The Yankees have selected left-hander Tyler Lyons, placed right-hander Ben Heller on the 60-day injured list with a biceps nerve issue and optioned righty Michael King, Brendan Kuty of NJ.com tweets.
Lyons has been a member of the New York organization since August 2019, but he only threw 8 2/3 innings as a Yankee a year ago and hasn’t pitched for them this season. That said, the 32-year-old – a former Cardinal and Pirate – has been a fairly successful reliever in the majors, where he has logged a 4.20 ERA/4.04 FIP with 9.26 K/9 and 2.85 BB/9 in 281 innings. He could now factor into a Yankees bullpen that has a pair of higher-profile southpaws in Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton.
Heller, meanwhile, has been a Yankee since they acquired him from the Indians as part of a trade for southpaw Andrew Miller in 2016. Heller hasn’t seen much action in the majors since then (31 1/3 innings), but he did throw six frames of two-run ball this year before his season came to an end.
Still wondering why he was on the postseason roster last year. He didn’t allow a run but it just felt kind of weird.
Lyons was a Pirate all right, for all of 3 very lousy appearances.
I thought the same thing.
Yankee front office seems to really like this guy.
Our bridge from starters to end game has needed shoring up since…well, December. I certainly loved the Cole signing but it pretty much ended the Yanks making any significant roster additions afterwards.
There was a handful of relief pitchers available at the deadline (many of whom went for a paltry prospect cost) that would have been welcome.
Hopefully, he can come in and give us a decent middle relief option. Depth – particularly of the pitching variety – is going to be a huge factor this postseason.
Be good, Lyons.
🙂
Good game last night….
This guy will rip your heart out. About the time you think he is an MLB pitcher, he reminds you of all the other guys who thought were MLB pitchers also…..