Yankees Reportedly Sign Lefty Reliever Luis Avilan

Though lefty specialists have never been more neutered than they are right now, thanks to Rob Manfred's three-batter minimum, the Yankees still haven't rostered a viable one for a while.

Zack Britton is so much more than a prototypical lefty, and beyond him, they've been overwhelmingly right-handed in the 'pen for a while now.

Entering 2020, however, New York's going to give an ex-Met a chance to earn a vacant bullpen spot. They've signed Luis Avilan to a minor-league deal.

Avilan has bounced around the game for a while now, quietly dominating in 2016 and 2017 with the Dodgers (3.20 and 2.93 ERAs, respectively), and he most recently surfaced at Citi Field last season, posting his worst MLB campaign with a bloated 5.06 mark.

While there's no guarantee of a role in the Bronx, of course, the Yanks have often used the final spot in their 'pen as a revolving door, and will be one fewer arm deep in 2020 thanks to the permanent departure of Dellin Betances.

Even if his role is on the taxi squad between Scranton and the bigs, Avilan will provide value.