The New York Yankees announced Sunday that they have declined LHP Joely Rodriguez's club option, making him a free agent, and added catcher Donny Sands to the major-league roster.
Rodriguez, who turns 30 next week, was acquired from Texas with Joey Gallo at the trade deadline and had a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings over 21 appearances. The lefty had a $3 million option with a $500K buyout, which the Yankees will pay, but as he is still pre-arbitration eligible, the Yankees could re-sign him for slightly more than the MLB minimum and save close to $2 million.
Sands, 25, was drafted in the eighth round in 2015 out of Salpointe HS in Tucson, Arizona, and moved from third base to behind the plate. He was due to become a minor-league free agent on Sunday night, so the team moved him to the 40-man roster.
The Yankees' release on Sands:
Sands split the 2021 season with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, combining to hit .261/.326/.466 (89-for-341) with 47R, 16 doubles, 18HR, 56RBI and 32BB in 94 games. He batted .253/.316/.459 (49-for-194) with 27R, 10 doubles, 10HR, 27RBI and 16BB in 52 games with Double-A Somerset before being promoted to Triple-A on 7/16. In 42 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he hit .272/.339/.476 (40-for-147) with 20R, 6 doubles, 8HR, 29RBI and 16BB. Over six minor league seasons (2015-19, ’21), the right-handed batter has hit .268/.331/.382 (351-for-1,310) with 156R, 69 doubles, 1 triple, 26HR, 183RBI and 115BB in 368 minor league games.
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