In a series of roster moves, the Minnesota Twins have claimed outfielder Bubba Thompson off waivers from the New York Yankees. Thompson's journey during the offseason has been eventful, as he now joins his fourth team in a short span of time.

The 25-year-old Thompson was initially claimed by the Yankees from the Cincinnati Reds on January 4th. Prior to that, the Reds had claimed him from the Kansas City Royals on October 26th. Thompson's original team, the Texas Rangers, had lost him to the Royals on August 13th.

In the limited playing time he had with the Rangers last year, Thompson recorded a batting average of .170 (9-for-53), with no home runs, four RBIs, and four stolen bases in 37 games. Despite these numbers, the Twins have shown interest in his potential and have secured his services.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have made other roster moves, designating infielder Jeter Downs for assignment, one month after claiming the 25-year-old shortstop off waivers from the Washington Nationals. Downs, who shares his name with former Yankees captain Derek Jeter, had been traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Boston Red Sox in 2020 as part of the Mookie Betts deal. He made his big league debut with the Red Sox in 2022, hitting .154 (6-for-39) with one home run and four RBIs. The Nationals later claimed him off waivers.

Outfielder Oscar González, known for his walk-off single against the Yankees in Game 3 of the 2022 AL Division Series, had been claimed by New York from the Cleveland Guardians on December 1st. During the 2022 season, the 25-year-old right-handed hitter batted .214 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 54 games. However, the Yankees designated González for assignment on January 17th to make room for right-hander Marcus Stroman.

In addition to Thompson's acquisition, the Twins have assigned infielder Downs and outfielder González to their Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team. This move provides an opportunity for the two players to further develop their skills and potentially earn a spot on the Twins' major league roster in the future.

As the offseason continues, teams across Major League Baseball are making strategic moves to strengthen their rosters for the upcoming season. The Twins, Yankees, and other teams will undoubtedly continue to make adjustments in the coming weeks as they prepare for the 2023 campaign.