Yankees DFA Michael Siani: What It Means for Roster

This article digs into the New York Yankees’ choice to designate outfielder Michael Siani for assignment, clearing a 40-man roster spot for their new reliever Angel Chivilli. We’ll look at why the Yankees made this move, what it means for their roster, and why Siani—despite his limited bat—still gets attention as a speed-and-defense guy around MLB.

Yankees Create Roster Flexibility With Siani DFA

The Yankees made a pretty familiar move on Wednesday. They designated outfielder Michael Siani for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot.

This was necessary to make room for right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli, who just came over from the Rockies. Chivilli brings some fresh bullpen depth, but Siani’s exit is another example of the constant churn at the back of big-league rosters.

What’s kind of wild is this happened just five days after New York claimed Siani off waivers. That quick turnaround really shows how shaky things can get for role players in the offseason, especially if teams see them mostly as depth.

A Familiar DFA Journey for Michael Siani

Siani’s designation isn’t some random event. Since the end of the season, the 26-year-old outfielder has bounced around the waiver wire, landing with the Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers, and now the Yankees.

Despite being DFA’d several times, he hasn’t cleared waivers yet. Teams keep grabbing him, so there’s clearly something they like about his game.

The Yankees will probably try to outright Siani to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hoping he can be defensive insurance. But honestly, with his recent history, there’s no guarantee he’ll make it through waivers untouched.

Evaluating Siani’s Skill Set

Offensively, Siani hasn’t found his footing in the majors. Over parts of four MLB seasons, his career line is .221/.277/.270—that’s a 58 wRC+ if you’re keeping score.

Those numbers are well below average. Still, if you focus only on his bat, you’re missing the bigger reason teams keep giving him a shot.

Elite Defense and Speed Keep Him Relevant

Siani’s real strength is his glove. Statcast credits him with +16 Outs Above Average and +7 Defensive Runs Saved in the majors.

Most of that comes in center field, where his range and instincts really pop. On the bases, he gives you another edge—he’s swiped 21 of 26 bases, good for an 81% success rate.

In today’s game, where speed and defense matter more than ever on the margins, those skills actually mean something.

Background and Recent Playing Time

The Reds picked Siani as an over-slot fourth-rounder in the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his debut with Cincinnati in 2022.

Until recently, he’d stuck to the National League Central. His biggest shot came in 2024 with the Cardinals, where he filled a defensive-minded fourth outfielder role.

That year, he racked up a career-high 334 plate appearances. That gave teams a better look at what he can and can’t do.

Why Teams Keep Taking a Chance

Siani sticks around for some pretty practical reasons:

For a team like the Yankees, that’s a low-cost, low-risk depth guy. He’s the type you can shuttle between Triple-A and the majors when injuries hit or the schedule gets weird.

What’s Next for Siani and the Yankees

Michael Siani might stick around in the Yankees’ system, or he could end up somewhere else again. His situation kind of sums up what a lot of defense-first players deal with in today’s game.

Roster spots are always at a premium. Still, teams crave reliable depth.

For New York, this move shows they’re putting bullpen arms first. They’d still like to keep a versatile outfielder, but only if waivers work out in their favor.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Yankees Designate Michael Siani For Assignment