Yankees Bolster Infield with Amed Rosario
The New York Yankees have finalized the acquisition of versatile player Amed Rosario, coming from the Washington Nationals, in exchange for two minor league prospects. The announcement was made on Saturday night, providing the team with a right-handed hitter they had been looking for before the July 31st trade deadline.
Rosario, who was a highly-regarded prospect with the New York Mets, has a batting average of .270 with five home runs and an OPS of .736 this season. His performance against left-handed pitchers stands out, where he bats .299 with an OPS of .816. The Yankees are expected to use him primarily against these pitchers.
In defense, Rosario offers manager Aaron Boone a versatile piece. So far this season, he has participated in 20 games at third base and 13 at second base. Throughout his nine-year career, he has also played in every outfield position and at shortstop.
This move comes one day after the Yankees completed a trade with the Colorado Rockies for veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon. Unlike McMahon, who is under contract for the next two seasons worth $32 million, Rosario will become a free agent at the end of this season. The Yankees will assume the remaining payment of the one-year, $2 million contract that Rosario signed with Washington in January.
The Yankees were close to signing Rosario before last season, but he opted to sign a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. Subsequently, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of July and finished the season with the Cincinnati Reds after being claimed on waivers. This is the third consecutive year that Rosario has been traded near the trade deadline. The Yankees will be his sixth team since the end of the 2023 season.
The transfer of Rosario cost the Yankees right-handed pitcher Clayton Beeter, a 26-year-old player who plays in Triple-A and has made five appearances as a reliever in the Major Leagues, and Browm Martinez, an 18-year-old outfielder who plays in the Dominican Summer League.
The Yankees acquired Beeter, a second-round pick in 2020, from the Dodgers in exchange for Joey Gallo in 2022. Beeter debuted in the Major Leagues last season and allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings in two relief appearances this season.
Martinez is batting .404 with an OPS of 1.139 in 18 games this season, his second in the Dominican Summer League. He signed with the Yankees for $130,000 last year.
