With the New York Yankees out of contention for the postseason, are they really going to sign Jung-Hoo Lee (25, Kiwoom Heroes)? As they look to clean up their roster, a center fielder has been mentioned.
“The Yankees have placed Harrison Vader (29) on waivers,” MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, reported on Tuesday. There is no official word from the Yankees yet.
Vader, who made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017, hit .235 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 32 games in his rookie year. In 2018, his sophomore year, he exploded with potential. He hit .264 with 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, 15 doubles, and an OPS of .756, marking his first 10-homer season.
After hitting 12 homers in 2019 for his second straight year, Vader was limited to 50 games in 2020, but turned things around in 2021. In 103 games, he batted .267 with 16 homers, 50 RBIs, and an OPS of .784, winning the National League Outfield Gold Glove.
Vader, who arrived in a Yankees uniform via trade last August, is batting .39 (68-for-285) with seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 16 doubles and a .640 OPS in 83 games this season.
While he’s been playing well defensively, he’s been underwhelming at the plate. He hasn’t been able to play full-time since 2021 due to injuries to his ribs, balls of his feet, and hamstrings.
The Yankees chose to part ways with Vader early, as his contract expires after this season.
The Athletic reported, “The Yankees no longer need Vader. Sure, he’s a great outfielder, but his bat is suspect,” and “the Yankees are probably kicking themselves for not trading him at the deadline.”토스카지노
Vader’s waiver claim has also been linked to Jung-Hoo Lee. The New York Post recently mentioned Lee as one of the possible targets for the Yankees if they don’t sign Vader.
Lee is set to make his major league debut after this season. He is one of the best hitters in the KBO, although his season was cut short by an ankle injury.
He went into a severe hitting slump at the beginning of the season, but quickly bounced back. He was back in the triple digits in no time. Before his injury, he was batting .319 with 105 hits, six home runs, 45 RBIs, an OPS of .863, and a .303 on-base percentage.
In his seven seasons in the KBO, he has played 883 games, batting .340 with 65 home runs, 515 RBI, 581 runs scored, 69 doubles, and an OPS of .898.
It will be interesting to see if the Yankees will make a move for Lee after the season ends.