Yankees Sign Pete Kozma to Minor League Deal

On Friday afternoon a number of sources reported that the New York Yankees reached a minor league agreement with infield utility man Pete Kozma.

Kozma, 27, was initially drafted 18th overall in the first round of the 2007 MLB Entry Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma. He made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2011 and has since served as a utility man off the bench, posting a career slash line of .222/.288/.293 in 274 games played.

Kozma made a majority of his starts off the bench at shortstop, but has seen a fair share of action at both second and third base.

He is essentially a Brendan Ryan 2.0, but a version they can stash down in the minors with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre just in case the Yankees need to bring up an emergency infielder. Though he exceeded rookie limits during the 2013 season, Kozma isn’t arbitration eligible until 2017 and he isn’t set to be a free agent until 2020.

Good move Cashman.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Should Yankees toss short-term extension at Harrison Bader before 2023?
• Yankees chose worst possible player to ring in New Year on 2023 team calendar
• Yankees State of the Farm System Review: Josh Breaux
• Yankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielder
• MLB insider claims favorite emerging in Bryan Reynolds rumors (not Yankees)