MLB: Miami Marlins at New York Yankees, Josh Maciejewski Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY SportsGregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees demote 2 bullpen arms ahead of the trade deadline

Originally posted on Empire Sports Media
By Alexander Wilson | Last updated Jul 21, 2024 12:02 PM ET

In the wake of a challenging 9–1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, the New York Yankees are making strategic adjustments to their bullpen as they continue through a critical four-game series, aiming to gain ground in the American League East standings.

Roster Moves: Yankees Option Maciejewski to Triple-A

Following the game, the Yankees announced the optioning of left-handed pitcher Josh Maciejewski to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Maciejewski, 28, has contributed seven innings for the Yankees this season, recording a commendable 2.57 ERA with nine strikeouts per nine innings, an 87% left-on-base rate, and a 55.6% ground ball rate. Despite concerns about his susceptibility to home runs, his recent performance continued to exhibit this trend.

Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Maciejewski has been part of the Yankees’ minor league system since being drafted in the 10th round in 2018 from UNC. With three minor league options remaining, the Yankees retain the flexibility to call him up as needed, particularly as they manage bullpen fatigue and strategy.

Cody Morris Reassigned to Triple-A

In addition to Maciejewski’s reassignment, the Bombers have made a further roster adjustment by outrighting right-handed pitcher Cody Morris to Triple-A Scranton. The 27-year-old Morris has maintained a 4.25 ERA over 36 innings with the Yankees’ top minor league team this season. His major league experience spans 31.2 innings with a 3.41 ERA and a 37.5% ground ball rate.

Morris’s role has been to provide reliable innings in relief, a critical function as the Yanks continue to rotate their bullpen arms to combat fatigue and optimize performance.

Anticipating Moves Ahead of the Trade Deadline

With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching in just nine days, General Manager Brian Cashman is anticipated to actively seek value additions to bolster the bullpen. The recent roster moves reflect a broader strategy to refresh and strengthen the team’s pitching resources as they contend for a top spot in their division.

This article first appeared on Empire Sports Media and was syndicated with permission.

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