Guardians DFA former Yankees top prospect who made sure to own them on the way out

Somehow, the New York Yankees went from having next to no outfield to ... having the best outfield of all time? Pretty good times. But you simply must wonder why they couldn't employ a left fielder — or even a semblance of one — following Brett Gardner's departure.

One of their potential options was former top prospect Estevan Florial, who turned out to be nothing more than a Triple-A legend. It seems the Cleveland Guardians found that out after employing him for a few months, too.

Florial, who ended up in Cleveland when the Yankees shipped him off in exchange for pitcher Cody Morris, was just designated for assignment by the Guards because of his inability to produce on the offensive side of the ball.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are utilizing Morris meaningfully after the injury to Clarke Schmidt, as the pitching staff depth has taken yet another hit. Morris could be a steal, too, if we're to believe Baseball America.

Whatever the case, Florial is now exposed to waivers after batting just .173 with a .631 OPS, 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 11 RBI in 36 games (111 plate appearances). Sound familiar, Yankees fans?

Yankees News: Former top prospect Estevan Florial designated for assignment by Guardians

But don't forget, Florial got his "revenge" on the Yankees earlier this year before being kicked to the curb. Oh, you mean you don't recall the three game series in mid-April when Florial hit TWO OF HIS THREE home runs against the Yankees, one of which was a crucial pinch-hit bomb that helped the Guaridans to an extra-innings victory? It never gets old, does it?

We're moving on, though. The Yankees' current outfield is Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo — the latter of whom has emphatically displayed how misguided the front office was in recent years for not securing a fully capable left fielder from 2022-2023.

Florial mostly handled center field duties for the Yankees and was honestly a breath of fresh air defensively, but his bat out there coupled with whatever motley crew of guys they had in left and right (when Judge was injured) couldn't have been further from the solution.

It's yet another story of the Yankees spending far too long to see what they have in a slowly expiring talent, and now the 26-year-old will be looking for his third new team after just a few months.