With the Yankees looking for some additional right-handed hitting outfield depth, the club reached an agreement with veteran Chris Denorfia on a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.
Chris Denorfia will be in camp with the #Yankees, Cashman said they needed some experienced RH OF depth. Has an March out in his contract.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 2, 2016
With an current major league outfield that has a huge left-handed hitting presence, General Manager Brian Cashman was looking to add an experienced right-handed presence into the mix, as the team looks to explore every possible option this spring.
After a rough 2014 campaign with the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners, Denorfia bounced back in 2015 as a member of the Chicago Cubs. In 103 games, Denorfia posted a slash line of .269/.319/.373, seeing most of his playing time as a fourth outfielder for the club.
The signing of Denorfia makes sense for the Yankees. The 35-year-old’s versatility could be valuable, as he has the ability to play all three outfield positions. He has also been very good against southpaws during his 10-year career, posting a slash line of .285/.353/.419 against them.
Although he’s in the mix to make the team’s big league roster out of Spring Training camp, there’s also a possibility that Denorfia’s tenure with the organization doesn’t last very long. Included in his deal is an opt-opt clause in March, presumably towards the end of Spring Training, so if the 35-year-old doesn’t make the big league team, it’s possible he opts out of the deal to explore major league opportunities with other clubs.
As a good defensive corner outfielder, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denorfia find his way back onto a big league roster. However, with the logjam of outfielders that the Yankees have on their roster, it might be hard for him to crack their Opening Day roster, but if the team suffers some injuries during Spring Training, it’s possible that Denorfia could find some playing time in the Bronx this season.
