New York Yankees and OF Willie Calhoun reached an agreement In an off-roster deal, according to Mark Feinsand. Feinsand added that Calhoun will join his camp in the Yankees’ big leagues.
Some fans may miss this deal. Willie Calhoun, however, is a once-highly-regarded prospect with impressive potential. Unfortunately, injuries have hampered his overall production in recent years. 848 OPS as he hit 21 home runs with the Texas Rangers in 2019.
The Yankees are enjoying a solid offseason. But they’re still trying to fill out the roster. With Andrew Benintendi stepping down, Willie Calhoun will be the option to take over as left fielder.
The Yankees’ outfielders are currently slated to have Aaron Judge in right field and Harrison Bader in center field. Giancarlo Stanton can play left field. But New York seems to prefer to let him stay in his DH.
Even if Willie Calhoun didn’t win the left field job, he could still make the Yankees’ big league roster. Calhoun could be his fourth outfielder/pinch hitter in New York in 2023.
Ultimately, this is not a move that will sway the Yankees’ World Series chances. But small moves like this feature can pay off in the long run. Many overlooked signing Matt Carpenter for 2022, and it certainly paid off.
Perhaps Will Calhoun could have a similar impact on the Yankees this season.