According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees have signed veteran outfielder Shane Robinson to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. The deal is worth $950,000 if Robinson makes the Major League roster. If Robinson isn’t on the Major League roster by June 15, Robinson can request his release.
The #Yankees sign veteran outfielder Shane Robinson to minor league deal worth $950,000 if he reaches big leagues with spring training invite.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 8, 2018
In Shane Robinson’s minor league deal with #Yankees, paying him $950,000 in the big leagues, he can request his release if not on the major league roster by June 15
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 8, 2018
Robinson recently played 20 games with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017, hitting .194/.257/.194 with no homers, a RBI, and a 26 OPS+. Robinson also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins.
The signing is baffling at best since the Yankees have Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, Clint Frazier, and Jacoby Ellsbury as Major League outfield options. Unless a combination of Judge, Gardner, Hicks, Stanton, Frazier and Ellsbury are hurt over the course of the Spring, Robinson is unlikely to see any playing time in the Bronx. Still, as we’ve learned in the past, we shouldn’t doubt the genius of Brian Cashman. This could either be a regular depth signing or Cashman might have something bigger up his sleeve.
With the signing of Robinson, the Yankees will have 21 non-roster invitees in big league camp on Tuesday.
