The last spot in the Yankees rotation has gone from a weakness to a hole.
The Yankees designated Carlos Carrasco for assignment before Tuesday’s 12-3 thrashing of the Padres in The Bronx. The veteran — whose start had been skipped this turn through the rotation — posted a 5.91 ERA in eight games (six starts) to begin his age-38 season.
Manager Aaron Boone said the move was made before Tuesday’s game to ensure the Yankees would have enough pitching coverage.
Carrasco pitched three relief innings Sunday and would not have been available, so the Yankees brought up righty Yerry de los Santos to add one more option behind Clarke Schmidt, who got the ball after his expected outing Saturday was scratched because of side soreness.
The Yankees needed fresher arms thus subtracted a popular but struggling 16-year veteran, who made the club out of camp but owns a 6.14 ERA in his past three seasons over 49 games.
“Tough call,” Boone said. “Obviously, how we feel about Cookie, just felt like we needed to do this. Toyed with this for a couple days now, just felt like this was the right time.”
Barring the Yankees asking their rotation for starts on short rest, the club would need a fifth starter as soon as Tuesday in Seattle.
“We’ll see,” Boone said of the status of the back end of his rotation. “Kind of depends on how the next couple of games unfold.”
The most obvious candidates to step in the next turn and join a rotation that includes Schmidt, Max Fried, Will Warren and Carlos Rodón are:
Ryan Yarbrough
The Yankees signed the lefty in late March in a move that has proven prescient.
Yarbrough is needed in a staff that has been battered by injuries.
Originally used in shorter bursts, the 33-year-old has begun to stretch out and got a spot start Saturday, when he allowed one run over four innings and 64 pitches.
It is possible he could start Tuesday and further lengthen out. It is also possible he is needed as a lengthy option before then, which would affect his availability.
“Yarbrough obviously plays a role in some way, shape or form,” Boone said.
Yarbrough entered play having pitched to a 3.72 ERA in 19 ¹/₃ innings over nine games.
He said he had not yet been told if he should expect to be stretched out as a starter, which is a role he has filled in the past. He started 21 games (155 innings) with the 2021 Rays.
“I’ve done it in my career, but kind of see what happens,” Yarbrough said.
Allan Winans
The righty has been excellent with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing just one unearned run in 14 innings while striking out 24.
He has maxed out at 4 ²/₃ innings and 62 pitches, not fully built up but entering the club’s radar.
“He’s been throwing the ball really well, and he’s very much in play for us potentially here in some kind of a role moving forward,” Boone said of the 29-year-old, who has pitched in eight major league games (all with the Braves).
Winans, whose best pitch is a changeup and who struggles to touch 90 mph, would represent a different look.
Carlos Carrasco
Could the Yankees opt for the same type of yo-yo game that they have played with Adam Ottavino, who has been repeatedly DFA’d and re-signed?
The first step would entail Carrasco clearing waivers. If no other club claims Carrasco, Boone left the door open for a reunion.
“Who knows? He may be back here,” Boone said. “I don’t know what the next several days lies ahead or where he’s at, but just a lot of respect for the guy.”
— Additional reporting by Andrew Crane