The Yankees are bringing in an outside reinforcement to finish off their bench.
Franchy Cordero agreed to a major league split contract with the Yankees on Wednesday, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed, putting the left-handed-hitting outfielder/first baseman in line to fill the final bench spot on their Opening Day roster.
The addition of Cordero, 28, could allow the Yankees to move Estevan Florial (who is out of minor league options) in a deal for a bullpen arm, with one relief spot seemingly left up for grabs on the 26-man roster. It’s possible the Yankees could carry both Cordero and Florial on the roster to begin the season — meaning 14 position players and just 12 pitchers, taking advantage of Friday’s off day — but if they don’t add Florial, he would have to go through waivers.
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Cordero spent this spring with the Orioles, hitting .413 with a 1.099 OPS in 47 plate appearances before being released on Monday.
In 2021 and 2022, Cordero was in the Red Sox organization, splitting time between Boston and its Triple-A affiliate. Across 132 games with the Red Sox, he hit .209 with nine home runs and a .629 OPS.
When the Yankees left Florida on Monday, the battle for the final bench spot appeared to be among Florial, Rafael Ortega and Willie Calhoun. But on Tuesday the Yankees released Ortega — he asked for his release upon learning he was not going to make the 26-man roster — and reassigned Calhoun to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
They also optioned reliever Greg Weissert to Triple-A and reassigned reliever Ian Hamilton there, too, indicating that if they carry a 13th pitcher on their Opening Day roster, it could come from outside the organization via a waiver claim or trade.
Opening Day rosters are due to MLB by noon on Thursday.