The Yankees Place Six Players on Outright Waivers
In a surprising move, the New York Yankees have placed six players on outright waivers, according to a report by Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The players include starter Domingo Germán, relievers Ryan Weber, Jimmy Cordero, and Matt Bowman, as well as outfielders Franchy Cordero and Billy McKinney. If unclaimed, all six players will become free agents due to their requisite service time.
Domingo Germán: A Notable Departure
Among the group, Domingo Germán stands out as the most notable player. The right-handed pitcher has spent parts of six seasons with the Yankees, accumulating a 4.41 ERA across 522 1/3 innings. This year, Germán pitched 108 2/3 frames, marking the second-highest workload of his career. However, he struggled, allowing 4.56 earned runs per nine innings.
Germán’s season had its ups and downs. On June 28, he achieved a remarkable feat by throwing the first perfect game in over a decade in Oakland. However, he also had several appearances where he allowed four or more runs. Unfortunately, Germán’s season came to an early end in August when the Yankees placed him on the restricted list for in-patient treatment for alcohol abuse. This decision followed an incident in the New York clubhouse, where Germán had entered intoxicated.
With Germán eligible for arbitration this offseason, it was expected that the Yankees would not tender him a contract. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected a $4.4 million salary for Germán if he were to be offered a contract. Turning 31 in August, Germán’s future in the MLB remains uncertain.
Other Departing Players
Jimmy Cordero, another player placed on waivers, had a solid performance with a 3.86 ERA over 32 2/3 innings. However, his season was cut short when Major League Baseball suspended him for violating the domestic violence policy, resulting in him being ineligible for the remainder of the 2023 season.
The remaining players, Ryan Weber, Billy McKinney, Franchy Cordero, and Matt Bowman, are considered back-of-the-roster depth types. Weber pitched 14 1/3 innings, allowing five runs over eight appearances. McKinney, who signed a minor league deal in the offseason, had a batting average of .227 with an on-base percentage of .320 and a slugging percentage of .406 in 147 plate appearances. Franchy Cordero, who signed a big league deal late in Spring Training, posted a line of .188/.211/.478 with six home runs and a 35.2% strikeout rate in 24 contests. Bowman, making his first MLB appearance since 2019, recorded a 3.99 ERA in 58 2/3 innings at Triple-A.
The Yankees’ decision to place these players on waivers indicates a potential shift in their roster strategy. As the offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see how the team addresses these departures and fills the gaps in their lineup.