Derek Dietrich has opted out of his minor-league deal with the Yankees, according to Audacy MLB insider Jon Heyman and multiple media reports.
Dietrich, 31, has played 36 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, slashing .215/.413/.393 with five home runs, 22 RBI, and 27 walks.
He played first, second, and third bases while in Scranton, but has not played since June 30, when he started at first base and struck out in his only at-bat before being lifted for a pinch-hitter.
Dietrich spent 2020 with the Rangers, hitting .179 in 25 games, and hit .187 with 19 homers in 113 games with the Reds in 2019. He has, however, produced positive wRC+ over the last two seasons (102 in 2019, 124 in 2020) despite the low averages and BABIPs, posting a .275 ISO in 2019 and .262 in 2020.
The opt-out in his deal on July 1 would give the Yankees until today to add him to the active roster or release him. The team did have a chance to buy themselves a day by adding Dietrich for Sunday’s doubleheader, but they instead chose to reinstate LHP Wandy Peralta from the injured list and add him as the 27th man for the July 4 Subway Series double-dip.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch