The Greg Bird era, volume two, is over.
Bird, and catcher David Freitas, were both released from their minor-league deals with the Yankees, the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders announced Wednesday night.
Bird, now 29, signed a minor-league deal just before the MLB regular season started after failing to make the Blue Jays in spring training and being released. However, he slashed just .218/.325/.354 with six home runs and 22 RBI in 59 games/240 plate appearances, a big drop-off from his 2021 Triple-A season in Albuquerque where he had 27 homers, 91 RBI, and an .894 OPS (albeit in a league noted as a hitter’s paradise).
The RailRiders’ first base/DH situation was a bit of a logjam with Bird, Ronald Guzman, Jake Bauers, and Armando Alvarez all on the roster, so Bird will now seek employment elsewhere.
The same situation goes for Freitas, who was one of four catches on the roster after Josh Breaux’s recent promotion to Triple-A.
Freitas, who has 59 career games of MLB experience, signed a minor-league deal in December and hit .239 in 36 games.
Freitas’ departure leaves Breaux, Rob Brantly, and Max McDowell on the RailRiders’ roster.
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