The New York Yankees made a quiet but interesting move on Friday, claiming outfielder Michael Siani off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a depth play on the surface, but it also says a little something about how both clubs are shaping their rosters as spring training nears.
Let’s start with the Dodgers’ side of things. Siani was the odd man out after Los Angeles officially brought in Kyle Tucker on a four-year, $240 million deal. Once that blockbuster was finalized, the Dodgers needed to clear a roster spot-and Siani, who had only been with the team since mid-December after being claimed from Atlanta, became the casualty.
With Tucker now locked into a corner outfield spot, the Dodgers’ outfield is looking stacked. Tucker joins Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages as the expected starters, with Pacific Coast League MVP Ryan Ward and trade deadline pickup Alex Call waiting in the wings. In that kind of crowd, Siani’s light bat didn’t give him much of a fighting chance.
To be fair, Siani’s value has never really come from his offense. Across four MLB seasons, he’s struggled to find his footing at the plate, never posting an OPS above .600.
His most extended run came with the Cardinals in 2024, when he appeared in 124 games and hit just two home runs with a .570 OPS. But what he lacked with the bat, he made up for with the glove.
That season, he ranked in the 99th percentile in Outs Above Average, racking up 16 OAA-elite defensive numbers that don’t go unnoticed by teams looking to shore up late-game defense or improve their outfield depth.
That’s likely what the Yankees are banking on.
New York’s outfield is already loaded. They just added former Dodgers MVP Cody Bellinger, who joins Trent Grisham Jr. and reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge.
And waiting in the wings is top prospect Jasson Dominguez, who made a splash last season and even earned Rookie of the Year votes. That’s a tough group to crack for any outfielder, let alone one with Siani’s offensive track record.
So what’s the fit here?
Siani gives the Yankees a glove-first option who can patrol center field at a high level if needed. He’s a classic depth piece-someone who can step in defensively late in games or serve as injury insurance during the grind of a 162-game season. While it’s unlikely he breaks camp with the big-league club, especially given the star power ahead of him, he’s the kind of player who can quietly prove valuable over the course of a long season.
As for the Dodgers, their focus remains unchanged. With or without Siani, they’re all-in on chasing a third straight World Series title. The roster is deep, the expectations are sky-high, and the addition of Tucker only reinforces that championship mindset.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are building a contender of their own in the American League. If the stars align and both clubs live up to their potential, Siani might end up watching his former and current teams square off from opposite dugouts come October.