The Yankees have signed veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to a minor league deal, as reported by Jack Curry from The Yes Network. Grichuk will join the team as a non-roster invitee for Spring Training.
Recently, Joel Sherman from The New York Post highlighted that the Yankees are searching for a right-handed hitter to strengthen their lineup. Grichuk fits this role well without the pressure of a guaranteed roster spot. He will have the chance to make his case during Spring Training, potentially taking some at-bats from Trent Grisham against left-handed pitchers. With Cody Bellinger performing well against lefties, Grichuk would likely slot into a corner outfield position opposite Aaron Judge.
Last season was tough for Grichuk. He posted a .228 batting average with a .401 slugging percentage. His performance dipped after a mid-season trade from the Diamondbacks to the Royals. However, looking back at the previous three years, he excelled against left-handed pitchers, boasting a .317 batting average and a .573 slugging percentage during that time. This included 25 home runs and 34 doubles. Despite his struggles last season, if he can return to form, he would be a valuable asset off the bench.
Experts suggest that Spring Training will be crucial for Grichuk. His strikeout rate notably increased last season, which complicates his return to the stronger performance seen in prior years. The Yankees will face a decision on whether to keep him on the bench, as their roster is leaning heavily right-handed.
In a related note, it looks like Jasson Domínguez will start the season in Triple-A unless several injuries occur in Spring Training. If Grichuk makes the final team, it will further stack the bench with right-handed hitters. This could leave backup catcher J.C. Escarra as one of the few lefty options, alongside established players like Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario.
One important factor in Grichuk’s contract is his status as an Article XX(b) free agent. This means that if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, he has the option to return to the free-agent market, with designated opt-out dates.
Keeping an eye on Grichuk could prove interesting as the season unfolds. The Yankees will hope to leverage his past successes while managing the uncertainty of his recent performance. For more on players’ performance stats, you can visit Baseball Reference.
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