
Mark Feinsand from MLB.com reports that the New York Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract with veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk. He is expected to join spring training as a non-roster invitee, with the team not having formally announced the deal yet.
At 34 years old, Grichuk has compiled a career slash line of .251/.298/.465 with 212 home runs across 12 MLB seasons. Last year, he played 113 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals, posting a 0.674 OPS and hitting 9 home runs.
Given the Yankees' abundance of left-handed hitters, right-handed batter Grichuk offers roster versatility. Throughout his career, he has primarily served as a platoon player against left-handed pitching, boasting an impressive 0.819 OPS versus lefties compared to 0.733 against righties.
Among Yankees outfielders, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger have performed well against left-handed pitchers, but Grichuk could serve as a backup for Trent Grisham against tough lefties. Last season, Grisham posted only a 0.651 OPS in 155 plate appearances versus lefties, while his OPS against right-handers was much higher at 0.870.
Another potential outfield candidate, Jasson Domínguez, may begin the new season in the minors, which could open a spot for Grichuk on the Opening Day roster.