The Yankees announced Tuesday that they’ve designated left-hander Manny Banuelos for assignment and recalled fellow lefty JP Sears from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Now 31 years old, Banuelos inked a minor league deal with the Yankees back in March and finally made it to the Majors for the team for whom he was considered a top prospect for so many years. He’s pitched rather well in Pinstripes, too, notching a 2.16 ERA, a 22.9% strikeout rate, an 8.6% walk rate and a huge 62.5% ground-ball rate in a small sample of 8 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
Despite that solid showing, the Yankees will turn that roster spot over to the younger Sears, who has been excellent both in the Majors (seven shutout innings) and in Triple-A so far this season (1.83 ERA, 50-to-6 K/BB ratio in 39 1/3 innings). At this point, there’s little denying that Sears has earned himself a more prominent look in the Majors, but it’s still at least a mild surprise that it came at the expense of Banuelos, given his solid showing thus far.
With Banuelos now off the 40-man roster, the Yankees will have a week to trade him or attempt to pass him through outright waivers. Banuelos is out of minor league options and can’t be sent down without first clearing waivers — which surely played a role in today’s DFA — so any club who claims him or acquires him in a trade will need keep him on the active roster.
JP Sears is a true American patriot.
Kinda like Aldi Jewels? Or Kohl Macy?
Strangely enough JP Sears is a highly regarded name within the Vietcong.
A Vietcong soldier would often use American newspaper as wrappers for explosives. “Often using sears circulars as the walls for explosives. The JP was usually scratched into the reused US army claymore parts that he collected to create his own devices.”
I always think of buñuelos when I see this guy’s name..
they are delicious
Wasn’t he the drummer for Cheap Trick?
Feel bad for this guy, I am sure he will catch on with someone else. Too many lefty’s in the bullpen! Looking forward to seeing what Sears brings.
This is just a spot start for Sears then he’ll be sent back down when they activate Chapman in the coming days. With that said, Sears should continue to make cameos throughout the season and could play a big role down the stretch
He made more than half million last year. I was laid off and can barely pay my rent. Feel sorry for me.
The whole, “he’s rich so you shouldn’t ever feel bad for these people” is such a stupid statement. They are humans too ya know. Money aside, why should anyone feel more sorry for you, than him? He finally makes it back to the show to pitch for the Yankees, pitches well, and still loses his job. If you could barely pay your rent because you lost your job, then you should have been pounding the pavement before you even went back to your apartment. Too many jobs out there to feel sorry for you Bright Side.
He’ll either pass through waivers and stay with the org, or some team will claim him. He looks improved and is healthy since his last appearance in the majors. He pitched well in Asia last year and the minors this year, so I can see some team taking a shot. Unfortunately, he’s out of options, so there’s no way for the Yankees to keep him rostered.
Someone is grabbing him even if just a temporary move. Just remember his sample size this year is tiny.
I am sure that another contender, in need of bullpen help, will pick up Manny B. Probably Boston… which appears to be the Yamks closest pursuer.
@LordD99 – I completely disagree with your first sentence ;-). Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
No way. I say both!
@Dorothy, I did miss a third option. He’s traded!
Banuelos’ numbers are a bit misleading since he usually pitched in games that were out of reach. I’m a bit surprised he didn’t pitch the 9th last night before the DFA
Banuelos’ numbers are actually misleading since they were good, but he’s really not good?
The Orioles need to jump all over this.
You thinking like Man Ban for Rutchmann?
Man Bun. Craig Kimbrel has one of those.
Man Ban. Sounds like something you’d see at Chelsea.
Royals gave Abreu to Yanks at no cost. Royals could use a lefty out of the pen. Yanks give Banuelos to Royals for a buck of good baseballs?
He does have value. How much value? We’ll see. Is it sad to say that I think Manny has more value than Chapman right now?
Nothing to be sad about. The team has fared quite well without Chapman, Green, and Lasagna. Rotation is healthy. Manny getting the boot says a lot about the depth the team has.
His getting so few opportunities says more about the Yankees’ pitching this year.
Yanks have a lot of pitching choiices moving forward. They have Sears, Waldichuk, Krook, Medina, Wesneski, and Schmidt starting, and Marinaccio, Schmidt, J Lo, , German and Chappy. I think Cashman looks to get an upgrade in the outfield at the deadline, but they could stand pat with this team.
I wouldn’t mind them standing pat. Perhaps an upgrade over Marwin G. or shedding Gallo and/or Hicks. Ben R is also expected back so he needs to be rostered. I predict a trade for an under-the-radar starting pitcher.
Cashman will not trade Gallo.
He needs to defend and double down on his acquisition. That’s just the way he is.
And now we have the dulcet tones of Bruce Hornsby swimming in our head. Thanks for that
ctyank7–
I don’t think so. Gallo has been an embarrassment with how stubborn he is. A slight alteration in his batting approach would make a big difference. Now Cashman’s looking at a team that finally has a legitimate chance in the postseason. He’s too smart to allow Gallo to mess it up. I predict sometime in the next 30 days we’ll be saying goodbye to Gallo.
Half of MLB will call Cashman and try to work out a trade. I think a change of scenery is exactly what Manny’s career needs. Clearly Boone lost faith in him, let’s see what he does with Boston. I wonder what Cashman and Boone think of Austin Davis or Jake Diekman. I’d take Manny over both
Boone didn’t lose faith. They simply don’t have a defined role for him and there are other arms they value slightly higher. Being out of options hurt his chance of sticking. If he lands elsewhere, the Yankees helped him raise his visibility again.
It is telling they didn’t give Manny the shot at starting tonight’s game. It may be that he’s just not stretched out enough anymore.
JP Sears nickname will be called DieHard
Since he makes his living in New York, he’d be better off with Toughskins
Sears has looked impressive.
Yeah he looked good tonight pitching to contact but we’ll need to see how he does against better lineups.
The Angels pitcher was pitching to contact. Winky the Mariner did not likey
With everything else that might be going in Gallo’s head, why in the world is he wearing number 13 on his jersey? Not that ballplayers are superstitious or anything.
Another great job by the pen tonight.
Indeed. And a nice start by Sears. It’s all good.
Once again, the pen was mightier than the team with swords
“going on in Gallo’s head”
I didn’t realize he wore 13 with the Rangers, too. I guess that’s one thing that’s not bothering him.
What bothers me is his refusal to change his approach. That seems obstinate. You’re on the interstate and contributing next to nothing at the plate. What’ve you got to lose?
And in his walk year.
Absolutely nothing to lose. He’s contributing virtually nothing.
Doesn’t seem like there’s much going on in Gallo Head,or anywhere else for that matter. That’s the problem. Can we please just dump the guy already, it would be addition by subtraction and not that much is owed to him.
Like to see Marvin G traded. There are better players available and no need for a Cheater to be on the Yanks.
Let it go. He was the first Astro to publicly own the cheating and apologize, and he’s been with the Twins and the Red Sox since. He’s been an important contributor to this winning season, especially with his glove.
Did you root for A-Rod after he got busted in the Biogenesis scandal?
Marvin G. Better off with Ally G.
Any relation to Ali G?
What is too bad. Mighty be the end of what was a real feel good story