NEW YORK — The Yankees operate with a crowded 40-man roster. That creates difficult decisions when new opportunities arise.
Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger should hold down the starting outfield spots. Bellinger re-signed Wednesday for $162.5 million over five years. Grisham accepted his qualifying offer earlier in the offseason.
That leaves Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones competing for playing time. Both young talents remain in the mix but lack clear paths to everyday roles. The Yankees added Seth Brown and Marco Luciano on minor league deals this week as additional depth options.
Now another player joined the Yankees outfield.
Yankees third offseason team to claim speedster
Baseball offseasons can be cruel for fringe players searching for stability. Michael Siani knows this better than most.
The 26-year-old center fielder changed organizations three times this winter before landing with the New York Yankees on Friday. He arrived via waiver claim from the Los Angeles Dodgers, who dropped him just days earlier to make room for Kyle Tucker.
The Yankees designated right-hander Kaleb Ort for assignment as the corresponding move. Ort had been with the organization for just two weeks after New York claimed him from the Houston Astros on Jan. 9.
Speed and defense define Siani’s value
The Glenside, Pennsylvania native brings elite wheels and a reliable glove. His bat remains a work in progress.
In 160 career MLB games across four seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, Siani has batted .221 with two home runs and 20 RBIs. He has stolen 21 bases in 26 attempts at the big league level.
His defensive metrics shine brighter. Siani has logged 1,014 innings in the outfield, earning seven Defensive Runs Saved and 17 Outs Above Average. He can play all three outfield positions, though center field remains his primary home.
The 2024 season with St. Louis provided his only extended big league opportunity. Siani appeared in 124 games and made 98 starts, 96 of them in center field. He hit just .228 with two homers and 20 RBIs in 334 plate appearances. But he swiped 20 bases in 23 tries and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Minor league numbers showcase elite speed
Siani’s minor league career tells the story of a speedster. He has racked up more than 180 stolen bases across seven professional seasons.
He stole 45 bags playing High-A ball in 2019. He topped that with 52 steals across Double-A and Triple-A in 2022. Last season with Triple-A Memphis, Siani swiped 28 bases in 101 games while hitting .209 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs.
The Cincinnati Reds drafted him in the fourth round out of William Penn Charter School in 2018. He received a $2 million signing bonus, nearly four times the slot value for that pick.
Waiver wire carousel spins all winter
Siani’s journey this offseason has been a roller coaster. The Cardinals outrighted him in November. The Atlanta Braves claimed him on Nov. 6, hoping to add outfield depth.
That stay lasted about a month. Atlanta designated Siani for assignment on Dec. 10 after signing free agent outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. The Dodgers swooped in two days later, claiming him off waivers.
Los Angeles needed a 40-man roster spot this week when Tucker’s four-year, $240 million contract became official. Siani drew the short straw again.
Now he lands in New York, his fourth organization of the winter. He still has minor league options remaining, giving the Yankees flexibility with his roster spot.
Brief Bronx reunion ends for Ort
Ort’s departure closes a short chapter in his Yankees story. The 33-year-old reliever actually has history with the organization.
The Yankees originally signed him in May 2017. He spent three seasons in their minor league system before the Boston Red Sox selected him in the minor league Rule 5 draft in December 2020.
Ort has bounced around since then. He pitched for the Red Sox, Astros and several other organizations. His career MLB numbers show a 5.00 ERA in 122.1 innings across parts of five seasons. He appeared in 49 games for Houston in 2025, posting a 4.89 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 27 walks in 46 innings.
His fastball still touches the upper 90s. Baseball Savant clocked his heater at 97.5 mph in 2024, ranking in the 94th percentile among MLB pitchers.
Ort could clear waivers and accept a minor league deal to stay in the Yankees organization. Another team might also claim him, continuing his journeyman odyssey.
Spring training will sort out roles
The Yankees must still clear a roster spot for Bellinger once his physical is complete. Another player will face designation in the coming days.
Siani faces long odds to crack the Opening Day roster. The Yankees have Judge, Bellinger and Grisham locked in. Dominguez and Jones offer more offensive upside than the speedy defensive specialist.
His value could emerge in September. Expanded rosters reward players who can run and play defense. A late-inning pinch running specialist has worth when October arrives.
For now, Siani gets another chance with another organization. The 26-year-old has proven he can stick on 40-man rosters around the league. Making an actual impact in the Bronx represents a tougher challenge.
Pitchers and catchers report in less than a month. The competition begins soon.
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