Thursday: Denorfia will earn a $1M base salary with another $1M in incentives if he makes the team, reports Jon Heyman.
Wednesday: The Yankees have signed veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia to a minor league contract, Brian Cashman confirmed to reporters this morning. Denorfia will be in Spring Training as a non-roster invitee and wear No. 38. The Yankees are now up to 70 players in big league camp.
Denorfia, 35, hit .269/.319/.373 (89 wRC+) with three homers in 231 plate appearances as a fourth outfielder with the Cubs last season. That includes a .211/.294/.303 (63 wRC+) line against lefties. Denorfia has spent most of his career as a platoon right-handed bat with the Padres.
Cashman confirmed Denorfia can opt-out of his contract at the end of March, so his time with the team may be short. Brett Gardner (wrist) is banged up and Mason Williams (shoulder) will start the season on the DL, plus the club is light on righty hitting outfielders, so the Yankees are adding depth while they can.
As for Denorfia, the non-roster invite gives him a chance to play in games and showcase himself for teams. If he doesn’t win a roster spot with the Yankees — it does seem unlikely barring a few injuries — he could still impress another club and land a job elsewhere.
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