While the Yankees’ offseason has been headlined by splashier moves, Friday brought a reminder that roster-building isn’t always about the blockbusters. Sometimes, it’s the quieter transactions that help shape the depth and flexibility a team needs over the course of a 162-game grind.
This time, the Yankees added outfielder Michael Siani via waiver claim while designating right-handed pitcher Kaleb Ort for assignment to clear a roster spot.
Let’s start with Siani. The 24-year-old outfielder had just landed with the Dodgers in December, but Los Angeles needed his 40-man roster spot to finalize the signing of Kyle Tucker. That made Siani expendable - and the Yankees pounced.
Siani brings speed and defense - two qualities that never go out of style, especially in today’s game where late-game substitutions and outfield versatility are at a premium. He’s appeared in parts of four MLB seasons with the Reds and Cardinals, logging 160 games.
Offensively, he’s still a work in progress, carrying a career .221 batting average with seven doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 21 stolen bases. But what he lacks in pop, he makes up for with range in the outfield and the kind of wheels that can change a game on the basepaths.
He’s not a lock to break camp with the big-league club, but as an organizational depth piece, he checks a lot of boxes. If injuries hit or if the Yankees need a defensive-minded outfielder in a pinch, Siani could be a useful option to have in the wings.
To make room for Siani, the Yankees designated Kaleb Ort for assignment. That puts the 32-year-old right-hander on waivers, where another team could claim him - just as the Yankees did earlier this month when they picked him up from the Astros on January 9.
Ort’s time in pinstripes may end up being brief, but he does bring some big-league experience to the table. Over 118 major league appearances, he’s posted a 5.00 ERA.
At 6-foot-4, he’s got the build and arm strength teams often like to take a flier on, so it wouldn’t be surprising if another club gives him a look. If he clears waivers, the Yankees can keep him in the system as depth.
Moves like this may not light up the hot stove, but they’re part of the constant roster churn that defines the back end of every 40-man. These are the transactions that often go unnoticed until a key injury or a late-season call-up suddenly turns a depth piece into a contributor. For the Yankees, adding a glove-first outfielder with speed and moving on from a recently acquired reliever is just another step in fine-tuning a roster built for the long haul.