The New York Yankees have claimed outfielder Michael Siani off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team announced. The move comes after the Dodgers designated Siani for assignment earlier this week to make room for Kyle Tucker on their roster.
Yankees Shuffle Outfield Depth
Key Points-New York adds a speed threat,but Siani’s offensive production remains a question mark.
- michael Siani, 26, offers significant speed and defensive versatility in the outfield.
- The Yankees designated right-hander kaleb Ort for assignment to create a roster spot for Siani.
- Siani has bounced around the league this offseason, claimed by multiple teams on waivers.
- new York’s outfield situation is crowded, with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham, and Cody Bellinger already in the mix.
Siani, 26, is a player built on speed and defense. Over 160 Major League games across four seasons, he’s successfully stolen 21 bases in 26 attempts and has logged 1,014 innings in the outfield, playing all three positions. Defensive metrics back up his reputation,with seven Defensive Runs Saved and 17 Outs Above Average to his credit.
Though, his bat hasn’t quite kept pace. In 383 big league plate appearances, Siani has a .221/.277/.270 batting line, resulting in a 58 wRC+-42% below league average. His minor league numbers offer a slight advancement,with a .217/.329/.337 line and 77 wRC+ over 938 plate appearances in the last three years, but the offensive struggles are undeniable.
Despite the limited power, Siani clearly holds appeal for major league clubs. After finishing 2025 with the Cardinals, he was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves, then the Dodgers, and now the Yankees. This suggests teams see value in his skillset as potential non-roster depth.
The Yankees may ultimately put Siani back on waivers in the coming weeks. For now, he provides a potential bench option, and retains an option year, allowing the team to possibly send him to Triple-A while maintaining his spot on the 40-man roster.
The Yankees’ outfield picture is already fairly full. They re-signed trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger after they reached free agency at the end of the 2025 season, joining Aaron Judge as established outfielders. giancarlo Stanton is expected to primarily play designated hitter.
Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones are also vying for playing time, but both have options and could be sent to the minors. Both players have also been subjects of trade speculation following Bellinger’s re-signing, though the Yankees may want to retain them as injury insurance. Grisham is also slated to become a free agent again after 2026, further emphasizing the need for depth.
Siani’s role will depend on how the outfield competition shakes out and whether he can hold onto his roster spot. Marco Luciano is in a similar situation,having also been claimed off waivers this week,though he is out of options.
In a corresponding move, the Yankees also designated right-hander Kaleb Ort for assignment. Ort, who will be 34 in February, was recently claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros. He possesses upper 90s velocity but hasn’t consistently translated that into success at the major league level, allowing exactly five earned runs per nine innings over 122 1/3 innings pitched across five seasons. His strikeout rate of 23.7% is respectable, but he also walks 10.5% of batters faced.
Ort is also out of options, creating a precarious situation. Houston designated him for assignment earlier this month, and the Yankees quickly claimed him.Its possible the Yankees intend to put Ort back on waivers, hoping to retain him as non-roster depth if he clears.
