The Yankees add Rougned Odor
They get power, but also strikeouts and bad defense from the former Texas Ranger.
With depth questions in the infield, the New York Yankees decided to hit the trade market before the first week of the regular season was even in the books. Brian Cashman made the move to go out and acquire Rougned Odor from the Texas Rangers, who was designated for assignment last week. The Yankees sent minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers to the Rangers. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Rangers will eat “almost the entirety” of Odor’s remaining contract, which accumulates to $24 million over 2021 and 2022 and also a $3 million buyout for a $13.5 million club option in 2023.
Coming off a rough season during MLB’s pandemic-shortened campaign, the Rangers didn’t have a spot for Odor. In 38 games, he shaped .167/.209/.413 and hit 10 home runs. His WAR ended up at sub-zero levels for both offense and defense. His 2019 season saw him launch 30 home runs, but he put up less than impressive numbers outside of that. Odor slashed .205/283/.439 and had a WAR of 0.3.
One of the most alarming trends about Odor is his strikeout tendencies, which started during the 2019 season. From 2019–2020, he struck out in 30.9% of his at bats. That’s a steep climb from striking out in 21.2% of his at bats during the first five seasons of his career from 2014–18. And it’s not like he didn’t have power over those seasons either, as he posted 106 home runs during that time, including two seasons (’16 and ’17) that saw him launch over 30.
Speaking with reporters Tuesday afternoon, Aaron Boone left the door open for Odor to join the Yankees immediately and not go to the alternate site, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. He also made mention of the fact that Odor played some third base in Spring Training with the Rangers, which could be a possibility with the Yankees. The team’s infield has been in a bit of disarray since it was revealed that first baseman Luke Voit would start the season on the injured list.
Jay Bruce has started all four of the team’s games at first base, with DJ LeMahieu moving over from second late in two games as a defensive replacement. Odor’s addition to the roster would maybe allow LeMahieu — a better defender at first than Bruce — to start more games there against more favorable pitching matchups.
Odor himself has never been known as a good defender. Over the course of his seven-year career, he has a total of -23 defensive runs saved, including a -13 mark in that category over the last two years. His only positive totals in those categories came in both 2017 and 2018. His career UZR, which combines Double Play runs above average, Range runs above average and error runs above average, is -8.3.
The Yankees landed a guy who will without a doubt provide depth and major league experience. The team will have to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Odor, and Boone said that move is yet to be determined. While the left-handed hitting power is intriguing, Odor also brings plenty of strikeouts and below average defense to the table. With Texas eating the remainder of his deal, this is a low-risk move with some reward, but it’s hard to imagine him seeing an abundance of playing time even with the Yankees’ injury issues due to his recent poor performance.
