Two former New York Yankees travel to Japan .Outfielder Franchy Cordero has signed a contract with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball, his agency Republik Sports announced on Twitter on Thursday.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, relief pitcher Albert Abreu signed with the Lions on Wednesday.Although the Yankees did not use Abreu earlier in the offseason, they cut Cordero against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Both are now leaving the organization, choosing to pursue their careers abroad rather than succeed through the minors. Cordero was a top-10 prospect for the San Diego Padres before being traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2020.
Back then, he was one of four players sent to the Boston Red Sox when they replaced Andrew Benintendi in 2021.The left-handed slugger couldn’t make it in Boston and signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles last winter.
The New York Yankees passed on Cordero when he hit the open market in March, but buried him in the minors after a disappointing spring.Cordero is a .217 hitter with 27 home runs, 87 RBI, 13 stolen bases, a .678 OPS and a WAR of -0.7 in 251 career major league games. However, the 29-year-old hit .284 with an .806 OPS in the minors, showing he has the potential to succeed again in Japan.
Abreu joined the Yankees organization when they traded catcher Brian McCann to the Houston Astros in 2016. He made his MLB debut in 2020 and saw further action in 2021 before being traded to the Texas Rangers then to the Kansas City Royals in 2022.
After the Yankees cleared waivers this summer, they brought Abreu back to the roster. He finished a successful 2022 with a 3.26 ERA and 0.4 WAR in 33 appearances, although he started this season with a 5.68 ERA and -0.2 WAR in 30 appearances.
appeHowever, Abreu failed to keep pace in 2023, posting a 4.73 ERA and a -0.2 WAR. While always available out of the bullpen – fourth on the team with 45 plate appearances – the 28-year-old missed the final month of the season with a hamstring injury.
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