Yankees release Lind from minor-league contract
The New York Yankees released first baseman/designated hitter Adam Lind from his minor-league contract Wednesday.
Lind had a productive 2017 season with the Washington Nationals, hitting .303/.362/.513 with 14 homers in 116 games as a platoon first baseman and pinch-hit option while also seeing a small amount of time in the outfield. However, he struggled to find work in free agency and only inked the minors deal with New York on March 2; after signing, he said he was "just happy to have a job."
Ultimately, Lind's Yankees career amounted to five spring games, during which he hit .200 (3-for-15) with five strikeouts and a walk. His odds of making their roster were slim as he was behind the likes of starting first baseman Greg Bird and multi-positional talents Tyler Austin and Tyler Wade on the depth chart, among others.
Adam Lind has been released, the Yankees announced. When I asked Lind yesterday if he saw a path to getting 300 plate appearances (what he had with Nats last year), Lind bluntly and honestly said, "No." Now Lind is looking for a job again.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) March 14, 2018
Lind had the right to ask the Yankees for his release by March 22, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, though it's unclear if he exercised that option or if the team chose to cut him.
The 34-year-old is a career .272/.330/.465 hitter with 200 homers over 12 big-league seasons with four teams. Lind won a Silver Slugger in 2009 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.