The Yankees introduced that Phil Bickford has rejoined the staff on a brand new Main League contract, and the veteran righty has been chosen to the membership’s energetic roster. Within the corresponding transfer, right-hander Michael Tonkin was designated for task.
Bickford first joined the Yankees on a minor league deal again in April, and after that contract was chosen to the large league roster in late June, Bickford posted an ungainly 14.40 ERA in 5 innings over 5 appearances earlier than New York designated him for task. Upon clearing waivers in July, Bickford opted totally free company slightly than accepting an outright task to Triple-A, and he’ll now head again to the Bronx after rather less than eight weeks on the open market.
A veteran of 5 Main League seasons, Bickford’s excessive level was the two.81 ERA he posted over 51 1/3 aid innings for the Brewers and Dodger in 2021. Since that season, Bickford has a 5.20 ERA in 133 1/3 innings with the Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees, together with a 25.3% strikeout fee and 9.3% stroll fee.
There isn’t a lot to love about Bickford’s latest MLB monitor file, however he did pitch fairly nicely on the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate this season, so the membership had sufficient consolation in Bickford to signal him to a assured deal. Bickford is out of minor league choices, and thus must be designated for task if New York needed to maneuver him all the way down to Triple-A once more.
On the floor, changing Tonkin with Bickford looks like a curious transfer since Tonkin has a 3.38 ERA, 24.6% strikeout fee, and 9.1% stroll fee in 56 aid innings for the New York bullpen this season. Whereas the general numbers are strong, nevertheless, Tonkin has a 9.39 ERA in his final 7 2/3 innings, and has been charged with a number of runs in three of his final 5 appearances. This contains two runs allowed over 1 2/3 innings in yesterday’s 9-2 Yankees loss to the Rockies, so in the present day’s transaction may very well be a option to get Bickford’s brisker arm into the bullpen.
Tonkin can also be out of minor league choices, which pertains to the transactional carousel that has largely outlined his 2024 season. He signed a $1MM break up contract with the Mets within the offsesason, then went to the Twins (his unique MLB staff) after being DFA’ed in April, however was claimed again by the Mets shortly thereafter when Minnesota additionally designated Tonkin. He hit the waiver wire but once more lower than per week later and was claimed by the Yankees, and Tonkin then achieved some stability with an prolonged stretch of time within the Bronx bullpen prior to now once more getting into DFA limbo. If he clears waivers, Tonkin can elect free company in lieu of accepting an outright task to Triple-A, however he must quit the rest of his assured wage.
