The Yankees added some outfield depth on Saturday, striking a trade with the Rockies for OF Mike Tauchman, the team announced. New York sends LHP Phillip Diehl in the trade.
Tauchman made his Major League debut back in 2017, and played in 21 games with the Rockies last season. He didn't have success in 37 plate appearances, hitting .094/.194/.125 with five runs scored. The 28-year-old did see success in Triple-A Albuquerque, though, with a .323/.408/.571 slash line, 20 homers and 81 RBI.
As The Post's Joel Sherman pointed out, Tauchman gives the Yankees another option to play centerfield as well as a left-handed bat for the short porch if they need it. The Yankees did send Billy Burns and Clint Frazier down in Triple-A, but with Tauchman hitting .196 in Rockies Spring Training, he shouldn't be breaking camp with the team.
Diehl pitched in Double-A last year, owning an impressive 1.35 ERA over 26.2 innings. He also had a 3.14 ERA in High-A ball.
According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Diehl thought the trade was a joke when he heard about it. He believed it to be a prank after cutting CC Sabathia in line for a haircut in the morning. He was emotional talking about the trade, as he noted the Yankees treating him with respect.
The 24-year-old Diehl was drafted by the Yanks in the 27th round back in the 2016 MLB Draft. He had a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings this spring.