MLB

Yankees have ‘potential deal’ for pitcher as Estevan Florial could be moved

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Published March 30, 2023
Updated March 30, 2023, 2:36 p.m. ET

The Yankees finally settled on their 26-man Opening Day roster — for now, anyways.

After making their signing of outfielder/first baseman Franchy Cordero official, the Yankees opened the season Thursday with a roster that included 14 position players and 12 pitchers — one arm short of how they will typically operate during the season.

But manager Aaron Boone indicated that the Yankees will add a 13th pitcher — meaning an eighth reliever — as soon as Friday’s off day, with the club having a “potential deal” for another arm.

“A pitcher could be in play for us that we add or not, but then whether or not we do [that], we’d be in a position to pull from the minor leagues too,” Boone said before the Yankees hosted the Giants in The Bronx.

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A reliever with options would provide the Yankees the most roster flexibility, with outfielder Estevan Florial — who made the roster for now — a candidate to be traded in that potential deal.

Either way, the Yankees could also look to call up reliever Ian Hamilton, who impressed in spring training and then pushed his opt-out date (which triggers if he is not added to the roster) back to next week.

The Yankees could move Estevan Florial after Opening Day.
The Yankees could move Estevan Florial after Opening Day. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post

In the meantime, Florial and Cordero were both available off the bench for Thursday’s season opener.

Cordero, who unlike Florial has minor league options remaining, hit .413 with a 1.099 OPS this spring with the Orioles before being released, but the Yankees scooped him up and signed him to a major league contract.

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Yankees manager Aaron Boone looks on during batting practice before Opening Day on March 30, 2023.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone looks on during batting practice before Opening Day on March 30, 2023. Getty Images

“The biggest thing is it’s an opportunity to create some more depth,” Boone said. “Like what he brings from the left side of the plate against right-handed pitching. Feel like he has the ability to play a really good corner outfield, also fill in at first base if you need him. But the biggest thing is a guy with talent that adds more depth to the organization that inevitably you know you’re going to have to lean on.

“In a lot of cases, wanting to keep your powder dry as you move forward with as much depth as possible because you know things are going to come up throughout the year. And having some roster flexibility there from a 40-man standpoint.”

Also on Thursday, the Yankees recalled Jhony Brito — he will start Sunday’s game against the Giants — signed Anthony Volpe to a major league contract and added him to the active roster, placed Harrison Bader (strained oblique) and Ben Rortvedt (shoulder aneurysm surgery) on the 10-day injured list, placed Luis Severino (lat strain) Lou Trivino (UCL sprain), Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis), Carlos Rodon (forearm strain) and Frankie Montas (shoulder surgery) on the 15-day IL and placed Scott Effross (Tommy John surgery) and Luis Gil (Tommy John surgery) on the 60-day IL.