Yankees Announcement Brings Bad News for Newly Acquired Pitcher

Getty

Manager Aaron Boone looks on from the dugout during the fourth inning of the MLB All-Star Game.

The New York Yankees are in the midst of a midseason bullpen shuffle, making a big move on a pitcher just days after he was acquired from their crosstown rival.

The Yankees announced on July 19 that pitcher Rico Garcia was designated for assignment. The Yankees claimed Garcia off waivers from the New York Mets earlier in the week, tapping him to pitch in a 7-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

The Yankees also brought in some more pitching help after a pair of injuries left them shorthanded.

Yankees Used Rico Garcia for Short-Term Help

The Yankees had picked up the 31-year-old Garcia after the Mets designated him for assignment last week. The Mets used the relief pitcher for 4 and 2/3 scoreless innings after his stint in Triple-A, where he struck out 27.4% of batters but also walked them at a 14.8% rate, the New York Post’s Dan Martin noted.

In announcing that Garcia was designated for assignment, the Yankees also announced that they called up pitcher Allan Winans from Triple-A. Andres Chavez of Empire Sports Media noted that the Yankees need help for their current road trip through Atlanta and Toronto, settling on the volatile Winans.

“Allan Winans is a fascinating call-up,” Chavez wrote. “In the minor leagues, he’s been lights out, posting a 1.19 ERA across 60.2 Triple-A innings. That stat alone jumps off the page, especially considering he’s pitching in the hitter-happy ballparks of the International League.

“But the major leagues have been a different story. In just 6.1 MLB innings, Winans owns an unsightly 8.53 ERA. It’s a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance that leaves the Yankees gambling on potential more than proven success.”

Yankees in Dire Need of Pitching Help

The Yankees have suffered through some injuries to their pitching staff, with both Cam Schlittler and Max Fried nursing injuries that will keep them out but not warrant a trip to the injured list.

The Yankees tried to give their starting staff a reprieve with a bullpen game against the Braves on Friday but suffered a 7-3 loss.

Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty