The New York Yankees have made significant moves to bolster their bullpen, announcing the selection of left-hander Josh Maciejewski’s contract. In corresponding transactions, they have opted to option right-hander Jake Cousins and designate lefty Clayton Andrews for assignment.
Yankees’ changes
With a bullpen that has seen heavy usage of late, the Yankees appear to be seeking additional multi-inning options to fortify their relief corps. Recent games have required substantial pitching efforts, with Luke Weaver tossing 47 pitches on Saturday and Cousins contributing 32 pitches the following day, alongside appearances from three other hurlers. While closer Clay Holmes and setup man Ian Hamilton have had lighter workloads, many other relievers have been heavily utilized.
To inject a fresh arm into the mix, Jake Cousins, who recently joined the Yankees, has been optioned out in favor of Maciejewski. The 28-year-old Maciejewski, drafted by the Yankees in the tenth round of the 2018 draft, may not have been among the team’s top prospects, but he demonstrated promise last season. Across 30 appearances at three different levels, he amassed 45 2/3 innings with a combined earned run average of 2.96, striking out 22.9% of batters while walking 8.5%. His performance in two Triple-A outings this year has been impressive, pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
To accommodate Maciejewski on the 40-man roster, the Yankees removed Andrews, whom they acquired from the Brewers in February. Andrews, 27, has limited major league experience, making four appearances with the Brewers last year and allowing ten earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.
While Andrews showcased promising numbers in Triple-A last season, including a 2.53 ERA and a high strikeout rate, his performance this year has been less convincing. With 3 2/3 innings for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, he has allowed six earned runs, walked six opponents, and struck out just two.
The Yankees now have the option to trade Andrews within a week or pass him through waivers. With a couple of options remaining and his ability to rack up strikeouts in the minors last year, he may appeal to clubs seeking additional depth. However, if unclaimed on waivers, the Yankees could retain him as non-roster depth.
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