Former Yankees reliever Ron Marinaccio has found a new home with the Chicago White Sox, who claimed him off waivers on Monday. The Yankees had designated Marinaccio for assignment the previous Friday to create room on the 40-man roster for right-hander Cody Poteet, who was returning from a long stint on the 60-day injured list.
With the worst record in Major League Baseball this season, the White Sox held top priority on the waiver wire and capitalized by adding Marinaccio. Upon acquiring him, Chicago optioned the 28-year-old to their Double-A affiliate in Birmingham.
This move officially ends Marinaccio’s eight-year tenure with the Yankees, an organization he had been with since being drafted in the 19th round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Delaware. A Toms River, New Jersey native and lifelong Yankees fan, Marinaccio made his big league debut with New York in 2022, posting a 2.05 ERA over 40 relief appearances and showing significant promise as a reliever.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed the decision to designate Marinaccio, acknowledging it was a tough call. He explained that the current makeup of the roster forced the team’s hand in making the move. Boone emphasized the difficulty in parting with a player like Marinaccio, who had become a valued member of the club.
Ex- Yankees slugger hammering homers at 50
Former Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui made a memorable return to the field during a special exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome on Monday. Playing for “Team Ichiro” against a High School Girls All-Stars team, Matsui helped draw a crowd of over 28,000 fans to the event.
Despite suffering a leg injury in the outfield during the first inning, the 50-year-old Matsui continued playing with the help of a pinch runner. His perseverance paid off in the eighth inning when he belted a three-run home run, playing a key role in his team’s dominant 17-3 victory.
Matsui’s squad, which included Japanese baseball greats Ichiro Suzuki and Kobe Chiben, controlled the game from start to finish. Matsui’s performance, especially after his injury, stood out, showing flashes of the power that made him a star during his MLB career.
After the game, Matsui expressed joy over his home run, acknowledging that the thrill of hitting one never fades. He also voiced his satisfaction in being able to complete the game, despite the early setback.
The exhibition highlighted the enduring popularity of legends like Matsui and Suzuki while giving young high school athletes a rare chance to face some of Japan’s baseball icons.
Yankees’ Aaron Judge joins baseball’s elite sluggers
The New York Yankees capped off their series in Oakland with a 7-4 victory over the Athletics on Sunday afternoon. This game was particularly meaningful, as it marks the last contest the Athletics will play at the Oakland Coliseum before temporarily relocating to Sacramento and eventually making a permanent move to Las Vegas.
With the win, the Yankees improved their record to 92-64, securing a playoff spot and inching closer to clinching the American League East title. They currently hold a 2.5-game lead over Cleveland for the top seed in the American League playoffs.
Star outfielder Aaron Judge had a standout game, going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run, which was his 55th of the season. This achievement places Judge among an elite group of players, as noted by @CodifyBaseball, which reports that only five MLB players have hit 55 or more home runs in multiple seasons: Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and now Judge.
Currently the frontrunner for the American League MVP Award, Judge is batting .323 with 55 home runs and a league-leading 138 RBIs. His performance comes on the heels of his record-breaking 2022 season, during which he hit 62 home runs, setting a new American League mark.
If Judge wins the MVP Award this year, it would mark his second in three seasons, following his previous win in 2022.
The Yankees will take a day off on Monday before heading back to the East Coast. They are set to face the Orioles at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. The pitching matchup will feature Dean Kremer for Baltimore and Clarke Schmidt for the Yankees.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
With all of the minor league seasons over, except for maybe a couple if games Friday and tomorrow, the White Sox I see have already messed up with claiming Marianaccio.