WHY DID THE YANKEES MAKE THIS MOVE?

In a move that left most of us blinking at our phones like we just read a typo, the New York Yankees used one of their open 40-man roster spots on Sunday to claim CJ Alexander off waivers from…the Oakland Athletics. Yes, those A's. Yes, CJ Alexander. Yes, we’re also Googling him.

This all started when the A’s needed to clear space for right-hander Michael Kelly, who was returning from MLB’s “You Gambled on What?!” list. Kelly had been exiled to the restricted list after a suspension for some small-time betting activity—think more parlay slips than Pete Rose. As Kelly returned, Alexander hit the waiver wire like a barely-used couch on the sidewalk—and the Yankees, apparently redecorating, scooped him up.

So, who is CJ Alexander? He's got a smooth lefty swing that occasionally shows signs of life in Triple-A. “Occasionally” being the operative word. The guy looks the part—tall, athletic, hits from the left side—but hasn’t exactly forced his way into the big leagues. He’s 27 and still trying to figure it out in the minors. But hey, he’s a third baseman and the Yankees love a good lottery ticket.

Maybe this was about depth. Maybe it’s about needing another bat for Scranton while waiting for the next minor-league savior to arrive. Maybe there’s a hidden analytical gem here. Or maybe… just maybe, the Yankees saw a guy the A’s didn’t want and thought, “Sure. Why not?”

But here’s the real question: Why did we do this?

Of all the options out there, of all the needs this roster has, this is the move that burns a 40-man spot?

We get it—depth matters. But this is like using your one phone call from jail to order takeout. Feels…misplaced.

The Yankees will now see if Alexander can channel that swing into something productive. Until then, he’s a name on a list and a bat in a RailRiders uniform. Maybe he clicks. Maybe he’s just a placeholder. Either way, CJ, welcome aboard. We’ll be over here wondering what just happened.