Yankees Sign Seth Brown to Minor-League Deal, But All Eyes Still on Bellinger
As the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes drag on, the New York Yankees are making smaller moves around the margins - and their latest addition is a name that's been circling the Bronx rumor mill for years.
On Monday, the Yankees agreed to a minor-league deal with 33-year-old outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown. It’s not the kind of move that moves the needle - and certainly not the kind of splash fans are hoping for - but it’s a familiar name for those who’ve followed the team’s trade rumors over the past few seasons.
Brown, a left-handed bat with some pop, feels like a classic “Yankee adjacent” player - one of those guys who always seemed to be one phone call away from donning pinstripes. Back in 2021 and 2022, Brown posted OPS+ marks of 107 and 117, respectively, while slugging 20 and 25 home runs for the A’s. He was a productive lefty power bat on a rebuilding team, and that profile made him a logical trade target for a Yankees roster that, at the time, was starving for balance.
Fast forward to 2026, and the context has changed. The Yankees now have a surplus of left-handed hitters, and Brown is coming off a down year - limited to just 38 games in 2025 due to injury, and struggling in his limited time with the Sacramento River Cats (23 strikeouts in just 65 at-bats).
His career slash line sits at .226/.292/.419 with a 100 wRC+ over parts of seven seasons. That’s league average production on paper, but it’s been a few years since he’s delivered it consistently at the big-league level.
So what does this move really mean?
At best, Brown is Triple-A depth with some upside. His power could play well in the International League, and if he gets hot, fans scanning the box scores might start calling for his promotion. But realistically, he’s insurance - a lefty bat who can play corner outfield and first base, and who gives the Yankees another option if injuries pile up or other plans fall through.
And that brings us back to the main storyline: Cody Bellinger.
The Yankees have reportedly made what they’re calling their “best and final” offer to Bellinger - a five-year deal worth up to $160 million, with opt-outs after the second and third years. It’s a significant offer, and the inclusion of early opt-outs gives Bellinger the flexibility he and agent Scott Boras typically seek. But so far, no deal.
If Bellinger turns it down, the Yankees don’t have many appealing fallback options. Bo Bichette’s not available.
Kyle Tucker is off the board after landing a monster deal with the Dodgers. And if the team is forced to pivot, they’ll be shopping in the Austin Hays tier - or lower.
That’s where a guy like Brown enters the picture. Not as a solution, but as a contingency.
Make no mistake: the Yankees are a better team with Bellinger in the lineup. He’s a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder with a left-handed swing built for Yankee Stadium and the kind of offensive upside that could elevate the entire lineup. Even if the contract is front-loaded with opt-outs, a two-year window with Bellinger in his prime could be a game-changer.
Brown? He’s not that. He’s a depth piece - and one who, at this stage in his career, doesn’t project to be more than that.
So while the Yankees continue to wait on Bellinger’s decision, they’re quietly adding pieces like Brown to cover their bases. It’s a smart, low-risk move. But let’s be clear: if the Yankees want to contend for a title in 2026, they need more than minor-league insurance.
They need Bellinger in the outfield. And they need that deal to get done - soon.