In early April, the Yankees traded for Rangers infielder Rougned Odor in a deal that saw Texas absorb nearly all of the $27 million still owed to Odor as part of the six-year contract extension he signed with the club in 2017. Despite being a gratis addition to the roster, the trade didn’t make a ton of sense at the time. The Yankees already had two second basemen in Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu; there was no need for a third.
Moreover, as a free-swinging and undisciplined power hitter, Odor’s offensive tools seemed redundant. The Yankees’ 2021 lineup was already made up of big boppers who strike out too much.