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The New York Yankees have quietly strengthened their spring training picture by bringing veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk into camp on a minor league contract that includes an invite to big-league spring workouts. The move gives the club a veteran, right-handed bat who can be deployed as a late-inning option against left-handed pitching and can cover left field when lineup shifts are necessary. This addition arrives as the Yankees weigh how to complete a roster that currently tilts toward left-handed offensive pieces.
Grichuk, 34, enters the Yankees’ mix with a track record of producing against southpaws over a lengthy major-league career. Across 12 big-league seasons he owns a career average of.268 with an.819 OPS versus left-handed pitchers. That historical split is one reason the Yankees view him as a potential situational weapon off the bench — a veteran presence who can provide power from the right side and defensive flexibility in the corners.
Why Grichuk fits the Yankees’ current needs
The Yanks’ projected everyday lineup is weighted toward lefty hitters, leaving a gap for right-handed bench coverage. The club projects several regulars who bat left-handed, and the recent move for Grichuk addresses that imbalance by giving the team another option to insert late in games to exploit platoon matchups. The immediate appeal is simple: a right-handed, power-oriented bench bat who can play the corner outfield and help protect the roster in situations where opposing managers deploy a left-handed arm.
Platoon strategy is central to the logic here. By adding a right-handed bench bat who can handle lefty pitching, New York preserves tactical flexibility late in games without having to rely solely on switch-hitters or younger, less-proven players. Grichuk’s ability to slide into left field while starters reposition gives the team an on-hand answer to matchup-driven substitutions and helps limit exposure when the pitching matchup favors the opposition.
Bench competition and organizational depth
Even with Grichuk in camp, the Yankees still have a crowded mix of non-roster invitees and internal candidates vying for limited bench spots. Among them are younger players like Jasson Domínguez — a switch-hitter who has shown promise but is generally thought better served by regular at-bats in the minors — and prospects such as Spencer Jones, plus veteran minor-league invites including Seth Brown and Yanquiel Fernández. Most of these players swing from the left side, which underscores why the club pursued a right-handed addition.
The club already plans to carry a couple of right-handed bench pieces in Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario, though Goldschmidt’s defensive role is primarily at first base. That leaves the Yankees exploring other avenues to add right-handed depth, either in the outfield or behind the plate, with the goal of balancing matchups without sacrificing long-term player development opportunities for younger talent who have options remaining.
Alternative targets and roster mechanics
Outside of Grichuk, the Yankees have been linked to several other potential platoon bats. Names such as Austin Slater and Chas McCormick have come up in league chatter; both are on minor league pacts with other organizations and could become available if they fail to secure roles. The club is also considering whether to add a right-handed-hitting catcher as a way to diversify offensive handedness on the bench, which would impact decisions about which players with options remain with the big-league club.
Personnel movement is still possible as spring unfolds. Players on minor league deals with other teams sometimes exercise opt-outs or are released if they don’t make opening rosters, creating a secondary market for fringe veterans. The Yankees are monitoring that situation because an available right-handed outfielder or catcher who fits the platoon profile could still surface before the regular season begins.
Performance context
Grichuk’s recent performance has been mixed: while he posted strong numbers against left-handed pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks in a prior season — hitting.319 with a.913 OPS versus lefties in — his split declined in when he combined stints with Arizona and Kansas City, producing a.227 average and a.703 OPS against southpaws, though he still delivered a.430 slugging percentage. Those ups and downs illustrate why the Yankees are treating him as a low-risk, potentially high-reward piece on a minor league contract rather than a guaranteed roster solution.
Ultimately, the Grichuk signing reflects a broader roster philosophy: assemble enough versatile parts to navigate matchup-heavy stretches while preserving younger players’ developmental paths. As spring advances, the Yankees will continue to tweak the bench picture, but adding a veteran right-handed bat gives them a clearer option when the matchup calls for it.