The Yankees and right-hander Nick Tropeano have agreed to terms on a minor league contract, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets. Tropeano, who is represented by the Bledsoe Agency, will be invited to Major League Spring Training.
It’s something of a homecoming for the 29-year-old Tropeano — a Long Island native who has spent the past five seasons in the Angels organization. When healthy, the 2011 fifth-round pick has pitched to a reasonable level of effectiveness, but injuries have hampered the righty rather consistently. Shoulder troubles have dogged Tropeano since 2015, and he underwent Tommy John surgery late in the 2016 season. At his best, Tropeano tossed 106 innings of 3.65 ERA ball with 9.0 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 1.4 HR/9 and a 36 percent ground-ball rate in 2015-16.
This past season was a particularly rough one for Tropeano, though, as he struggled to keep his ERA under 6.00 in the supercharged Triple-A offensive environment and also yielded 15 runs in 13 2/3 MLB frames.
With the Yankees, Tropeano can provide some depth in both the rotation and the bullpen, though he’s a long shot to make the Opening Day roster. New York currently projects to break camp with a rotation of Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ. The Yankees have endeavored to move the remainder of Happ’s contract, but even if they’re able to succeed, they can install left-hander Jordan Montgomery in the back of the rotation to begin the year. Tropeano could compete with the out-of-options Luis Cessa for a long relief spot, but it seems likelier that he’ll head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to open the season (if he doesn’t land with another club following a spring release or opt-out).
Best of luck, Trope! Still rooting for you!
He should be good in 2020 2.5 yrs after TJ surgery. Angels apparently can’t count months.
Larry48 lmaoo by that same logic Andrew Heaney and Griffin Canning are both good and should be able to throw 150+ innings. Smh
they will!
love to see players sign in their hometown
West Islip is like 60 miles from the Bronx lol
More like 40 miles
True. My mistake. Just guessed off the dome. Still, far from “hometown”. Especially considering Suffolk County is practically Mars compared to any borough.
Could’ve said home state, my apologies. Closer than Anaheim
Ummmm nah. I’m a town over and it’s 34 miles. 45-60 minutes till yankee stadium. Naturally depends on time of day but, the more you know….
Why would the pitching starved Angels let a serviceable pitcher leave?
They aren’t pitching starved, they’re health starved. Guys just can’t stay healthy. Tropeano was one of those guys. Effective WHEN healthy. Problem was he was never healthy. Halos have enough of those already.
Maybe because he’s never thrown more than 80 innings in a year. Dude has battled injuries like crazy, can’t rely on that
just dumb
I like Tropeano, but he’s never been able to stay healthy.
A 6.00 ERA in Triple-A is not serviceable.
Nothing wrong with trying a guy on a minor league deal. He’s had previous success. He’s worth a flier. Guys like Tropeano contribute and succeed at the MLB level every season/year.
Never healthy not that great when on the field. Chronic shoulder issues due to terrible form. Nothing more than depth.
He was a risk when acquired. Middle/back end potential if he could stay healthy. He didn’t.
Always seemed to work hard to get back. I wish him well.
all this guy needs is good health and he’s golden
Shoulder injuries are El Diablo for starting pitchers. Trop always was stoked and well liked by halo fans. I think we all wish him well. But not on the Yankees.
Ouch. Yankees are taking Angels hand me downs now.
It’s a bounceback flyer. No need to get worked up.
Or, Yankees just took the Angels’ #2 rotation guy as their #8 starter, in the minors…lololol
#2? Tropenao has never been the Angels #2, even when they lose their first 6 pitchers to injury
But I liked Tropeano and his ability. He just could never stay healthy. Maybe going to the bullpen could help him
I was being facetious because of the first commenter statements. He’s not a #2, just like the Yankees don’t need him in their rotation.
In regards to Yankees rotation, why not keep Happ? Yanks are going to have to pay him anyway so why pay him a big chunk of his salary to play for someone else. If he is your 5th starter, your in good shape.
He pitched a 1.65 ERA in September and a 2.45 ERA postseason (in relief). If he can keep that up, no need to trade him.
The plot concerns a one-handed tuna fisherman named Mike (Robinson) whose wife falls for the man he lost his hand saving.
I’m willing to bet the Yanks hold on the Happ. They were looking for salary relief but nobody wanted to take on his contract. The Yanks have money and can afford to hang on to him.
@Loffie
Yanks are over the lux tax and likely are trying not to go over the line with the harshest penalty. Happ’s $18 mil can end up more like $27 mil With Cole/Severino/Paxton/Tanaka as locks and Happ, German and Montgomery filling out the #5 the Yanks could likely get similar production from Montgomery and German when he’s done serving his suspension. I still like Happ and think he can be much better in 2020 but I can’t blame the Yanks for looking to save some money (penalty fees). Yanks may have needs later towards the trade deadline. That extra saved can help.
I liked Tropeano with the Angels, but he never quite rebounded from TJ surgery and has consistently been on the DL. Might be a pleasant surprise pick up for the Yanks as a long reliever and spot starter, assuming he stays healthy.
good luck! if he can get healthy what a great pitcher .. a better Shoemaker! love his splitter
I check daily to see if the yankees make moves but their is only 1 hole i see a left handed bat that actually scares opposing teams Houston didnt even bother carrying one lhp on their bullpen i think that’s an advantage you give teams maybe even more now that they have to face 3 batters. Maybe we let our young guys feel out the bench this year and maybe stash some players in AAA who knows if we have another horrible season with injuries.