Utilityman Amed Rosario and Yankees agree to $2.5 million, 1-year contract, AP source says

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NEW YORK (AP) — Looking for right-handed bats, the New York Yankees agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract to retain utilityman Amed Rosario, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.

New York acquired Rosario from Washington on July 26 for right-hander Clayton Beeter and minor league outfielder Browm Martinez. Rosario hit .303 with one homer and five RBIs in 33 at-bats over 16 games. He became a free agent after the World Series.

Rosario played shortstop, second base, shortstop, third base and right field last season and manager Aaron Boone could platoon him at third with Ryan McMahon, obtained from Colorado on July 25.

Rosario hit .302 with an .819 OPS against lefties last season and .231 with a .614 OPS against righties. McMahon, a left-handed batter on the lefty-heavy Yankees, hit .184 with a .534 OPS versus lefties and .223 with a .739 OPS versus righties.

“I definitely want to give Aaron Boone some legitimate choices so he can match up when we’re facing the left-handed starter,” general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday, “'cause obviously we’re so left-handed that it’s a vulnerability right now.”

Rosario turned 30 on Nov. 20. A nine-year major league veteran, he has a .273 average with 69 homers and 389 RBIs for the New York Mets (2017-20), Cleveland (2021-23), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2023-24), Tampa Bay (2024), Cincinnati (2024), Washington (2025) and the Yankees.

Yankees starting shortstop Anthony Volpe will begin the season on the injured list while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 14 to repair the labrum in his right shoulder. José Caballero, obtained from Tampa Bay on July 31, likely will see a lot of time at shortstop until Volpe returns, likely no earlier than May.

“Do I believe in Anthony Volpe? The answers is yes,” Cashman said. “Do I believe Caballero’s got a lot of talent? The answer is yes. I think Trent Grisham is an example last year. Did I think Trent Grisham was going to be the player he turned out to be? Before the season started last year, he was supposed to be a role player for us and became a prominent impact player for us.”

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