Jeter is once again a Yankee!
In this case, that’s actually infielder Jeter Downs, who was claimed off waivers from the Washignton Nationals.
Downs, 25, appeared in six games with the Nats in 2023, and hit a combined .222 in 60 games across three levels of Washington’s system. He made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2022, and is 8-for-44 with one home run and five RBI in 20 games at second, third, and short.
The Miami native, who was indeed named after Derek by his father, a former pro in Colombia, was the No. 32 overall pick in 2017, and has played for the Reds, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Nats organizations in his career.
In his past, Downs was part of the Los Angeles-Boston trade with Alex Verdugo – now once again his teammate – that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, and was also part of a big Dodgers-Reds trade in Dec. 2018, which also sent 2023 Nats teammate Josiah Gray to L.A. in a seven-player deal.
Downs was designated for assignment on Dec. 12 when the Nats officially announced the signings of RHP Dylan Floro and UTIL Nick Senzel. He has six years of team control left (just 68 days of MLB service time) and has a minor-league option remaining, so he can join fellow newly-acquired infielder Jorbit Vivas as potential utility infield choices that the Yankees can shuttle in and out this season.