly, Rosario finished the season with a 125 wRC+ and an .819 OPS against left-handed pitchers. That made the 30-year-old a viable platoon option for the lefty-swinging, strikeout-heavy and defensively stellar Ryan McMahon at third.
“I definitely want to give Aaron Boone some legitimate choices so he can match up when we’re facing a left-handed starter, because obviously we’re so left-handed that it’s a vulnerability right now,” Cashman said at the Winter Meetings earlier this week. “There’s not a lot of right-handed bats in the game that are accessible.”
While not the best defender — the former shortstop can also play second and the outfield — Rosario also found ways to contribute when he wasn’t in the game. The veteran brought good vibes to the end of the Yankees’ dugout — dubbed the “Hot Corner” by the club’s Latino players — and served as a mentor to Jasson Domínguez.
“It’s a game of failure, and sometimes you don’t know what a teammate can be going through,” Rosario said in September. “If I can just provide some energy, some cheering, some laughs, and help bring out the best in them by creating a light and enjoyable atmosphere, I sure wanna do that.”
With Rosario back, the Yankees could still look for right-handed bats, as Cashman repeatedly discussed the possibility of “challenge trades” — big league talent for big league talent — at the Winter Meetings. The Yankees’ current projected everyday lineup would have five starters who swing from the left side: catcher Austin Wells, first baseman Ben Rice, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., third baseman McMahon and center fielder Trent Grisham. That number would increase if the Yankees re-sign Cody Bellinger, which remains a goal, though the outfielder hits southpaws well.
If the Yankees don’t retain Bellinger, youngsters Spencer Jones, a lefty, and Domínguez, a switch-hitter who is superior from the left side, have a better chance of playing a major role in the outfield next season.
