The Yankees have released left-hander Luis Avilan in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Jordy Mercer, whose contract has been selected from the alternate training site, manager Aaron Boone told reporters at today’s media session (Twitter link via ESPN’s Marly Rivera). The club hopes to re-sign Avilan but felt the move was the best course of action amid a roster crunch.
Avilan, 31, just landed on the IL earlier this week due to inflammation in his left shoulder. He’d been quite effective for the Yanks before coughing up two runs in one-third of an inning in his final appearance prior to going on the IL. Overall, Avilan has a 4.32 ERA with nine strikeouts and five walks in 8 1/3 frames.
The addition of Mercer was necessitated in large part by injuries to both DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres. Thairo Estrada and Tyler Wade are starting up the middle for the Yankees right now, but Mercer could factor into the middle-infield mix while the club’s regulars mend on the IL. LeMahieu, in particular, could return this weekend, Boone said today.
Mercer, 34, spent six seasons as the Pirates’ primary shortstop from 2013-18, hitting .257/.317/.383 in 779 games along the way. He spent the 2019 season in Detroit, and while he struggled immensely early before going on the injured list for much of the year, Mercer returned to close out the season with a torrid .312/.343/.512 slash in his final 48 games. He returned to the Tigers in 2020 but was cut loose early in the year when they opted to give younger talent a look as their rebuild progresses. Mercer latched on with New York shortly thereafter and will now head back to the big leagues to provide some infield depth for an ailing Yankees club.
I respect Cashman for trying to keep this injured, leaking ship afloat. But in such a aberrant year, I’m hoping he’s not forced into making questionable moves for the services of a so so player for a week or two.
I respect Cashman but I also blame him and his staff for not being able to develop any legitimate starting pitchers. If Schmidt or Garcia don’t live up to the hype move on from him.
Cash man has consistently put playoff teams on the field during his tenure. I’d make some coaching/scouting changes but Cashman has been as good as anyone at putting winners on the field
Patience. The pitching development department was just revamped this past off-season. It will take some time, especially with all that’s going on this year, to get things right.
Louis Serivino when he actually pitches is a stud. If you want to rant about injuries, training etc… I will ignore you. But if 2 pitching prospects don’t develope into aces you want cashmans job? Cashman has done some great things. I think Schmit is the real deal. Garcia I am not as high on as the yankees are. My apologies as this is too many words to say you are a moron.
“when” being key. Right now the only Yankee SP developed by the team this century is Montgomery- who is a 4 at best and a 5 on the margins.
Cash has done a lot of good with more resources than g-d. But his SP accumen is a disaster.
respect him for doing his job? any GM would do this or they woulf be fired.
Once again injuries contributed by rush to get players ready to play – Paxton was right on with his comments – Avilan got hit hard and I question if he played the sore arm reason- too obvious Yankees won’t win with him. Did I mention in
an earlier post that Yankees made changes to medical, training and conditioning staff after 2019 ? Would look for Yankees to add at trading deadline
I don’t think so ! He was pitching really good to let just one outing make you do something like that
Different spelling on last name, but still sounds good hearing “Mercer now batting for the Yankees”.