Yankees Scoop Up Oscar Gonzalez From Guardians: Another Power Hitter Joins the Team

The New York Yankees have made a move to claim outfielder Oscar Gonzalez off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians, according to a report by Jack Curry of YES Network. Although there was no public announcement of Gonzalez’s removal from the Cleveland roster, the team attempted to pass him through waivers without success. This move leaves Cleveland’s 40-man roster at 39 and the Yankees’ at 37.

At 26 years old in January, Gonzalez is coming off a challenging season in 2023. In 54 big league games, he struggled with a strikeout rate of 25.6% and a walk rate of just 2.8%, along with only two home runs and a batting line of .214/.239/.312, resulting in a wRC+ of 49.

This performance is a stark contrast to his solid rookie season in 2022, where he hit 11 home runs in 382 plate appearances with a 3.9% walk rate and a more manageable 19.6% strikeout rate. His overall slash line was .296/.327/.461 with a wRC+ of 125. Notably, he gained attention from baseball fans for using the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song as his walk-up music.

Despite his strong 2022 campaign, Gonzalez’s poor plate discipline has been an ongoing concern. He has the highest rate of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone among MLB hitters with at least 550 plate appearances over the past two seasons. In 2,734 minor league plate appearances, his walk rate stands at just 4%.

Gonzalez is considered a subpar defender in the outfield and is not a significant stolen base threat, placing heavy emphasis on his offensive performance. Chasing pitches off the plate and lack of walks have been persistent issues for him. Although he performed well in 2022, his struggles in 2023 led to his departure from the Cleveland organization.

While the Yankees are in need of outfield help, Gonzalez is likely to be a depth pickup with a few option years remaining. This allows the Yankees to keep him in Triple-A until needed in the majors, whether due to injuries or a display of good form. During his time with the Guardians last year, he spent a significant period in Triple-A and posted a .287/.323/.496 batting line with a wRC+ of 98.

With Aaron Judge occupying one outfield spot, the Yankees are expected to seek additional external additions to fill out the remaining positions. Rumors have connected them to players like Juan Soto of the Padres and free agent Cody Bellinger. Their pursuits of these players will determine Gonzalez’s position on the depth chart, as he competes with players such as Everson Pereira, Estevan Florial, and Oswaldo Cabrera for playing time as depth outfielders.