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New York Yankees Shake Up Pitching Staff With Roster Moves

By Kenneth Teape

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New York Yankees Shake Up Their Bullpen, Sending Two To The Minor Leagues

The New York Yankees did some housecleaning recently with their pitching staff after yet another disappointing game against the Baltimore Orioles. First, long reliever Esmil Rogers was outrighted to Triple-A after the game. Most recently, the Yankees also optioned top reliever prospect Jacob Lindgren to Triple-A.

For Rogers, this has been a long time coming. He has pitched mostly in mop-up duty for the Yankees, but has performed poorly almost every time he was on the mound. He has made 18 appearances this season and surrendered a run every occasion except four times. It has resulted in an ugly 6.27 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. Seeing his WHIP, it is obvious that Rogers struggled to keep men on base, as he allowed 41 hits and 14 walks in 33 innings of work. He also surrendered five home runs on the season.

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Joe Girardi spoke highly of Rogers still though after the game Friday, saying that it was not all his fault. “Tonight I thought he threw the ball pretty good, actually. There were a lot of plays we didn’t make behind him. That’s the frustrating part for him.” Girardi would also add, essentially in passing, that Rogers had been outrighted, futher adding, “Our hope is that he decides to come back and go goes down to Triple-A and starts and gets his stuff right.”

Since the six-year MLB veteran is out of minor league options, he has a decision to make. He can either accept the assignment the Yankees have given him and report to Scranton-Wilkes Barre, or become a free agent and ask for his release from the team.

Girardi did not give a name for a replacement on the roster for Rogers right away. But, earlier in the week, media outlets had reported that the Yankees agreed to a contract with former Toronto Blue Jays closer Sergio Santos. He could be the man that takes Rogers roster spot on the major league team.

For Lindgren, the Yankees already have their replacement. Jose Ramirez has been recalled in his place. Lindgren has had a shaky start to his major league career, giving up four runs in seven innings and blowing one save. He has been hurt badly by the long ball, giving up three already. One positive for Lindgren though is that he has been getting strikeouts, racking up eight so far and showing that he does have MLB stuff.

Ramirez has made one appearance with the Yankees this season, and it did not go well. He surrendered four runs in one inning of work against the Kansas City Royals back on May 15th when the Yankees lost 12-1.

For Lindgren though, this should be a short stay back in the minors. He will be back up with the major league team eventually.

Next: Where are the Yankees in this week's Power Rankings?

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