The New York Yankees made strategic moves today to strengthen the backend of their bullpen, which involved designating Victor Gonzalez for assignment.
Be that as it may, Yoendrys Gomez is called up as the corresponding move for Ron Marinaccio, and Phil Bickford is set to make his Yankees debut, replacing Gonzalez.
Both Gomez and Bickford have impressive strikeout capabilities, which is a significant improvement for a bullpen currently lacking in effective strikeout relievers.
Yankees add two relievers, DFA struggling left-hander
Phil Bickford is a fresh face for the Yankees, brought in on a Minor League deal early this season. He has performed well for the Scranton RailRiders, the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, posting a 2.93 ERA and 3.45 FIP in 22 outings. Bickford has struck out 29.9% of batters faced, showcasing a strong ability to miss bats. His four-seam fastball, clocking in between 92-94 MPH, is particularly effective due to its 15.7 inches of vertical movement and low release height. This unique combination creates a flatter vertical approach angle, allowing the fastball to play up in the zone effectively. Despite a successful 2021 season with a 2.81 ERA for the Dodgers, Bickford struggled in 2023, recording a 4.95 ERA with the Dodgers and Mets. His slider has been largely ineffective, but his dependable fastball allows him to succeed as a fastball-heavy right-hander.
Joining Bickford in the Bronx is Yoendrys Gomez, who has posted a 3.13 ERA across 12 starts with a 28.9% strikeout rate in Triple-A. In two appearances with the Yankees, Gomez has pitched three innings and struck out seven batters. He relies on a good four-seam fastball and excellent breaking pitches, which are effective due to his high spin rates. At just 24 years old, Gomez has the potential to be a multi-inning bullpen asset. He has shown promise in a bullpen role and is expected to get a more extended opportunity with the Yankees this time around. The team’s need for more swing-and-miss potential is evident, and designating Gonzalez signals their urgency to enhance their bullpen talent.
Gonzalez’s tenure with the Yankees has been marked by struggles, despite a misleading 3.86 ERA. His difficulty with command, evidenced by walking more batters than he struck out, has been a significant issue. Now on waivers, Gonzalez might be claimed by another team or could return to Triple-A to work on improving his command.
These moves reflect the Yankees’ commitment to strengthening their bullpen and addressing their current deficiencies in strikeout pitching. By bringing in Bickford and Gomez, the Yankees aim to enhance their bullpen’s effectiveness and overall performance.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
I wish the kids the best of luck with the Yankees, but I’m sorry to see Victor González released since he stood up for his teammate Aaron Judge in a big way by hitting Gunnar Henderson after the Orioles hit both Judge & Torres in the same game.
González had his teammates backs, which I’m sure they appreciated, but, apparently, loyalty is meaningless Cashman, the nitwit who traded Monty, who was beloved by his teammates, for a piece of dung in BADer.