The Yankees made a roster move earlier this week, designating right-hander Yoendrys Gomez for assignment. On Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers swooped in, claiming the 25-year-old off waivers and adding him to their big league bullpen. With no minor league options remaining, Gomez will have to stay on the Dodgers’ active roster moving forward.

Yankees out of options with Gomez

The Yankees had no flexibility left with Yoendrys Gomez after he used option years in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Once a promising arm in the Yankees’ system, Gomez found himself squeezed out as New York looked to create room on its roster. His departure ends his time in the organization after parts of three seasons pitching at the major league level.

Gomez made six appearances for the Yankees this season, posting a 2.70 ERA across 10 innings of work. However, his underlying numbers showed some concerns. He walked nine batters while striking out just five, pointing to ongoing command issues that had plagued him since his debut.

In his most recent outing with the Yankees on Monday, Gomez allowed one run over three innings in a loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Despite flashes of potential, his inconsistency ultimately made him expendable.

Yankees development: Starter to reliever transition

While Gomez spent most of his minor league career as a starter, the Yankees began transitioning him to a bullpen role in hopes of maximizing his effectiveness. At Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, he pitched in 23 games (21 starts) and recorded a 3.67 ERA. He struck out 93 batters over 83⅓ innings, maintaining a 27-percent strikeout rate, but also issued 39 walks — an early warning sign of the control problems that would later appear in the majors.

The Yankees had hoped that a move to shorter stints might sharpen his command, but despite a respectable ERA in 2024, the walks remained a hurdle.

During his time with the Yankees, Gomez showcased a diverse arsenal. His four-seam fastball accounted for 43.8 percent of his pitches in the majors. He paired it with a sweeper (27.6 percent usage rate), a curveball (15 percent), and occasionally mixed in a changeup and slider.

As Sam Chapman of Pinstripe Alley noted in March, Gomez isn’t overpowering by velocity standards but generates excellent extension toward the plate. Although he struggled to produce high whiff rates in the majors, his minor league swing-and-miss numbers were more encouraging. The Yankees believed his extension could give hitters a tougher time picking up the ball, but the results remained inconsistent.

Dodgers take a chance after Yankees move on

The Yankees’ decision to DFA Gómez opened the door for the Dodgers to take a chance on the right-hander. With over 20 pitchers already used this season, Los Angeles has been aggressive in adding arms with upside. Gomez, despite his struggles, fits the mold of a project the Dodgers are known for developing.

For Gomez, a fresh start away from the Yankees might help him unlock more consistency. His ability to stay in the majors with the Dodgers will depend heavily on whether he can limit walks and take better advantage of his five-pitch mix.

The Yankees, meanwhile, continue to refine their roster as they look to maintain flexibility throughout the 2024 season. Moving on from Gomez was one more step in that ongoing process.

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