Yankees Secure Minor League Deal with Seth Brown
The New York Yankees have officially signed first baseman and outfielder Seth Brown to a minor league contract. The deal was reported by Aram Leighton, a contributor at Just Baseball. Brown, who is represented by Klutch Sports, is expected to participate in the Yankees’ big league camp during the upcoming spring training.
Seth Brown’s Career Overview
At 33 years old, Brown has experienced a mix of success and challenges in his career. Previously with the Oakland Athletics, he achieved notable offensive numbers but has faced difficulties over the last few seasons.
Performance Statistics
- 2021-2022 Seasons:
- Plate Appearances: 862
- Home Runs: 45
- Batting Line: .222/.294/.457
- Strikeout Rate: 27.3%
- Walk Rate: 8.6%
- wRC+: 111 (11% above league average)
- 2023 Season:
- Plate Appearances: 778
- Home Runs: 28
- Batting Line: .227/.284/.392
- Walk Rate: 7.1%
- wRC+: 91 (9% below league average)
- Designated for Assignment: May
Last season marked a significant decline in Brown’s performance. He struggled to maintain a consistent batting average and was eventually designated for assignment in May. Although he demonstrated improvement in minor league play, his big league numbers were disappointing, finishing the year with a batting line of .185/.303/.262 over 76 plate appearances.
Future Outlook with the Yankees
Despite his recent struggles, Brown’s minor league production was impressive, boasting a .352/.416/.697 line in 161 plate appearances in Triple-A. His 159 wRC+ indicates he was significantly above average in that environment. The Yankees see potential value in adding him as organizational depth.
Current Roster Landscape
The Yankees have a crowded first base and outfield situation. Expected players for the upcoming season include:
- Ben Rice (First Base)
- Aaron Judge (Outfield)
- Jasson Domínguez (Outfield)
- Giancarlo Stanton (Designated Hitter)
- Spencer Jones (Outfield Prospect)
Jones had an impressive previous season with 35 home runs but also struck out 35.4% of the time. Meanwhile, the Yankees are attempting to re-sign Cody Bellinger, which could further complicate playing time for Brown.
Ultimately, this minor league deal poses minimal risk for the Yankees. With injuries affecting players like Stanton and Judge, adding depth is a prudent strategy for managing the long season ahead.
