The New York Yankees’ latest roster move wasn’t meant to grab headlines, and it won’t have fans excited, but it could quietly reshape their bench.

The club agreed to a minor league deal with 29-year-old Cooper Hummel, a switch-hitting corner outfielder and catcher. Hummel has struggled in limited big-league opportunities, but he has hit well at Triple-A. Hummel owns a career .159 average across 82 major league games from 2022–2024, but his minor league numbers tell a different story. Over 330 career games at Triple-A, he’s posted a .899 OPS, including a .277/.419/.454 slash line last year with the Astros’ affiliate.

So how does he fit with the Yankees? Well, his signing could signal that they are getting ready to make a move.

The Yankees broke camp without a clear right-handed bench bat. Instead, Pablo Reyes and Oswald Peraza, both light-hitting righties, took two of the bench spots. With Hummel in the system and the team continuing to search for right-handed production, the pressure will turn up on Peraza and Reyes.

Once a top prospect in the Yankees’ minor league system, Peraza has never been able to establish himself in the big leagues. He hit a home run off the bench during the Yankees’ 20–9 blowout win over Milwaukee on March 29, but he had just one at-bat until a surprising start on Saturday. Peraza does not have any minor league options left, so the Yankees risk losing him if they designate him for assignment.

Reyes, who drew praise from manager Aaron Boone in spring training, has yet to find his footing. He’s 0-for-6 across four games and committed multiple errors in his only start at third base. Reyes’ versatility and past success against lefties have long made him a fit for a utility role, but early struggles have made his spot less secure.

Hummel doesn’t guarantee a roster move, but he gives the Yankees something they haven’t had: a right-handed, bat-first bench option with experience behind the plate and in the outfield. Whether that eventually pushes Reyes or Peraza off the roster remains to be seen, but the addition adds a layer of pressure to a bench group still trying to settle in.