Orioles Claim Jhonkensy Noel, Apparently Just to Reopen Yankees’ 2024 ALCS Wounds
Give the Baltimore Orioles credit for one thing: after a disappointing 2025 season, they’ve stayed active. Very active. Whether that activity actually makes them better is another question entirely.
At times, Baltimore’s moves have looked legitimate, even aggressive—signing Pete Alonso certainly qualifies. Other times, they’ve been baffling, like surrendering a haul of young assets for Shane Baz. Now, the Orioles have made yet another move that seems to exist for no clear baseball reason whatsoever.
Baltimore has claimed Jhonkensy Noel off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. And if you’re a Yankees fan, you already know exactly why that name feels unpleasantly familiar.
“Big Christmas” Still Haunts the Bronx
If nothing else, the Orioles’ addition of Noel feels tailor-made to troll the Yankees.
Noel—nicknamed “Big Christmas”—burst onto the scene with Cleveland in 2024, immediately standing out thanks to his imposing 6-foot-3, 250-pound frame and jaw-dropping raw power. The Dominican slugger mashed 13 home runs in just 179 at-bats, posting an eye-popping .268 ISO that hinted at legitimate middle-of-the-order potential.
Of course, that power came with a catch—or several dozen of them.
Noel struck out 31.8% of the time during his rookie season, dragging his overall slash line down to .218/.288/.486. His swing featured plenty of holes, but when he connected, the results were unmistakable.
And Yankees fans remember exactly when he connected most.
The 2024 ALCS: A Bronx Nightmare
Jhonkensy Noel etched his name into Yankees infamy during the 2024 ALCS, delivering a pair of moments that still trigger involuntary eye twitches in New York.
In that series, Noel slashed .250/.333/.625, but the stat line barely captures the damage. His most infamous moment came in Game 3, when he launched a massive, game-tying two-run homer off Luke Weaver with two outs in the ninth inning—a swing that flipped the entire series’ momentum.
Then came Game 4, when bizarre camera angles and an all-time premature call from Guardians radio announcer Tom Hamilton made it seem like Noel had done it again, only for the ball to land harmlessly in Alex Verdugo’s glove. Even when he didn’t hurt the Yankees, he still managed to traumatize them.
Fast forward to 2025, and one would reasonably expect growth—if not stardom—from a young power bat entering his second season.
That did not happen.
A 2025 Season to Forget
Instead of building on his rookie promise, Noel regressed badly in 2025.
Pitchers adjusted. Noel didn’t.
His strikeout rate ballooned to an ugly 34%, while his plate discipline completely collapsed—he walked just four times in 153 plate appearances. The result was a disastrous .162/.183/.297 slash line, with only six home runs to show for the entire season.
The issues weren’t limited to the batter’s box, either. Noel’s defense at both first base and the outfield graded poorly, and by season’s end, he had accumulated -1.1 fWAR, actively hurting Cleveland whenever he was on the field.
With no minor league options remaining, the Guardians finally pulled the plug.
Enter Baltimore.
Why Did the Orioles Do This?
That’s the million-dollar—or rather, minimum-salary—question.
The Orioles already have a crowded mix of first base and corner outfield options, including Tyler O’Neill, Ryan Mountcastle, and Coby Mayo. While none of those players had particularly inspiring 2025 seasons, not one of them cratered to the depths Noel reached.
So what’s the plan?
There are really only two plausible explanations:
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Roster churn for the sake of roster churn, possibly with another move coming to clear space.
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Pure, unfiltered psychological warfare against the Yankees.
If it’s the latter, then credit where it’s due. Mission accomplished.
A Move That Feels More Symbolic Than Strategic
On paper, Noel doesn’t address a need. He doesn’t improve roster balance. He doesn’t bring defensive value or on-base skills. What he does bring is bad memories—specifically for one division rival that Baltimore is clearly intent on annoying.
The Orioles may be trying to convince themselves that a change of scenery can unlock Noel’s raw power again. That’s possible. Baseball is weird. But if that’s the real plan, it’s an optimistic one bordering on reckless.
Much more likely, this is a low-risk move designed to poke the Yankees, reopen old wounds, and remind New York fans that yes, that guy still exists—and now he’s in the AL East.
If that was the goal?
Congratulations, Baltimore. You nailed it.
Whether it helps you win baseball games is another matter entirely.
