The Yankees have added another familiar name to the organization, and this one is bound to stir up Mets memories.
About 20 minutes after first pitch of Saturday afternoon’s Yankees-Red Sox game, the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders announced that New York planned to bring outfielder Jarred Kelenic onto its minor-league roster. It’s a low-risk move on paper, but Kelenic is the kind of player whose name still carries baggage in Queens.
Kelenic was once viewed as the centerpiece of the deal that sent him and pitching prospect Justin Dunn to the Mets in exchange for Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano’s hefty contract. At the time, he was the next big thing. Now, after a half-decade in which the shine has faded, he arrives in the Yankees’ system as organizational depth more than anything else.
He had posted a .992 OPS in the minors in the Rangers’ system this year before clearing waivers and slipping into obscurity. The Yankees stepped in before that path got any worse, and the most realistic outcome is that he becomes a useful extra body for Scranton’s playoff push.
The big-league impact may be minimal. The emotional impact on Mets fans, though, is another story.
Diaz became exactly the kind of elite reliever the Mets hoped they were getting, changing the ninth inning and the expectations around it before departing this past offseason. Cano’s stint in Queens had long since lost its shine by the time he arrived, with his Hall of Fame case already damaged by the PED suspension that wiped out his entire 2021 season.
Kelenic, meanwhile, never delivered on the major-league promise that once made him such a prized name. His strong numbers in Tacoma from 2021 through 2023 didn’t carry over in any sustained way, even though he put up 2.1 bWAR and a 111 OPS+ in his age-23 season in 2023. His career OPS+ sits at 84, which is 16% worse than league average.
He’s still only 27, which makes the whole thing even stranger. But the Yankees are almost certainly viewing him as emergency depth, not a difference-maker. For Mets fans, that may be the toughest part to process.
In Other News...
Yankees Finally Get A Rotation Boost Right Before Red Sox Doubleheader
After a stretch that tested the Yankees pitching depth, the club is poised to get a major lift just in time for a Red Sox doubleheader. Left-hander Max Fried is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list and is expected to take the ball in one of the two games, a welcome development for a rotation that has been pieced together while he recovered.
Fried has reportedly responded well to his rehab work and bullpen session, and his return would give New York its full four-ace rotation back at last. The only unresolved piece is which of the two games he will start, a decision the Yankees had not yet made as they lined up for a demanding day against their rivals. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Could Be More Short-Handed Than Yankees Fans Expected
The Red Sox were already facing a tricky stretch against the Yankees, and now they may be heading into the series opener a little thinner than expected. Roman Anthony, Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa will not be activated for Fridays game in New York, leaving Boston to open the matchup without a few names fans had been watching closely for a possible return.
Worcester Triple-A acting manager Iggy Suarez said all three are slated to stay in Worcester on Saturday, which pushes their earliest possible return to the big-league club to Sunday. Anthony has said he is making progress in his rehab, but he is still not quite ready yet, and for Boston that leaves the question of when reinforcements finally arrive hanging over the start of a division series with plenty on the line. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Face A Risky Aaron Judge Decision As Lineup Gets Crowded
Luis Garca Jr. has given the Yankees a useful jolt since arriving in New York, settling in mainly at first base while also adding some offense to a lineup that has needed depth. His presence has created a good problem for the club, especially with Aaron Judge potentially on the way back and expected to spend time as the designated hitter, which would leave manager Aaron Boone with a tougher puzzle than usual.
The ripple effects go beyond just fitting bats into the order. If Judge is DH-only, the Yankees would have to decide whether to push him back into the outfield, shift Garca around, or reshuffle someone else to preserve the best defensive alignment while also keeping injury risk in mind. It is the kind of decision that can look simple on paper and become complicated fast once defensive metrics and health concerns enter the conversation. [Read more 🡒]