3 minor-league signings Yankees should’ve made during MLB Lockout

The New York Yankees didn’t really have the opportunity in December, January, or February to improve their big-league roster in any discernible way beyond lobbing minor-league contracts at wild card options.

Though they took advantage of that market in some capacity, there were a few opportunities where they could’ve gone further to secure bonafide talent at the cheapest possible price.

Before we dive into three options the Yankees could’ve chosen to shore up some problem areas, it’s worth reassessing who they did sign and send to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

New York’s most important and memorable addition was bringing former Braves Gold Glover Ender Inciarte into the fold, putting immediate pressure on a now-healthy Aaron Hicks to hold onto his center field reps. Again, Inciarte isn’t the high-profile addition most fans were eyeballing, but he’s a recognizable name who’s recently played the position at a high level.

Beyond Inciarte, prognosticators have their eyes on reliever Jimmy Cordero, who’s attempting to bounce back from Tommy John surgery after showing eye-popping peripherals with the Chicago White Sox (before a backslide). Additionally, former top prospect infielder Jose Peraza should get a chance to make an impression in Spring Training (though he’s behind Oswaldo Cabrera on the theoretical depth chart), and catcher Rob Brantly, who made a few MLB appearances in 2021, has also been brought back for depth purposes.

So has catcher David Frietas, an option we’re less familiar with behind the plate.

Something has gone very haywire if anyone’s season is either made or broken with an offseason minor-league contract lob, but typically a contributor or two can be secured during this process. The importance was magnified this offseason, too, considering it was the only game in town for so long.

The Yankees didn’t strike out, and Cordero and Inciarte will likely both play a role in 2022. These three pieces would’ve also been worth the minuscule investment, though.

3 players Yankees should’ve signed to minor-league contracts

3. Yairo Muñoz

Call it a personal prospect crush or what have you, but Yairo Muñoz, a versatile infielder with sneaky pop who starred for the Cardinals before dominating for the Triple-A Red Sox, could easily be a valuable big-league contributor next season.

If so, he’ll be doing it for the Philadelphia Phillies; they made the addition back on Feb. 12, signing Muñoz ex-Worcester teammate Josh Ockimey as well.

Muñoz emerged for the 2018 Cardinals at the age of 23, triple-slashing .276/.350/.413 with a 108 OPS+. His defense left something to be desired and occasionally looked like a spooked freshman, but that seemed like plenty to build off of.

Unfortunately, that building hasn’t occurred at the MLB level. Muñoz was squeezed out of St. Louis’ crowded infield picture after 2019, and despite an impressive empty-season 2020 (.333 average in 12 games), he was instructed to do his bidding at Triple-A in 2021.

It, uh, went well.

Muñoz set records with his 35-game midsummer hitting streak, topping Dom DiMaggio’s record for the Red Sox organization. Overall, he slashed .308/.341/.444 with eight more homers, and will serve as valuable upper-level versatility for a Phillies system that needs bodies.

The Yankees could’ve also used the same Triple-A depth, especially after cutting Tyler Wade and Andrew Velazquez loose.

1. David Phelps

Former Yankee swingman David Phelps’ free agency went so quickly it almost seemed like he and the Toronto Blue Jays already had an agreement on a minor-league pact before anything could really develop.

Phelps allowed just a single earned run in 11 appearances in 2021, but was lost for the season in May … only to find himself a Jay once again when the campaign wrapped, earning a minor-league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. When he arrives in Florida, he’ll have a very good chance to break camp with the big-league roster (seemingly) as long as everything looks right.

Again, it feels like something was clearly winked at and promised there. But regardless, a Yankees reunion with Phelps would’ve been a wise move for the Bombers and an upgrade on Peacock.

Phelps was a valuable young innings eater during his Yankee days back in 2012-2014, eventually topping 113 innings with a 4.38 ERA in 32 games (17 starts) in ’14 before he was dealt to the Miami Marlins in the … Nathan Eovaldi trade. What a throwback.

Phelps transitioned to a full-time relief role in 2017 and has only made two “starts” since.

Is he a “sure thing”? Of course not! For as strong as he looked in 2021, he looked equally weak the previous year, logging 7.2 innings in empty ballparks with the Philadelphia Phillies while sporting an unsightly 12.91. He began the campaign with the Brew Crew (2.77 ERA!) and ended it catching Phillies Bullpen Brain Disease.

That uncertainty, combined with his injury status, equated to a minor-league deal for a certified major leaguer. Shame the Yankees weren’t involved.

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