KEY POINTS

  • Despite landing Gerrit Cole, Yanks are spending more
  • They are to sign pitcher Nick Tropeano for depth
  • And Chris Ianetta to compete for backup catcher

Despite being well over the luxury tax threshold for 2020 after signing Gerrit Cole to a history-making offer, the New York Yankees are back at it and have reportedly signed Chris Ianetta and Nick Tropeano to minor league contracts.

Landing Gerrit Cole made the Yanks overnight World Series favorites. Coming off an injury-plagued yet successful 2019 in which they won the AL East and made the ALCS, adding a top-draw hurler like Cole makes them the team to beat next season.

There have been plenty of links between New York and Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader as well, but those rumbling have gone quiet, at least for now. Instead, GM Brian Cashman has elected to bring in two new faces via free agency.

Houston's Gerrit Cole allowed only one run on three hits over seven innings to silence Washington batters and help the Astros defeat the Nationals 7-1 on Sunday in game five of the World Series
Houston's Gerrit Cole allowed only one run on three hits over seven innings to silence Washington batters and help the Astros defeat the Nationals 7-1 in Game 5 of the World Series. GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Patrick Smith

Tropeano, a Long Island native, is a right-handed starting pitcher who has been very unfortunate with injuries in recent seasons. His shoulder is the main issue and in 2016 it caused him to undergo Tommy John surgery, missing the entire 2017 campaign as a result. As per Jon Heyman of MLB Network, that hasn't stopped the Yankees from taking a chance on the player.

He was limited to 13 2/3 innings in 2019 and spent the majority of the season in triple A. Nick Tropeano also struggled there and posted an ERA approaching 6.00 in his final season in the Los Angeles Angels organization.

The Yankees will likely send Tropeano to triple A again in 2020 but they have invited him to spring training and he projects to give depth to both the rotation and bullpen.

Chris Ianetta, meanwhile, last played for the Colorado Rockies where he served as backup catcher. As per Sweeney Murti of WFAN New York, the Yankees have agreed terms with him. He was once known as a solid catcher who posts above average OBP marks with some pop in his bat. For example, in 2017 he smashed 17 home runs while posting a .354 OBP.

However, now at age 36, Ianetta has seen his offensive game deteriorate and in 2019 he posted just a .311 OBP with six home runs in 164 plate appearances. That performance caused the Rockies to cut him in August.

Along with Kyle Higashioka and Erik Kratz, Chris Ianetta will compete for the job of backing up Gary Sanchez in the Bronx as he also received a spring training invite.

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