The New York Yankees found themselves in a bit of a pitching conundrum heading into their Sunday Night Baseball clash against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. After the Dodgers made quick work of Will Warren the previous day, the Yankees were in desperate need of a reliable arm to soak up some innings.
And with a couple of open spots on their 40-man roster, the Yankees had the flexibility to bolster their bullpen without risking waivers. Enter Carlos Carrasco, fresh off a flight to Los Angeles.
However, introducing Carrasco into the mix meant someone was headed back to Triple-A. The Yankees faced a choice: demote Warren and have him lie low for ten days or swap out another arm.
Demoting Warren posed a risk and meant he couldn't return for his next start unless there was an injury. They could've opted to send down Brent Headrick, a recent addition to the bullpen.
But, in a twist, they decided to send Yerry de los Santos packing instead.
De los Santos, who started off as the last man on the Opening Day roster, had gradually warmed his way into more critical situations when both Devin Williams and Luke Weaver were unavailable. However, despite his increasing role, it was back to Scranton for him, likely left wondering why Saturday's game had such a ripple effect on his roster spot.
In his stint with the Yankees, de los Santos appeared in 10 games, striking out nine over 12 innings and sporting a respectable 3.00 ERA. Yet, beneath that performance lay a troubling 1.92 WHIP, indicating his outings were rarely without drama. Like Yoendrys Gómez before him, those who just glance at the surface numbers might miss the reality of his performances.
Looking ahead, the Yankees are bracing for the return of Fernando Cruz. The right-handed relief pitcher, refreshed and rejuvenated, is set to make his comeback after getting through a weekend workout unscathed.
When he's ready, de los Santos was likely on the chopping block anyway. Instead, Carrasco will take the temporary spot, with the plan to swap back in Cruz midweek and potentially designate Carrasco.
The final piece of the puzzle? Whether Carrasco will get his chance to make a mark on the mound or serve as just a footnote in the Yankees' ever-evolving bullpen saga. As the Yankees manage their roster chessboard, every move is crucial, and the coming days will tell if their strategy plays out on the field.
