Josh

Breaux

The moves leave Kody Clemens and Buddy Kennedy fighting for the final spot on Philadelphia’s season-opening bench. There are some notable names here, but Stevenson, Arroyo and Mercado are merely emergency depth at this stage of their respective careers.

The 27-year-old backstop was picked up midway through the 2024 campaign and went on to hit .230/.289/.414 with four homers and 20 RBI in 97 plate appearances at Double-A Reading before having a cup of coffee at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He’ll add catching depth in big league camp for the Phillies.

As is typically the case at this point in March, there were no real surprises among this batch of cuts for the Yankees. Rice, 25, went 2-for-7 (.286) with a pair of RBI and a 2/3 K/BB ratio over five games in Grapefruit League action. He’ll begin the season as extra catching depth in the upper minors.

No word yet on the severity of the injury. The Yankees’ depth is behind tested at the moment, as Ben Rortvedt and Austin Wells are also injured and Kyle Higashioka is about to join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

The two homers give Breaux four on the year, while the three hits up his season average to .286. Breaux was the “other” catcher selected by the Yankees in the 2018 draft along with first-rounder Anthony Seigler, but it’s possible that the 21-year-old reaches the big leagues first. He has plus power from the right side, and while his long swing guarantees strikeouts, the ball jumps off the bat when he does make contact. Breaux offers zero speed and is only a so-so defender, but that power at a premium position makes him a very interesting fantasy prospect. Don’t be surprised if he’s in New York by 2021.