According to Matt Eddy, the Yankees have re-signed right-hander David Hale and catcher Jorge Saez to minor league contracts. Hale has big league time and Saez has been in camp as a non-roster invitee the last few years. I imagine both received an invitation to Spring Training as part of their new contracts.
Hale, 31, had three separate stints as an emergency long-man with the Yankees last season. He even went from the Yankees to the Twins on waivers, then back to the Yankees on waivers. Four different times Hale was designed for assignment (Twins once, Yankees thrice) and he kept re-signing on new minor league deals. He allowed three runs in 10.2 innings with the Yankees.
After the Yankees cut Hale loose the third time, he joined the Hanwha Eagles in Korea and had a 4.34 ERA in 12 starts and 66.1 innings. He pitched to a 4.20 ERA (3.94 FIP) in 55.2 innings with Triple-A Scranton last season and owns a 4.49 ERA (4.49 FIP) in 192.1 career big league innings. Hale had some prospect shine with the Braves back in the day but never managed to stick.
Saez, 28, originally joined the Yankees as a minor league Rule 5 Draft pick from the Blue Jays in December 2016. He hit .237/.324/.362 (94 wRC+) with five homers in 173 plate appearances as a part-timer with Double-A Trenton last year. Saez became a minor league free agent following last season and I have to think he’ll return to Trenton with Kyle Higashioka and Ryan Lavarnway ticked for Triple-A.
In my non-roster invitees preview I noted the Yankees could still sign another depth righty and another depth catcher, and here we are. Go me. Hale and Saez join Lavarnway, infielder Gio Urshela, lefty Rex Brothers, lefty Danny Coulombe, outfielder Billy Burns, outfielder Matt Lipka, righty Drew Hutchison, and righty Danny Farquhar as minor league signings this winter.