The New York Yankees hired Free Agent Neil Walker. However, the Second Baseman is not only to be used on its traditional position.
Walker, who had most recently played for the Milwaukee Brewers and had to wait a long time for a contract in this off-season, finally signed for a year and four million dollars in the Bronx.
“This is a really talented group,”Walker said after arriving at the Yankees’ training camp in Tampa, Florida:”That’s one thing that makes you happy as a player, the chance to reach the playoffs and the World Series. You look around here and see maybe the best group there is in this league. I’m excited to be part of this whole process.”
General Manager Brian Cashman indicated that the 32-year-old was scheduled as First, Second and Third Baseman. As early as 2017, Walker held these positions in the service of the Brewers.
Cashman also indicated that Walker’s role as a starter was not guaranteed due to his late arrival at the camp:”If he overtakes someone else over the course of time, okay, but he starts late, considering that we’re leaving Tampa in about two weeks,”Cashman explained the situation.”We’re excited to have him. It was certainly not part of our plan, but it was something we couldn’t ignore when the chance was still there. I’m glad he chose us.”
Walker has been with the MLB for nine years and began his career in 2009 at Pittsburgh Pirates, where he was active until 2015. Afterwards we went to the Mets, who traded him to Milwaukee in 2017. In the previous year he came to 14 home runs and 49 RBI (111 OPS+) in 111 games.
To make room in the squad, outfielder Jake Cave became “designated for assignment”, which means the Yankees have ten days to trade, send him to the Minors or dismiss him. Considering the fact that Cave would have played in the Minors anyway, it is likely to end up as an outright assignment – so he would stay in the organization, but wouldn’t count as a 40-player squad.
This article was published without prior view by the Major League Baseball.