As the Big Wait for free agent Cody Bellinger continues, the Yankees have made an alternative move for a non-roster lefty-hitting outfielder-first baseman.
Seth Brown, 33, has agreed to a minor league deal and was extended an invitation to Yankees spring training, as first reported by Aram Leighton of Just Baseball.
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Released by both the Athletics and Arizona Diamondbacks last season, Brown batted .185 (.564 OPS) with one homer and 23 strikeouts in 76 plate appearances (38 games) for the A’s.
June 8, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics left fielder Seth Brown during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Sutter Health Park.
Brown spent a little over a month in 2025 with Arizona’s Class AAA affiliate (26 games), batting .291 (.925 OPS) with six homers and 21 RBI.
This is due-diligence work by the Yankees to add more depth, but this slow-motion Bronx winter still hinges on the pursuit of Bellinger.
And what happens if he flees to the Mets, Blue Jays, Giants or another deep-pocketed contender?
As per USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale, the Yankees have a five-year, roughly $160 million offer to Bellinger and agent Scott Boras, including opt-out provisions.
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How important is Cody Bellinger to Yankees?
Oct. 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) talks to left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) during the playoffs against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
In the past week, the bold names of Kyle Tucker (Dodgers), Bo Bichette (Mets), Alex Bregman (Cubs) and Ranger Suarez (Red Sox) have exited the board, leaving Bellinger and starter Framber Valdez as the best available free agents.
Bellinger, 30, is a good fit for the Yankees’ needs in left field and as middle-of-the-order protection for Aaron Judge, but he’s also an ideal Mets candidate – one who’s already proven he can handle New York.
What if Yankees don’t sign Cody Bellinger?
If a better deal materializes for Bellinger than the Yankees’ offer (with the Yanks so far holding steadfast on contract length), the immediate fallback is a Jasson Dominguez-Spencer Jones competition in camp.
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As GM Brian Cashman said last month on the subject, “we’re opportunistic. We like our players, that is a fact.
“But there’s players outside of our current control system that we also like and may very well like more and better… because there’s a lot more certainty there,’’ said Cashman at the Winter Meetings.
“If we come to an area that this makes a lot of sense, then we’re ready to pounce. If not, we like what we have too at the same time.
“Jasson Dominguez is on his journey, Spencer Jones is beginning his journey,’’ said Cashman. “But I’ve got no idea how this is going to play out.’’
Seth Brown’s MLB stats
During a seven-year career with the A’s, Brown posted a .226 batting average (.712 OPS) with 74 home runs in 568 games.
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His best big-league season was 2022, when he posted a .749 OPS in 150 games, with 25 homers and 73 RBI.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees adding Seth Brown as they wait on Cody Bellinger decision