Yanks acquire Odor from the Rangers

NEW YORK » Infielder Rougned Odor was traded Tuesday from the Texas Rangers to the Yankees for minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers.

The 27-year-old Odor did not make the Rangers’ opening day roster and was designated for assignment on April 1. He is a lefthanded hitter, and the Yankees have a mostly right-handed lineup.

“Hopefully we can help him get that talent out that we’ve seen flash over the years,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Odor is a second baseman but also played third at spring training.

He has two guaranteed seasons at $12 million each remaining as part of a $49.5 million, six-year contract. The deal includes a $13.5 million team option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout. Texas will pay the Yankees cash to cover most of what Odor is owed.

Odor has a .237 career average with 146 homers and 458 RBIs in seven major league seasons. He hit .167 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and batted .200 with two homers and five RBIs in 35 spring training at-bats for the Rangers.

New York starts right-handed hitters with the exceptions of switch-hitting center fielder Aaron Hicks and left-handed hitting first baseman Jay Bruce, who is starting while Luke Voit recovers from knee surgery.

New York optioned right-hander Michael King to their alternate training site to open a space on the active-roster. King pitched six innings of scoreless, one-hit relief against Toronto on Sunday.

Infielder Thairo Estrada was designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster.

Cabello hit, 20, .251 with 19 doubles, nine triples, eight homers and 40 RBIs in the minors from 2018-19.