The Yankees announced a pair of roster moves, including the news that right-hander Cody Morris has been designated for assignment. The 40-man roster spot was required since right-hander Scott Effross was reinstated from the 60-day injured list, and then optioned to Triple-A.
Morris was acquired from the Guardians last December in exchange for Estevan Florial, and though Morris has been called up a couple of times this season, he has yet to make his official debut in a Yankees uniform. At the Triple-A level, Morris has a 4.25 ERA over 36 innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with a glaring 16% walk rate undermining a solid 25.8% strikeout rate.
The control problems have been apparent during Morris’ brief run in the big leagues, as he has a 13.% walk rate over 31 2/3 innings with Cleveland in 2022-23, albeit with a 3.41 ERA. The ERA breaks down as a 2.28 mark over 23 2/3 frames in 2022, but then a 6.75 ERA in eight innings last season, as Morris also missed time early in the season with a teres major strain. Morris also had an inflated walk rate during his time with the Guardians’ Triple-A affiliate in 2023, which likely made him an expendable arm for the Guards in the offseason.
Morris has worked primarily as a reliever over the last two seasons, though usually in multi-inning fashion given his past usage as a starting pitcher. This ability to eat innings out of the pen could make him an interesting candidate to be claimed off waivers, if a rival club is able to overlook his walks (or, thinks it can harness Morris’ control). Morris has never been outrighted before in his career, so if clears waivers here, he’ll have to report to the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate in the event that the Yankees outright him off the 40-man roster rather than release him entirely.
The Cubs sent Effross to the Yankees at the trade deadline in 2022, and while his tenure in the Bronx had strong immediate results (a 2.13 ERA in 12 2/3 innings), Effross’ career was then put on hold by Tommy John surgery that October. He also underwent a back surgery this past February that delayed his return even further, but Effross has posted a 3.86 ERA and very strong secondary metrics in 9 1/3 innings over eight appearances during his rehab assignment. Effross looks like an intriguing secret weapon to join New York’s bullpen at some point in the second half, which will be a boost to a team that figures to be looking for relief help anyway at this year’s deadline.
Yankees should have got rid of that Verdugo while they were at it. If anyone else watched the game today you could see he misplayed that ball on purpose and cost the Yankees the game. I swear it’s like he’s a mole for Boston still. Never should have hired anyone from the Red Sox to begin with once they have that Boston stink on them I wouldn’t want them I dont care who it is.
Volpe?
“Volpe”…I’m a noted Yankees hater, but that Anthony Volpe is one of the better defenders I’ve recently seen at SS. He and Ha Sing Kim are the best(defenders) in their respective leagues. It was very surprising to see Volpe make a key error in today’s game.
Volpe doesn’t make too many mistakes. But what was Verdugo doing really?
“Doesn’t make too many.. Verdugo doing really”…As a guy who watches the Yankees daily, I’d begun to think Anthony Volpe was a machine, who once programmed, would literally never make a defensive mistake. I guess today’s miscue proves he’s human. Verdugo? I’ve got no answers, but he obviously got a VERY bad read and it was one of the ugliest defensive plays I’ve ever seen.
Verdugo is slashing .158/.220/.228 over his last 25 games, while Volpe has a .191/.222/.270 line over his last 41. Meanwhile, Holmes is 0-3 with a 7.45 ERA and a .302 opponent batting average over his last 10 outings, and his six blown saves lead the AL.
Brother… just stop.
The Yankees are more concerned with home run celebration handshakes and post game silliness than actually doing the things that help you win games. So, you get a boot, a bobble, and a bro, where’s the ball?
Verdugo has been a net positive with the glove. Cutting him would be a fireably stupid offense. He needs to sit against lefties, that’s it. Lord willing Dominquez comes back in 4-6 weeks and Verdugo can play a bit less.
They got to get rid of him he cost them the game. He can’t hit either the guy sucks. We should have kept Bader actually.
Sniffing glue is serious business son. I’d seek professional help…
Who is upvoting this?! Lol. I guess Wade Boggs failed in ’96 in sabotaging the Yankees and thwarting them from winning the WS. Same for Clemens.
You dont think Verdugo missed that on purpose? They said there was over a 99% catch probability.
Even the best of them make mistakes. 100% not on purpose bc it defies any sort of logic.
SY
Such a hot take. Good for you, I guess
We can get this done. Fedde controlled through 2025. Brebbia light out right now. Yankees were able to unlock the “best” version of Benintendi previously.
Yankees receive: Erick Fedde, John Brebbia, Chris Flexen, Andrew Benintendi
White Sox receive: Chase Hampton, Kyle Carr
White Sox also receive Stanton to balance out the bad contracts. 😉
If Dominguez and Spencer Jones come with him …. Yes!
Why would they cheapen the return for Fedde by including Benintendi in the deal? They are well below any cbt threshold now and for the foreseeable future.
He has 3 years left on his 5/$75 million deal. Some of us can only afford to spend if wins are happening at a high rate. This is gonna get ripped all the way down except maybe Luis Robert.
Meh the best version of Benintendi they unlocked hit like glove 1st SS.
Is this a joke?
Nationals fans told us that when we sent them Adam Eaton and got back Reynaldo Lopez, Lucas Giolito and Dane Dunning.
We got Dylan Cease and Eloy Jimenez for Jose Quintana.
We don’t typically give our guys away. The guys we trade away usually bring rings. Eaton did with Nationals. Chris Sale (Kopech, Moncada) won one for Boston. We usually ask for a lot, get laughed at, and then we usually get it. Don’t forget that Carlos Rodon is one of our boys too!
If Rodon is one of your guys, you can take him back. He stinks.
You also traded Tatis Jr for James Shields
I don’t think the Yankees would be willing to take on more salary with benintendi when they have to sign Soto next offseason
They would rather give more prospects to not have benintendi in a deal
Also do they even need fedde?
Forgot about Soto. We can drop Benintendi and still get this done. Brebbia comes off the books. We got to find a way to add Benintendi to a trade.
I am sure the Angels gladly trade Anthony Rendon for Benintendi.
Soto is NOT returning to Yankees under any circumstances unless he is willing to take less avv annually than Judge that I just dont see happening. Soto looked bad today against pitchers with excellent slider.
I see a Cleveland reunion in the offing.
Today’s Yankees loss wasn’t on Verdugo or Volpe. It was all about Holmes and WTF is Boone doing leaving him out there to blow the game. Holmes is. no longer an effective closer. Yankees need a closer. Bring back Houdini
Holmes is a non-elite closer. He’s not Mariano Rivera. He’s not Aroldis Chapman. If Cashman wants one, he pays for one.
Cashman should have paid for Hader. Holmes better as a 8th inning guy
Bleacher: Holmes is actually exactly Chapman. Can run off good outings but loses the plate and the game in the biggest spots. He’d be best served closing on a .500 team.
Exactly right about Holmes being very similar to Chapman. But at least Chappy was an intimidating presence even in his later day’s with the Yankees when he was on the mound. Holmes looks like he’s going to soil himself every time he’s out there. His cheeks start turning bright red, and quickly starts falling behind every batter he faces 2-0. I’m so tired of seeing him come out for the 9th to TRY and close out a game. It’s literally the definition of insanity at this point.