The Yankees introduced Wednesday that they’ve claimed infielder/outfielder Jahmai Jones off waivers from the Brewers, who’d not too long ago designated him for project. Fellow infielder Jordan Groshans has been designated for project with a view to clear house on the 40-man roster.
A second-round decide by the Angels again in 2015, Jones is a former top-100 prospect who’s struggled in a trio of temporary appears to be like on the MLB stage between Anaheim, Baltimore and Milwaukee. He’s taken simply 90 turns on the plate within the massive leagues and produced a .179/.233/.226 line with a dismal 36.7% strikeout price.
The 26-year-old Jones is a extra achieved minor league hitter, nonetheless — as evidenced by a profession .251/.377/.436 slash. He’s posted a much more manageable 21.9% strikeout price at that stage whereas additionally strolling in an enormous 15.4% of his 857 plate appearances. Jones has related on 25 homers, swiped 25 luggage and added 42 doubles and 7 triples throughout his time in Triple-A. He’s a right-handed hitter who, along with greater than 3400 profession innings at second base, has logged practically 1700 innings in middle and greater than 500 in left discipline.
Whether or not Jones sticks on the massive league roster in New York is a good query. He’s out of minor league choices, that means he can’t be despatched to Triple-A Scranton with out first passing by way of waivers. The Yanks might carry Jones on the bench om place of Oswald Peraza or Oswaldo Cabrera, opting to get both (possible Peraza) on a regular basis taking part in time within the minors with an everyday function not at present obtainable on the massive league roster. Alternatively, the Yankees may merely hope to show round and cross Jones by way of waivers themselves, which might permit them to maintain him on the Scranton roster as a depth piece who not instructions a 40-man roster spot.
That very same destiny might await the 24-year-old Groshans. Like Jones, he’s a former top-100 prospect whose inventory has dimmed lately. Groshans has simply 65 MLB plate appearances and a .262/.308/.312 slash to point out for it. His .253/.350/.322 output in 940 Triple-A plate appearances isn’t a lot better. He’s primarily performed on the left aspect of the infield, splitting time in close to even trend between shortstop and third base, however Groshans does have extra restricted expertise at second base (76 innings) and first base (396 innings) as properly.
Groshans does have a minor league possibility yr remaining, which might make him interesting to a different membership by way of waiver declare or minor commerce. The Yankees may have every week to discover a commerce accomplice or full the method of passing him by way of waivers. If he goes unclaimed, Groshans might be assigned outright to Triple-A and retained as a non-roster depth possibility. He lacks the foremost league service time and prior outright project to reject an outright from New York.