Yankees DFA Former Top Prospect After Claiming Infielder Off Waivers From Mets
The New York Yankees are looking to add some depth to their roster after making their splash move by acquiring Juan Soto in a trade with the San Diego Padres.
After sending out many of their elite prospects and some Major League players, they'll need to replenish their farm system and fill out the roster before the 2024 season starts.
The Yankees made some waves when they signed former top prospect, Jeter Downs, off waivers following getting designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals after last year.
He was taken with the 32nd overall pick of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds and spent two years in their organization before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2018.
Downs was traded to the Boston Red Sox before the 2020 season in a package that brought the Dodgers Mookie Betts and David Price.
This is when the perception of Downs started to take off.
He was ranked as the Red Sox's No. 1 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline in 2020 and No. 2 in 2021.
But, his Major League career hasn't gone as expected, slashing .154/.171/.256 with one home run and four RBI in 14 games before Boston designated him for assignment. With the Nationals, he only appeared in six games last season before, once again, being DFA'd.
New York took a crack at the talented 25-year-old this offseason, but according to SNY, they also designated him for assignment following claiming Diego Castillo off waivers from the New York Mets.
Castillo started his career with the Yankees after they signed him as an international free agent in 2014, but they traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates that returned Clay Holmes in 2021.
He made their 2022 Opening Day roster and played 96 games as a rookie, slashing .206/.251/.382 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI.
In 2023, Castillo only made on appearance in the majors after he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was designated for assignment following the year and was claimed by the Mets.
After the Mets' acquisition of Sean Manaea, he was DFA'd and claimed by the Yankees.
