NEW YORK (AP) — The scuffling New York Yankees added infield depth on Saturday night, acquiring Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals for pitcher Clayton Beeter and a minor leaguer.
The move came hours after New York — and one day after the for two pitching prospects.
on Saturday in New York is 21-28 following a 35-20 start and has slipped a season-high 6 1/2 games behind AL East-leading Toronto.
The versatile Rosario can play third base, second base, shortstop and the outfield. He’s a right-handed hitter with an .816 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, making him a good fit for a part-time role with the Yankees.
McMahon and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. both bat left-handed. And shortstop Anthony Volpe, a right-handed hitter, is batting just .217 in his third major league season.
The 29-year-old Rosario was hitting .270 with five home runs, 18 RBIs and a .736 OPS in 46 games and 158 plate appearances with Washington overall. He was one of baseball’s highest-rated prospects when he broke into the big leagues with the New York Mets in August 2017 at age 21.
Rosario is a .273 career hitter with 68 homers, 110 stolen bases and a .707 OPS in nine major league seasons. He’s also played for Cleveland, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cincinnati Reds.
Beeter, 26, was 0-1 with a 14.73 ERA in two appearances out of New York’s bullpen this season. He was optioned by the Nationals to Triple-A Rochester.
The right-hander has made 83 minor league starts, and he struck out 39 batters in 23 2/3 innings over 21 minor league outings this season — his first as a full-time reliever. He was ranked the No. 20 prospect in New York’s system by MLB.com.
The last-place Nationals also receive 18-year-old outfield prospect Browm Martinez, who was hitting .404 (23 for 57) with three homers, 16 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 18 games with the Dominican Summer League Yankees this year.
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