SURPRISE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Rougned Odor #12 of the Texas Rangers warms up prior to the MLB spring training baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2021 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
The Yankees have acquired infielder Rougned Odor from the Rangers as some added infield depth.
The Texas Rangers have not been to the postseason since 2016 and are looking to turn things around in 2021. That means moving on from some veteran talent such as Rougned Odor.
Odor debuted with the Rangers in 2014 and was under team control through 2023 because of a club option. However, he was left off the Opening Day roster and is now headed to the New York Yankees in a trade.
Yankees adding Rougned Odor for depth
The key note from this trade is that the Rangers are taking on most of Odor’s remaining salary, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. That is great news for a Yankees team that could have paid him anyway if needed.
Odor has been a second baseman his entire career and can also slot in as DH as a left-handed hitter at Yankee Stadium. He has hit 30 home runs or more three times in his career and that number could be reached in 2021 with the short fence in right field at his new home.
DJ LeMahieu holds down second for the Yankees and is an everyday player. But Odor can get pinch-hit opportunities late and just be a general depth option. He was getting reps at third base in spring training with Texas as well.
The fact the Rangers are absorbing so much salary makes this move an obvious one for the Yankees. Playing in a winning environment could also go a long way toward giving Odor more confidence once he gets his first big hit.
New York is off to a 2-2 start and just posted a 7-0 shutout victory Monday against the Baltimore Orioles in a game that saw Aaron Judge and Giancarlo launch home runs. Now they are adding another veteran bat to the mix? The Yankees are not messing around in 2021.