The Yankees introduced right now that they’ve chosen the contract of right-hander Phil Bickford, with left-hander Victor González designated for task in a corresponding transfer. Proper-hander Yoendrys Gómez was additionally recalled, with a roster spot having been opened for him when right-hander Ron Marinaccio was optioned final evening.
González dropping his roster spot would possibly come as a shock, since his 3.86 earned run common on the 12 months appears completely acceptable. However digging a bit deeper, the numbers aren’t almost as good. He has issued 13 walks on the 12 months in comparison with simply 11 strikeouts, resulting in respective charges of 13.4% and 11.3% which might be each considerably worse than common.
His 55.1% floor ball fee is robust however his .149 batting common on balls in play is unsustainably fortunate. His 5.93 FIP and 5.59 SIERA counsel that regression is coming, so maybe the Yanks determined to give up whereas they’re forward.
They’ll now have per week to commerce González or cross him via waivers. Although his work this 12 months has been pretty unimpressive, he may garner curiosity based mostly on his previous efficiency. He made 93 appearances for the Dodgers from 2020 to 2023, lacking the 2022 marketing campaign resulting from an elbow harm that required an arthroscopic debridement process. However in his time with the Dodgers, he had a 3.22 ERA, 23.2% strikeout fee, 8.4% stroll fee and 58.1% floor ball fee.
He exhausted his closing choice 12 months in 2023, which possible motivated the Dodgers to flip him to the Bronx within the offseason alongside Jorbit Vivas for Trey Sweeney. That lack of ability to ship him to the minors will restrict curiosity from different golf equipment, however he might be managed via 2026, which can tempt some membership to offer him a shot. Since his service time rely is between three and 5 years, he would have the appropriate to reject an outright task if he clears waivers, however doing so would imply forfeiting the rest of his $860K wage.
His roster spot will go to a different former Dodger in Bickford. The 28-year-old has had a wierd offseason. Acquired by the Mets from the Dodgers in August of final 12 months, he certified for arbitration as a Tremendous Two participant.
He and the Mets didn’t comply with a wage, going to a listening to over a tiny distinction. He and his reps filed at $900K whereas the membership filed at $815K. He technically received that listening to however it wasn’t an actual victory. Beneath the present CBA, arbitration salaries are assured if the edges agree however not if there’s a listening to. The Mets would solely owe him 45 days’ termination pay in the event that they launched him previous to Opening Day they usually did simply that.
That led to a minor league take care of the Yankees in early April, with a $1.1MM base wage within the majors, possible prorated based mostly on when he was chosen to the roster. Since signing that deal, he has tossed 27 2/3 Triple-A innings with a 2.93 ERA and 29.9% strikeout fee. His 10.3% stroll fee is a tad excessive however the punchouts are clearly intriguing sufficient to get him again to the majors.
These numbers are pretty similar to his massive league numbers in 2021 and 2022. Over these two seasons, he had a 3.85 ERA in 112 1/3 innings, placing out 27.8% of batters confronted whereas strolling simply 7.3%. Final 12 months, his strikeout and stroll charges each moved within the mistaken route a bit to 25% and 12.8%, which led to his aforementioned transactions.
He’s out of choices and may’t be despatched again all the way down to the minors with out first being uncovered to waivers. But when he manages to stay on the roster, he might be managed for 3 extra seasons past this one.
