The New York Yankees have struck a minor league agreement with veteran infielder Rougned Odor, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Under the terms of the deal, Odor, represented by BHSC, holds the option to opt out on July 1 if he hasn’t been promoted to the roster by then. Odor recently ended a stint with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, following his release announced just a few days ago.
This marks Odor’s second tenure with the Yankees. The now-30-year-old infielder spent the 2021 season with the team, posting a .202/.286/.379 batting line with 15 home runs in 361 plate appearances. After his initial run with the Yankees, Odor has had spells with the Orioles and Padres. It’s likely that he’ll head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, aiming to earn his way back to the major leagues.
While Odor boasts three 30-homer seasons, his offensive production has significantly declined since his earlier years with the Rangers. From 2015 to 2019, he managed a .238/.295/.445 slash line, showcasing above-average power but with a tendency for strikeouts and low on-base percentages. However, since the 2020 season, Odor’s performance has dwindled, with a batting line of just .199/.274/.371 over 1138 plate appearances. His walk rate has slightly improved, but his strikeout rate remains high, and his baserunning and defensive abilities have declined. Although he still demonstrates power against right-handed pitchers, his numbers against lefties render him less effective.
The Yankees are currently dealing with infield injuries, with DJ LeMahieu out for an extended period due to a foot fracture and Oswald Peraza sidelined with a shoulder strain. The recent acquisition of utilityman Jon Berti has provided some relief, but another injury would leave the team thin on infield options. With experienced utility infielder Josh VanMeter and other prospects in Triple-A lacking big league success, Odor’s addition provides valuable depth despite his recent struggles.