The New York Yankees are continuing to tinker with their outfield depth this offseason, and their latest move brings in a name with some intriguing upside. According to reports, the Yankees have claimed 23-year-old outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez off waivers from the Colorado Rockies - a low-risk move that could pay dividends if Fernandez can tap into the power potential he’s flashed in the minors.
Let’s break this down.
Fernandez made his MLB debut in 2025, appearing in 52 games for Colorado. It was a tough introduction to the big leagues - he hit just .225 with a .613 OPS and posted a -0.8 bWAR.
That’s not the kind of production that keeps you on a Major League roster, especially on a Rockies team still trying to find its footing. But the Yankees aren’t claiming him based on what he did in Denver - they’re betting on what he could become.
And there’s reason to believe the upside is there.
In Triple-A last season, Fernandez looked far more comfortable. He hit .284 with an .849 OPS and 13 home runs in just 64 games.
Stretch that over a full season, and you’re looking at a player who can do some real damage at the plate. Across his minor league career, he’s hit .279 with an .814 OPS, 77 home runs, and 113 doubles in 469 games.
That’s not just solid - that’s the profile of a legitimate power bat from the left side.
Defensively, Fernandez has held his own. While he’s not known for highlight-reel plays in the outfield, he’s serviceable enough to hold down a corner spot.
And for a Yankees team that’s been moving on from outfield depth pieces - most recently Michael Siani, who was claimed by the Dodgers after being let go - Fernandez offers a different type of upside. He’s not just another glove-first depth option; he’s a potential bench bat with pop.
The Yankees aren’t expecting Fernandez to step in and start 140 games. But if he sticks through Spring Training and earns a spot on the roster, he could be a valuable piece in a long 162-game grind. Left-handed power off the bench is a commodity, and Fernandez has shown flashes of being able to provide exactly that.
It’s a classic low-risk, high-reward move - the kind of quiet offseason transaction that might not make headlines today but could end up mattering in July. The Yankees are betting on the tools, the track record in the minors, and the hope that a change of scenery - and maybe a little Yankee Stadium jet stream - can help unlock the next level in Fernandez’s game.
Time will tell if he sticks, but for now, the Yankees have added a bat with real potential to their outfield mix.