Oct. 6: Gonzalez cleared outright waivers and was assigned to the roster in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, per a team announcement. He can reject the assignment to become a free agent right now or can otherwise wait and become a free agent at season’s end (as is the right of any outrighted player with three-plus years of service).
Oct. 3: The Yankees announced Monday that they’ve reinstated right-hander Miguel Castro from the 60-day injured list and designated fellow righty Chi Chi Gonzalez for assignment in order to open space on the roster.
The Yanks were the third team of the season for the 30-year-old Gonzalez, who allowed one run through 4 2/3 innings in a spot start against the Orioles just yesterday. He’s also spent time with the Twins and Brewers in 2022, combining for 23 innings of 5.87 ERA ball with a 15-to-7 K/BB ratio.
Selected by the Rangers with the No. 23 overall pick back in 2013, Gonzalez ranked as one of Texas’ top minor league arms for a few years but never cemented himself as a regular contributor in either the rotation or the bullpen there. His 3.90 ERA through 67 innings as a rookie in 2015 looked promising on the surface, but Gonzalez walked more hitters (32) than he struck out (30) that season. He’s tossed 217 1/3 frames for five teams since that time, pitching to a collective 6.20 ERA along the way.
Struggles in the Majors notwithstanding, Gonzalez has a decent Triple-A track record and has been solid or better there in three of four seasons pitching at that level. That includes the current campaign, where he’s totaled 80 1/3 innings with a 4.03 ERA, a 20.8% strikeout rate and a 7.9% walk rate. The Yankees will place him on outright waivers or release waivers in the next couple days, and assuming he clears, Gonzalez will be able to become a free agent either upon clearing waivers or at season’s end.
Castro, 27, has been on the injured list twice this season due to a shoulder strain. In 27 innings when healthy, he’s posted a 4.00 ERA with a 24.8% strikeout rate, 10.7% walk rate and 46.6% ground-ball rate. Despite the shoulder troubles, Castro’s sinker remains just as lively as it was with the crosstown Mets in 2021, averaging a blistering 97.9 mph this season.
If he’s healthy, Castro will give the Yanks an experienced option to consider for the postseason as he looks to showcase himself in advance of his first trip to free agency this winter. Command has long been an issue for the hard-throwing righty, but he has a 3.93 ERA over his past 348 big league innings, has considerably upped his strikeout rate since 2020 (26.9%) and typically keeps nearly half the batted balls against him on the ground (career 48.9%).
Short lived Chi-Chi.
But while he was there……
If the Yankees win he gets a ring!
Not to surprised with this move I mean come on no way Chi Chi is going on the postseason roster he can’t consistently do well in the Pen’ he’s better off in the minors for now.
Forever
I once knew a short order cook named Chi Chi Rodrigues, one leg was shorter than the other & his ears were lopsided but boy could this guy cook up some refried beans. Ahahaha!
I made refried beans on my bbq last night. Boy were they good…
So if the Yankees win the World Series, does he get a ring?
He gets 2.
One for each Chi?
Filthy but I love it
After what I’ve seen from Chapman this year I’d feel more comfortable having Castro on the postseason roster instead (and that’s not saying much).
I’d rather have Chi Chi than Chapman.
Absolutely. I’d take Weber over Chapman tbh.
I agree with both you guys.
The Yankees are an embarrassment. Signing and releasing scrubs because they can’t keep their players from imploding from overuse. Pitiful.
Whyhayzee “The Yankees overuse their players.”
Also Whyhayzee “Why are the Yankees bringing in guys to keep from overusing their players?”
Yeah. real embarrassing locking up the East and avoiding the play-in series. Shame on them!
Scrubs. And you wonder why the Yankees can’t develop anybody? Because they choose scrubs over their own minor leaguers. And then they try to trade them away for “proven players”. This is not what they did “back in the day” when they actually won something. Shame on the organization for losing its winning ways because they have to employ scrubs instead of giving their own guys a shot.
“Their own guys” don’t exist anymore. How many players play their entire careers for one team?
Most minor leaguers stay in the same system hoping to be called up. But the scrubs get priority with the Yankees. I’m not talking about a whole career at all. Just lack of opportunity.
“the Yankees can’t develop anybody”
Aaron Judge, homegrown Yankee.
That’s the Yankees whom are competing every year. Gary Sanchez, Andujar, Frazier, and Torres were all provided ample time at the big league level. Only Torres remains and others hace been replaced. Yet here we are with another division title.
Frazier and Torres were acquired in trade, but Peraza, Cabrera, Higashioka, Severino, Marinaccio and Schmidt are all homegrown players on the current roster. And, of course, Judge.
And burn an option on a legit prospect just to fill a roster hole for a couple of days? Glad you’re not the GM.
Legit prospect. Funny.
Wow. Seven. They should make a movie.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just say “I hate the Yankees” and be done with it?
Probably.
But my team stinks. I need something to do with my free time. And I have a long standing connection with the Yankees. Much as I hate to admit it. So I just point out their faults. It’s like a demented hobby. Kind of like the useless nonsense I just typed. Oh well, it’s all in fun.
@Why I appreciate your sincerity and commitment.
Nothing wrong with trolling, if you’re honest and committed.
Another Jon Daniels draft failure.
I remember when Chi Chis Mexican Restaurant went out of business, tainted green onions imported from Mexico and served at a Chi-Chi’s near Pittsburgh caused a hepatitis A outbreak.
I live about 90 minutes from there. You can still get Chi-Chi’s branded stuff at the grocery store
Nice
I remember when Chi-Chi’s Mexican restaurant closed. Tainted green onions imported from Mexico and served at a Chi-Chi’s near Pittsburgh caused a hepatitis A outbreak.
Let’s go to Korea, Chi Chi
Let’s go to Korea
This is the 3rd time this year he’s been DFA’d Might be time for a career change there chi chi
Of course you could also look at the glass as half full in that there were 2 teams so far that WANTED him after he was DFA’d. So maybe he still has a little in the tank. I thought he did an OK job as the Rockies 5th starter the past couple of years.
It’s always weird reading these “they should retire” comments. These players worked hard most of their young adult lives to reach the highest level of their profession and have achieved it competing with the best of the best. They’ll retire when there is no longer demand for their services.
Best start of his season but overall Chi Chi has been a bust…
I see what you did there. Haha
In an effort to improve his chances of sticking on a team’s MLB roster NEXT SEASON, Chi Chi Gonzalez will soon change his last name to RODRIGUEZ.
Or he could switch it to “Chi” and just be known as “Chi Chi.”
Meant “Chi Chi Chi”
Shut down just like the restaurant.
Two outstanding sights today: Sevy pitching like an ace with high heat and Stanton getting to a 99 MPH fastball.
I know it would absolutely suck for him, but I think I would start Cortez, then Sevy, and have Cole as my #3 for the postseason.
I agree 100%. In fact, It might also benefit Cole not to have the pressure of the first game to contend with. If he chokes again, it puts the whole team on their heels — not how you want to start the series.
Chapman cannot be on the roster. He’s been too erratic for too long. He hasn’t found it and time is up. Risking an implosion with crucial postseason games isn’t a wise decision. It’s an unfortunate end, but time to cut our losses and move on. I could be wrong here, but I just don’t see a viable use for him in the postseason at this point. Boone can’t even leave him in when they’re ahead by several runs in regular games because he allows teams to close big gaps. He’s just too risky at this point.
Ditto on Chapman. We all know Cole is starting game 1 so Hal can justify his signing.
Again agreed. Chapman is too great a risk. I don’t blame him for Buzzer Boy’s home run in 2019, but Chapman was still a very good reliever back then. He’s lost it this year.
Um, the Rangers aren’t in the postseason. Take it easy there. And don’t forget the extra large strike zone. On full display last night, per usual.
Nice to get some help from the dumpires.
Such a homer, whyhayzee. You want to see suspicious bias, look at Ortiz’s un-believable age 40 season. Leads the league in SB, RBI, SLG, and OPS. 38 HR’s. And he was no athletic specimen. What did the umpires and PED-testing crews do there? I’m no Yankee fan, but I know garden-variety hate when I see it. No team gets strike zone bias. None.
*2B, not SB
Papi would come out in the middle of the night and steal the bases! jk
I will admit that the Red Sox have bugged the crap out of me at times over the years. The last team to have a player of color? That flat out sucks.
With Ortiz, I have my suspicions, but nothing’s proven. Piazza? Nothing’s proven. I would like to know for sure about every player and put it to bed. And if Papi cheated, nothing counts.
There are many suspicious characters out there but it doesn’t mean they cheated. Stanton’s 59 home runs? And the Marlins gladly trading him for a barely decent player?
Players do have great performance seasons out of the ordinary. Roger Maris? I’m certain he did absolutely nothing dishonest. But 61. Wow.
Nolan Ryan. A horse. Well into his 40’s. But I’d be shocked if he did nothing but work his ass off.
Look at Pujols this year. Don’t know.
It’s kind of a mystery and one that is a dark mark on Major League Baseball.
When I read his name I hear it as Les Nessman would pronounce it. Chy Chy GONzalez.
Might as well take the AAA assignment for now on the slight chance additional injuries hit the pitching staff during the postseason. He signed, IIRC, before September 1. Ryan Weber should have done the same. He missed at least one more call up by not returning to Scranton.
The postseason roster is going to be interesting. Fortunately, it looks as though DJ, Wandy, & Holmes will be on it.
Cabrera has been better than expected and continues to improve. I think he could be a key player in this postseason.
Sure. It’s not like he has to actually go there.
Remember the restaurant chain Chi-Chi’s?
That’s all.
Time for the annual October “Man Who Fell to Earth” routine, shuttling between simultaneously aired playoff games, thanks to MLB’s overlapping programming.