The Yankees announced they have designated right-handed reliever Ryan Dull for assignment. That, coupled with the transfer of Jonathan Holder to the 60-day injured list, clears roster space for the previously-reported activations of Dellin Betances and Jordan Mongtomery from the IL.
Betances is the most notable name in today’s series of transactions. The fireballer has missed the entire season to date with a shoulder injury. Notably, he tells Erik Boland of Newsday (via Twitter) that he’s still not up to full strength, although he expressed optimism he’ll be 100% by the end of the regular season. Betances’ progress will be one of the stretch run’s biggest health situations to monitor, as the hulking righty will be elligible for free agency at season’s end, which both player and team surely hope won’t come until after a lengthy postseason run for the soon-to-be AL East champs.
It has been an even longer absence for Montgomery, who hasn’t toed an MLB mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. As a rookie in 2017, Montgomery started 29 games and pitched to a better-than-average 3.88 ERA with solid peripherals. It’ll be interesting to see how the Bombers build him up down the stretch and what role, if any, he’ll play in the postseason.
Those returns to health come at the expense of Dull, a 29 year-old righty. He was blasted in three games as a Yankee, continuing a disappointing season. Dull has never followed up on a 2016 season in which he pitched to a 2.42 ERA in 74.1 innings in Oakland. He does come with one more option year and throws the same 91 MPH fastball he had in his breakthrough effort in the Bay Area, so Dull should still hold some appeal as a depth piece this offseason.
Holder was initially shelved in August with right shoulder inflammation. A longshot to make the Yankees’ postseason roster even when healthy, this almost certainly concludes a trying season for the 26 year-old, who pitched to a 6.31 ERA despite serviceable strikeout (25.4%) and walk (6.1%) rates.
Good news everyone.
Let’s go!
Dull did not look sharp yesterday. Was yanking his fastball and it just didn’t look effective. Total speculation but it would be interesting to see him develop a cutter or something else to pair with his curveball.
I love the inadvertent pun.
So, it was never a Dull moment when he was pitching, you’re saying?
Dull has lived up to his name.
28 different players have pitched for the yankees this year. It is ridiculous. The players union needs to look at teams who snag players for a few weeks and then toss them back again. I know it’s the gig economy now, but this is a little much. It’s not a good thing for these players to be commoditized that way. Maybe there should be a limit on season long player numbers as well as a current roster limit. It would seem like an idea worth floating out there. I mean if some idiot wants to make pitchers mounds further from home plate … this can’t be a bad idea. Put an end to disposable pitchers!
Two of the players who pitched were position players (Romine and Ford), and anyway like 90% of this team has spent at least one stint on the IL this year.
But forgetting all that, you think the MLBPA has a problem with a bunch of quad-A guys who weren’t on any team’s depth chart at the beginning of the season coming up and making major league scale for a few weeks, and getting health insurance for life by virtue of having spent a single game in a big league uniform?
Health insurance for life is a good thing. One game in a major league uniform versus teaching in New Jersey for 25 years. Hmm. If MLB is finally taking better care of their players that is to be commended. As you know, I like to shoot off my mouth without knowing half of the story. I have to stick with what I’m good at.
Troll^^^^
They do have roster limits but most are signed to Minor league deals. So you suggest killing most pitchers careers lol
Betances’ return is one of the key stories that will impact free agency. If he is lights out throughout the playoffs they will QO him for sure. If he can’t stay healthy/stinks, probably not.
There is zero chance that they are going to offer him a ~$19m QO. If Chapman opts out, wouldn’t Ottavino be the better choice for Closer?
No
He he pitches like last year, a QO is a guaranteed. Not sure why you’d think the chances are zero.
Betances is getting paid. He is elite and it doesn’t matter how he pitches in the playoffs lol
Betances is getting paid. He is elite and it doesn’t matter how he pitches in the playoffs lol
Dull can never be sharp.