NEW YORK – The Yankees front office continues to tinker with the 40-man roster. Another week brings another round of moves in the Bronx.
Brian Cashman and his staff have stayed active this winter. They have shuffled players on and off the roster at a steady pace. Most moves have been minor transactions rather than blockbuster deals.
The club made a trade with the Colorado Rockies for Angel Chivilli just last week. Michael Siani was designated for assignment in that deal. The Dodgers later claimed Siani off waivers.
Brian Cashman adds another piece from Colorado
Wednesday brought yet another connection between the Yankees and Rockies. New York claimed outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez off waivers from Colorado.
The Rockies designated Fernandez for assignment a week ago. He spent parts of six seasons in their farm system after signing as an international free agent out of Cuba in July 2019. The club paid him $295,000 at age 16.
Fernandez made his MLB debut last season with Colorado. He appeared in 52 games and batted .225 with four home runs and 11 RBI. His numbers at the plate showed a 62 OPS+, well below league average.
Yankees DFA former Mets prospect Dom Hamel
The corresponding move sent right-hander Dom Hamel back to the waiver wire. This marks the fourth time this offseason that Hamel has been designated for assignment.
The Yankees originally claimed the 26-year-old off waivers from the Texas Rangers on January 27. His stay in pinstripes lasted exactly eight days.
Hamel was a third-round pick by the New York Mets in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Dallas Baptist University. He quickly established himself as one of their top pitching prospects. The organization named him Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2022.
That season, Hamel led the Mets farm system with 10 wins and 145 strikeouts. He posted a 3.25 ERA across 119 innings at Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn. He held opposing hitters to a .196 batting average.
Hamel’s DFA carousel spins again
The right-hander has bounced between four MLB organizations since September. He made his big league debut with the Mets on September 17, 2025, against the San Diego Padres. He pitched one inning and allowed three hits.
The Mets designated him for assignment the very next day. The Baltimore Orioles claimed him two days later but DFA’d him on September 25. The Texas Rangers picked him up on September 27. Texas designated him for assignment on January 20 after signing Jakob Junis.
Hamel posted a 5.32 ERA in 67.2 Triple-A innings last season. He displayed above-average strikeout ability with 75 punchouts. He also showed improved control with a 7.4% walk rate.
Fernandez brings raw power to Yankees system
The 23-year-old Cuban outfielder has intriguing upside. Before his MLB callup, Fernandez raked at Triple-A Albuquerque. He batted .284 with 13 home runs in 64 games. His OPS of .849 showed his offensive potential.
Fernandez ranked as the No. 11 prospect in Colorado’s farm system. He was once considered a top-100 prospect in all of MLB baseball. His left-handed power plays well at any ballpark.
Over parts of five minor league seasons with the Rockies, Fernandez hit .279 with 77 home runs in 469 games. He slugged 21 home runs during his first full season stateside with Low-A Fresno.
Fernandez will likely get playing time during spring training. He is unlikely to break camp with the MLB roster. The Yankees have Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge and other options in the outfield.
More roster shuffling expected before camp
The Yankees have been active in many roster transactions over the past month. Most have not resulted in big-time additions. The Cody Bellinger signing remains the headliner of their winter.
Hamel could end up at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as pitching depth if he clears waivers. He does not have a previous outright and lacks three years of service time. He cannot elect free agency if he passes through waivers.
The 60-day injured list opens next week when spring training begins. That will give clubs more flexibility for fringe roster moves. The Yankees may have additional transactions before pitchers and catchers report on February 11.
Fernandez joins a crowded outfield mix in Tampa. He will compete for playing time with other young players and non-roster invitees. His left-handed bat and raw power could earn him a spot at Triple-A to start the season.
The Yankees open the 2026 regular season on March 25 against the San Francisco Giants. They have roughly seven weeks to finalize their Opening Day roster. Expect more moves before then.
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