How large of an impact will this former Rangers outfielder make in New York?

The New York Yankees are continuing to make efforts to improve their roster during the 2023-24 offseason. As the team bolsters its depth, the Yankees have made a move on former Texas Rangers and recent Cincinnati Reds outfielder Bubba Thompson.

Bubba Thompson looks for a fresh start after leaving the Reds roster for the Yankees

On Thursday, Thompson was claimed by New York off waivers from Cincinnati, according to the Yankees’ X account.

Although the acquisition of Thompson strengthens their defense, the Yankees are still dissatisfied with their depth. Despite only appearing in 25 games for the Rangers in 2023, the 25-year-old left fielder has intriguing potential.

The Texas Rangers selected Thompson with the 26th overall choice in the 2017 MLB Draft. After batting.242 in his first two major league seasons, Thompson has collected 54 hits, one home run, and an OPS of.591.

As impact players already occupy the outfield positions in New York, Thompson may not immediately be given a significant chance to play. But if he gets better, he might contribute significantly to the Yankees’ defense.

New York is motivated to perform better in 2024 after a dismal season finale. Despite having an 82-80 record at the end of 2023, the Yankees just missed out on the MLB Playoffs. The senior leadership of New York has come under fire for approaching its operations with an overabundance of analytics.

Nonetheless, the team’s MLB Free Agency efforts demonstrate their concern for personnel.

Aaron Judge is one of the most intriguing players on New York’s squad. Despite playing in just 106 games due to injuries, the talented right fielder hit 37 home runs, ranking 10th in the Major League Baseball. There’s a greater likelihood for New York to qualify for the postseason in 2024 if he gets back healthy and at peak performance.