Yankees sign former failed Red Sox outfielder from Andrew Benintendi trade

At the buzzer! The New York Yankees have made a roster move just 24 hours prior to Opening Day, but it's not the trade fans might've been hoping for. It's not the promotion of another top prospect, either.

On Wednesday, the Yankees signed outfielder Franchy Cordero, formerly of the Boston Red Sox, to a major league contract. Cordero was part of the return in Boston's dealing of Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals back in 2021, but the 28-year-old never panned out, no matter how many insufferable Red Sox fans promised you he would.

Across 132 games over the last two years, Cordero hit .209 with a .629 OPS and 72 OPS+ in Boston as the Sox tried to make him a first baseman despite the fact he never even played the position during his minor-league career.

Per Jeff Passan, Cordero is expected to be on the Yankees' Opening Day roster and his split deal will pay him $1 million at the MLB level and $180K in the minors.

So who might this affect as the Yankees prepare for their matchup against the Giants on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET?

Outfielder Franchy Cordero and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a major league contract, sources tell ESPN. It’s a split deal that will pay $1 million in the big leagues and $180,000 in the minors. Barring another move, Cordero would be on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 29, 2023

Yankees sign former Red Sox outfielder Franchy Cordero

The Yankees optioned Willie Calhoun to Triple-A, released Rafael Ortega, and will seemingly part with Estevan Florial based on this decision. Cordero, however, really feels like more of the same since his defense isn't even that great and his bat has only displayed few flashes of power and potential.

Then again, he dominated with the Orioles during Spring Training this time around. He hit .413 with a 1.100 OPS, two homers and nine RBI (though he didn't draw a walk). It was a similar story last year, however, when he hit .478 with a 1.152 OPS in 13 spring games with the Sox.

Cordero, 28, was released by the Orioles this week after crushing in spring training. He hit .413/.426/.674 with seven extra-base hits in 47 plate appearances. In a career-high 275 plate appearances with the Red Sox last year, Cordero hit .219/.300/.397 with eight home runs.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 29, 2023

The only true positive of this deal? It shows how badly the Red Sox lost yet another trade. When they sent Benintendi to KC, they got Cordero and Josh Winckowski in return. Cordero, like many other trade acquisitions that were supposed to turn the Sox around, is no longer with the team. Winckowski's career highlight to this day is getting savaged for unreasonably talking trash on Wrigley Field after an outing against the Cubs. And how 'bout that Mookie Betts trade? Amirite?

We'll pick up Boston's leftovers if it reminds everybody else of their failures, which deserve the brightest spotlight imaginable.