Former Seattle Mariners Trade Acquisition Signs Minor League Deal with New York Yankees

Cooper Hummel, who began the year with the Seattle Mariners in 2023, has not been able to find major league traction yet. The 30-year-old will now latch on with the Yankees in hopes of making their roster in the near future.

Seattle Mariners left fielder Cooper Hummel (21) leads off first base as Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Michael Busch (83) covers the bag during the third inning at Camelback Ranch-Glendale in 2023. | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees agreed to a minor league deal on Friday with veteran Cooper Hummel. The report came from Jeff Passan of ESPN on social media:

Utilityman Cooper Hummel and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a minor league deal, sources tell ESPN. Hummel, 30, elected free agency after being DFA’d and will report to AAA. A switch hitter, Hummel would make $820K if he’s in the big leagues, as Yankees need a RH bat.

Utilityman Cooper Hummel and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a minor league deal, sources tell ESPN. Hummel, 30, elected free agency after being DFA’d and will report to AAA. A switch hitter, Hummel would make $820K if he’s in the big leagues, as Yankees need a RH bat.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 4, 2025

Hummel has appeared in three different major league seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros. The Mariners acquired him before the 2023 season in a deal for former Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis, but it didn't work out in Seattle. He played just 10 games at the big-league level, hitting .087. He played six games with the Houston Astros in 2024, going 0-for-8.

He's fared better in the minor leagues, hitting .266 over parts of eight seasons. He has 66 minor league home runs, including 10 with Triple-A Sugar Land last season. He hit 17 back in 2019 for Double-A Biloxi.

The Yankees are off to an excellent 5-2 start on the season and they will continue their season on Saturday afternoon on the road at the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are the Triple-A affiliate of the Yankees and they are continuing their season against the Syraucse Mets on Saturday.

Hummel was not in the lineup and does not yet appear on the team's official roster.

Those two teams will finish out their series on Sunday.

Related MiLB Stories

HARRY FORD MAKES RAINIERS HISTORY: Tacoma Rainiers catcher Harry Ford did something on Wednesday that hasn't been done in the last 18 years. CLICK HERE:

TOMATO PIE, ANYONE? The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are adopting a new identity this May, but what does it mean? CLICK HERE:

GETTING CYCLICAL: Drew Waters, a former top prospect now with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, became the first player in MiLB to hit for the cycle this year. CLICK HERE: