Yankees Add Veteran Bat to Their Bench

The New York Yankees have signed former major‑league outfielder Randal Grichuk to a minor league contract, making him a non‑roster invitee for spring training. The deal gives the team another right‑hand hitter who can slot into a platoon role without taking a guaranteed spot on the 40‑man roster. Grichuk, now 34, will try to earn a place behind Aaron Boone’s bench during the preseason. Grichuk has a history of performing well against left‑handed pitchers. In the last three seasons he batted . 317/. 367/. 573 against southpaws, hitting 25 homers and 34 doubles in fewer than 500 plate appearances. That production ranks him fifth among hitters with at least 450 opportunities against lefties during that stretch. The Yankees hope he can return to that form in spring.His most recent season, however, was disappointing. After a . 228/. 273/. 401 line with the Royals, he struggled against lefties, posting only . 227/. 273/. 430 in 183 at‑bats. Because of this decline, the club will see how he performs in limited short‑side opportunities before deciding whether to keep him on the roster. If Grichuk earns a spot, the Yankees would have a solid right‑hander on their bench. The team already has strong left‑handed backups like Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario, so adding Grichuk would provide balance. It also keeps a veteran who finished last season on an MLB roster inside the organization, as non‑roster invites have three opt‑out dates: five days before Opening Day, May 1, and June 1. Ultimately, the Yankees will evaluate Grichuk’s spring training performance to determine if he can help fill a right‑handed gap or whether the team will keep him in the minors.