CLEVELAND — Facing a doubleheader on Saturday, the Yankees anticipated a roster shake-up was coming. In preparation for the second game, they planned to boost their pitching by adding right-hander Cody Poteet to the active roster as their temporary 27th man.
After their exciting 3-2 win against Cleveland at Progressive Field, manager Aaron Boone discussed a series of roster changes during his postgame press conference. These adjustments, he revealed, went beyond just adding Cody Poteet for the Saturday doubleheader’s second game. The Yankees would subsequently confirm two additional transactions.
Yankees put Jon Berti on IL
Manager Aaron Boone highlighted a notable roster move affecting the infield following Saturday’s win.
Yankees infielder Jon Berti was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left groin strain, backdated to April 11th when Berti sustained the injury while hustling out a ground ball against Miami.
Boone mentioned, “While the severity isn’t a major concern, we’re uncertain about his exact return timeline.”
Acquired just before Opening Day in a three-team trade involving catcher Ben Rortvedt heading to Tampa Bay, Yankees infielder Jon Berti has been stepping in at third base. This was especially evident during the recent series against Miami, where he started all three games against their left-handed starting pitchers. However, his performance at the plate has yet to fully ignite, as he currently holds a .211 batting average (4-for-19) in his new pinstriped uniform.
Yankees bring in Kevin Smith
Replacing Berti on the active roster is utility infielder Kevin Smith. Smith caught the attention of the Yankees with his performance, earning a call-up after beginning the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he brings his versatility to the big league club.
The rest of the roster adjustments are centered around the bullpen.
To replace Berti due to injury, the Yankees brought up Kevin Smith, a versatile infielder who impressed in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and earned a promotion. This move strengthened the infield, but the team continued to adjust the roster.
Pitching changes
On the pitching side, the Yankees designated left-hander Josh Maciejewski for assignment to make room for a familiar arm. Ron Marinaccio, who had a challenging 2023 season after a promising rookie year, was called up from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Additionally, the Yankees completed their 40-man roster adjustments. Left-hander Clayton Andrews, who was designated for assignment earlier in April and went unclaimed on waivers, was officially outrighted, allowing him to continue his season in Triple-A.
Concluding the series of roster moves was right-hander McKinley Moore. Acquired off waivers in February, Moore was sidelined for most of spring training due to a knee injury and did not participate in any Grapefruit League games. Now recovered, the Yankees activated him from the 15-day injured list but decided to assign him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to further develop his arm strength.
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