The Yankees have yet to take a big swing this offseason, but they added a piece to their offense, agreeing on a deal to bring back Amed Rosario, The Post confirmed.
Rosario will stay in The Bronx on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
The 30-year-old arrived in a trade with Washington last July and provided the lefty-heavy Yankees lineup a professional bat from the right side, as well as defensive versatility.
He’ll figure to play a similar role this season after putting up an .819 OPS against left-handed pitching last season.
Amed Rosario is coming back to the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
On defense, Rosario isn’t a standout, but the Yankees trusted him enough to start him in playoff games at second and third base.
They still have the lefty-swinging Ryan McMahon at third, who struggles against lefties (with a .534 OPS facing them last year) and strikes out a ton, but gives the Yankees the best defensive option at the position.
With Ben Rice pencilled in at first, Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second — at least for now — and José Caballero set to fill in for Anthony Volpe at shortstop while Volpe recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, the Yankees infield will be able to use Rosario’s versatility.
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And Rosario also gives the Yankees another positive veteran presence. He developed a good relationship with Jasson Domínguez after arriving at midseason.
At the Winter Meetings last week in Orlando, Fla., general manager Brian Cashman said he was looking again to balance the offense, saying, “I definitely want to give Aaron Boone some legitimate choices so he can match up when we’re facing a left-handed starter.”
The GM added their lack of right-handed hitting was a “vulnerability,” no doubt referring to the fact not just to the infield, but with Austin Wells and perhaps J.C. Escarra behind the plate, Trent Grisham in the outfield, as well as Domínguez, who is much more productive from the left side.
Now, they have one more piece, but still need to add an outfielder, with Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker — also both left-handed hitters — the biggest names on that market, and the addition of a righty-hitting catcher wouldn’t be a surprise.
Amed Rosario connects for a hit during the wild-card round of the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Additionally, with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt all beginning the season on the IL, recovering from surgeries, they’ll need more pitching.
But throughout the offseason, the Yankees have indicated they were pleased with their roster last season, despite their inability to handle the Blue Jays in the regular season and playoffs, so smaller moves were expected and Cashman said last week the free-agent market was moving at “glacial speed.”
Rosario’s signing was first reported by the YES Network.