Yankees Finalize Roster with Grichuk’s Addition

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Yankees’ roster is nearly complete.

On Saturday, the team informed Randal Grichuk that he would be joining the roster, finalizing what appears to be the last bench spot. Grichuk had entered the spring on a minor league deal.

In a related move, Oswaldo Cabrera was optioned to Triple-A, allowing him more time to regain his form after recovering from an ankle fracture he sustained last May.

Grichuk, a right-handed hitter who often faces lefties, exercised his Section 20(B) free agent opt-out on Thursday, prompting the Yankees to bring him on board by Saturday morning.

“This is what he looks like,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked at Joker Merchant Stadium. “He believes he’s in a good spot and can contribute. He’s going to be a key piece for us.”

The Yankees invited Grichuk to spring training in late February, which means he was just playing his seventh game by Saturday. However, based on his experience and performance, the team felt confident in using him as the fourth outfielder, especially after sending Jason Dominguez to Triple-A the previous night.

Grichuk expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, “It was a good chance for me, so I was thrilled to come here. I aimed to make the most of it given my slow start and other uncontrollable factors. I believe I did enough to earn this spot.” He entered Saturday’s game with only two hits in 16 at-bats and a low .313 OPS, yet felt he was finding his timing.

“I don’t feel far off,” he added. “Leading up to this, I was basically playing a waiting game. I’ve been preparing for the season by working on my timing and recognizing pitches, while also trying to show I could help the team. For the last few games, I want to focus on getting my body ready for the movements needed during the games.”