The New York Yankees have signed right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana to a minor-league deal, a source tells The Comeback.
The deal comes with an invite to major-league spring training.
The former seventh-best prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization looks to compete for a spot in the Yankees bullpen for the 2024 season.
He was with the Dodgers for three seasons before being traded to the Texas Rangers and eventually was dealt to the Atlanta Braves.
Across eight seasons, the 27-year-old accumulated a 5.17 ERA with 140 strikeouts in 149 and ⅔ innings.
The main concern with Santana that landed him on waivers frequently was needing more consistency in throwing strikes. He bounced around from organization to organization. He suffered a rotator cuff strain in 2018, forcing him to be out for the majority of the season and to be out of a starting role, beginning in a reliever role for the 2019 season.
He was claimed off waivers by the Mets in March after Edwin Diaz suffered a freak injury during the World Baseball Classic.
The top prospect definition appeared to not live up to the hype as it does in many young, touted players.
Santana finished his 2023 campaign with the Mets boasting a 5.91 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 10 ⅔ innings pitched.
