A multi-time 30 home run hitter and previous top prospect, the New York Yankees are taking a chance on this player.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees and Rougned Odor reached a minor-league agreement on Friday. After July 1st, Odor will have the option to return to free agency.
The 30-year-old Odor played for the San Diego Padres in 2023. He slashed through his first and only year in San Diego.203/.299/.355 with 18 runs batted in and four home homers.
In July, the Padres assigned Odor to a position.
Odor had not yet secured a place for 2024 when he was given a chance by the Yankees on Friday.
In 2011, Odor signed a contract as an international free agent with the Texas Rangers. After making his way through the minor league ranks, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the Rangers’ No. 2 prospect in 2014.
After making his Major League debut with Texas in 2014, when he played in 114 games, Odor hit.259 with an OPS of.698. Then, in 120 games, he hit.261 with a.781 OPS in 2015, an even better year.
Odor had a breakout year in 2016, hitting.271/.296/.502 in 150 games with 33 home runs, 88 RBIs, 33 doubles, and 14 stolen bases. In addition to hitting a career-high 93 runs batted in in 2019, he also enjoyed another 30 home run season in 2017.
Odor was designated for assignment just before the Rangers’ Opening Day roster in 2021. However, he was traded to the Yankees for outfielders Josh Stowers and Antonio Cabello prior to going on waivers.
In 2021, Odor had 102 appearances for the Yankees, batting.202 with 15 home runs and a.665 OPS. In November, New York DFA’d him.
Odor played for the Baltimore Orioles during the 2022 season before moving to San Diego the previous year.
He inked a one-year deal with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yomiuri Giants in January of this year. But after quitting the team three days prior to Opening Day, he was let go. Over 12 games, he batted.176.
Odor will now have another chance to play in Major League Baseball and with the Yankees. Throughout his ten-year MLB career, the veteran has primarily played second base, though he has also played first base, third base, and outfield.
Gleyber Torres is the Yankees’ regular second baseman right now, and Jon Berti was just signed to provide depth throughout the infield. Odor hopes to make an impression in the minor levels and be called up at some time during the season.
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