AP source: Jay Bruce to make Yankees opening day roster

TAMPA, Fla. — Outfielder Jay Bruce has made the New York Yankees’ opening day roster, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

The Yankees notified Major League Baseball that Bruce’s contract will be selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the person said Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not yet been announced.

Bruce gets a contract paying $1.35 million while in the major leagues and $150,000 should he be assigned to the minors.

He entered Saturday with a .194 average, two homers and three RBIs in 31 at-bats during spring training.

Bruce making the team could lead to a trade of outfielder Michael Tauchman, who is out of minor league options.

Bruce is a rare left-handed bat on the heavily right-handed Yankees. In their projected batting order, switch-hitting center fielder Aaron Hicks is joined by eight right-handed hitters. Left-handed-hitting outfielder Brett Gardner, projected as a reserve behind Clint Frazier, also figures to get significant playing time.

Bruce hit .198 with six homers and 14 RBIs for Philadelphia in 96 at-bats during the pandemic-shortened season. He is a three-time All-Star with a .245 average, 318 home runs and 948 RBIs during 13 big league seasons with Cincinnati (2008-15), the New York Mets (2016-18), Cleveland (2018), Seattle (2019) and the Phillies.

New York also decided to release infielder Derek Dietrich and injured catcher Robinson Chirinos from minor league contracts. Releasing them does not preclude the Yankees from re-signing them.


AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

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