The New York Yankees need a roster spot fast, and their newest waiver pickup is reportedly paying the price. Here’s everything you need to know about the shocking move that has baseball fans buzzing this morning.
The Yankees are about to make one of the quickest turnarounds in recent memory. According to breaking reports, the team is designating outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez for assignment—just five days after claiming him off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. Yes, you read that right. Five days.
This DFA would free up the 40-man roster spot New York apparently needs right now as Spring Training camps open across Florida and Arizona.
Who Is Yanquiel Fernandez?
The 23-year-old outfielder just celebrated his birthday on January 1 and made his big league debut with Colorado in 2025. But his first taste of the majors was rough. Fernandez hit around .225 with a .265 on-base percentage and .348 slugging percentage across 147 plate appearances last season. The strikeouts piled up, and the power everyone expected never really showed up when it mattered.
The Yankees claimed him earlier this month, likely thinking they could unlock something the Rockies couldn’t. But with roster crunches happening across baseball right now, that experiment appears to be ending before it even started.
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The Bigger Picture
Here’s the thing about Fernandez—he wasn’t always a struggling major leaguer. This guy was a legitimate prospect in Colorado’s system not long ago. He even cracked some back-end top-100 prospect lists after a monster minor league season where he smashed 17 HR in 58 High-A games in 2023 and showed real power potential.
But the strikeouts became a problem. His plate discipline never developed. And while his Triple-A numbers showed flashes, consistency was always missing. The Yankees have been aggressive on the waiver wire this winter, grabbing low-cost players with upside and seeing what sticks. Sometimes these moves work out. Sometimes they don’t. This appears to be one that didn’t.
What Happens Next?
If the Yankees officially place Fernandez on waivers, they’re hoping he clears so they can stash him in Triple-A as organizational depth. But here’s where it gets interesting: with Spring Training starting and teams juggling 60-day injured list moves, another club could swoop in and claim him for their own 40-man roster.
The Yankees entered the offseason with low waiver priority after their successful 2024 campaign, so they’re near the back of the line. The fact that 29 other teams passed on Fernandez when Colorado waived him suggests demand is low. But things change fast in baseball, especially when camp opens, and teams realize their depth isn’t what they thought.
New York has seven days to trade him or work out another arrangement. Don’t be shocked if the front office is already making calls to see if anyone wants him for a low-level prospect or cash considerations.
Why This Matters
For Yankees fans, this is just another reminder of how fluid roster construction is in modern baseball. The team is clearly trying to maximize every opportunity to add talent, even if it means churning through players quickly. Some teams would’ve let Fernandez sit on the 40-man for weeks. The Yankees don’t have that luxury—or patience—right now.
As for Fernandez? His big league dream isn’t over. He’s still young, still has tools that scouts once loved, and he’s already played in the majors. If he clears waivers and accepts an outright assignment, he’ll get more chances in Triple-A. Maybe with better coaching or a fresh environment, he figures it out.
But for now, his Yankees chapter appears to be ending almost as soon as it began.
Vikas Tiwari, writer and editor focused on Yankees news, rumors, trade updates, and game coverage, emphasizing accuracy, sourcing, and clarity.
