New York, NY: In a significant move within Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees have officially announced the acquisition of right-handed pitcher (RHP) Cody Morris from the Cleveland Guardians. The trade sees outfielder Estevan Florial moving in the opposite direction to join the Guardians’ roster.
Cody Morris, 27, has had a mixed performance with the Guardians in the 2023 season. In his six relief appearances, Morris posted a 6.75 ERA, covering 8.0 innings pitched, where he allowed 10 hits, 6 earned runs, and 3 home runs, alongside 9 strikeouts and 6 walks. Despite these figures, his potential was evident in his time with Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, where he recorded a more promising 3.23 ERA in 21 appearances, including four starts. In these games, he pitched 39.0 innings, surrendering 22 hits, 14 earned runs, and 5 home runs, while achieving 45 strikeouts and 27 walks.
Morris, hailing from Columbia, Maryland, has had a developing career in Major League Baseball. Over two seasons with Cleveland (2022-23), he has a record of 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 13 career appearances, which includes five starts. His journey to the majors began when he was selected by Cleveland in the seventh round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft from the University of South Carolina. Notably, he was previously drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2015 draft but did not sign at that time.
On the other side of the trade, Estevan Florial, 26, departs the Yankees with a varied record. In 19 games with the team in 2023, he hit .230, including 3 doubles, 1 triple, and 8 RBI. However, his performance was stronger in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he recorded a .284 batting average, with 28 home runs, and 79 RBI in 101 games. Over his four-year tenure with the Yankees, which began in 2020, the left-handed batter has a .209 batting average in 48 career games. Florial, originally from Barahona, Dominican Republic, joined the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in March 2015.
This trade signifies a strategic move for the Yankees as they strengthen their pitching options with Morris, potentially looking to bolster their bullpen or rotation depth. For the Guardians, acquiring Florial adds to their outfield options, providing a player with both Major League and Triple-A experience.
As both players embark on their new journeys with their respective teams, it remains to be seen how this exchange will influence their careers and the fortunes of the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians in the upcoming MLB seasons.
