NEW YORK — The Yankees made two roster moves Wednesday that signal their priorities heading into spring training. One brought a hard-throwing reliever with ugly numbers. The other sent away a speedy outfielder claimed just five days earlier.
With pitchers and catchers reporting to Tampa in less than two weeks, general manager Brian Cashman continues searching for bullpen help. The relief corps has been a weakness for three straight seasons. Losing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to the Mets this winter only made matters worse.
The latest addition carries serious risk. But the Yankees believe their pitching development staff can work some magic.
Yankees roll the dice on power arm from Coors
New York acquired right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli from the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. The cost was first baseman T.J. Rumfield, who had been blocked in the organization by Ben Rice’s emergence.
Chivilli’s numbers are rough. The 23-year-old posted a 7.06 ERA in 43 relief appearances for Colorado last season. He allowed nearly two home runs per nine innings. He struck out just over six batters per nine frames.
Over 73 career MLB appearances, Chivilli has permitted 107 hits with 71 strikeouts, 33 walks and 20 home runs allowed in 90 1/3 innings. His career ERA sits at 6.18. His WHIP last season was a ghastly 1.69.
So why would the Yankees want him? The underlying metrics tell a different story. And escaping Coors Field could change everything.
Cashman sees untapped potential
Chivilli throws gas. His average fastball velocity of 97.1 mph ranks in the 88th percentile among MLB pitchers. His slider earned a 110 Stuff+ grade. His changeup generated a 42.6 percent whiff rate last season. His ground-ball rate of 49.8 percent placed him in the 84th percentile.
Those numbers suggest a pitcher who should be getting better results. The thin air at Coors Field reduces pitch movement and makes home runs easier to hit. Moving to the Yankees could unlock the Dominican Republic native’s true potential.
“He’s a 23-year-old power arm that’s got a tool package that’s pretty exciting,” Cashman said. “He’s got some flexibility, because there’s an option remaining in his profile. He’s got a year of service, some experience. He’s got a tremendous fastball, changeup and slider. I think there’s a lot to work with there.”
Chivilli will work with pitching coach Matt Blake and bullpen coach Preston Claiborne. If anyone can fix the youngster’s issues, those two have the track record to do it.
Siani’s brief Yankees tenure ends
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated outfielder Michael Siani for assignment. The move came just five days after New York claimed him off waivers from the Dodgers.
Siani’s offseason has been a wild ride. The 26-year-old has been DFA’d four times since November. He passed through the Cardinals, Braves and Dodgers organizations before landing with the Yankees on Jan. 23.
The left-handed hitter offered elite speed and elite defense. He stole 20 bases and posted 16 Outs Above Average with St. Louis in 2024. But his bat never developed. He owns a career .221/.277/.270 slash line with just two home runs in 383 plate appearances.
With Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham locked into the outfield, Siani faced long odds to make the Opening Day roster anyway. Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones also sit ahead of him on the depth chart.
Rumfield gets a clear path in Colorado
The prospect heading to Colorado could factor immediately. Rumfield slashed .285/.378/.447 with 16 home runs and 31 doubles for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season. He posted a 121 wRC+ in 138 games.
The 25-year-old left-handed hitter was the Yankees’ No. 22 prospect per MLB Pipeline. But Rice’s breakout 2025 campaign eliminated his path to the majors in New York.
The Rockies moved on from first baseman Michael Toglia in November. Rumfield could compete for playing time immediately at Coors Field, where his bat profiles well for the hitter-friendly environment.
Yankees bullpen picture remains murky
David Bednar returns as closer. Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz figure to handle high-leverage situations. Tim Hill provides left-handed depth. Beyond that, the bullpen is filled with question marks.
The Yankees are betting that Doval can build on his late-season improvements. Manager Aaron Boone sounded optimistic about the right-hander.
“I really feel good about where he was at the end of the season and into the playoffs,” Boone said. “I felt like he had some of his best outings for us at the very end, and into the postseason. He did some things, just in how he gets set and everything, that cleaned him up a little bit and got him just in a better position for the strike-throwing.”
Chivilli joins Jake Bird as another former Rockies reliever looking to reinvent himself in the Bronx. The Yankees acquired Bird at the trade deadline last summer. He struggled initially but the team hopes an offseason in their system will help.
Chivilli has one minor league option remaining. If he cannot figure it out, the Yankees can send him to Triple-A without losing the asset. Spring training will reveal whether Matt Blake can turn those elite stuff metrics into actual results.
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