The Yankees signed a free agent first baseman/outfielder with a last name starting with B on Monday.
It’s not Cody Bellinger, though he’s still out there chasing a big contract from suitors that include the Yankees, Mets and Blue Jays.
The new addition is Seth Brown.
Brown signed a minor-league deal that’ll likely come with a spring training invite, according to Aram Leighton. The 33-year-old lefty bat has spent his entire career with the Athletics, so this marks his first venture outside Oakland’s organization.
What you’re getting is organizational depth more than anything else. Brown managed just 38 games last season due to health issues and hit an ugly .185 when he was on the field. His career .712 OPS tells the story of a useful role player rather than an impact bat.
His best year came in 2022, when he put up 26 doubles, 25 homers and 11 steals while hitting .230. That’s the version the Yankees are hoping shows up if he makes it to the Bronx.
Brown’s versatility is his calling card – he saw time in all three outfield spots last season and played plenty of first base in 2024. That kind of flexibility has value for a team looking to fill out its depth chart.
He’s not making the Opening Day roster unless things go sideways elsewhere on the roster, especially if Bellinger ends up back in pinstripes. But as a veteran who knows how to play multiple positions at the major league level, Brown represents solid insurance.
Now Yankees fans wait to see if the team can land the bigger fish in Bellinger, who’d represent a much more significant addition to their lineup.
