New York — The Yankees have made a significant roster change, recalling right-hander Yerry De los Santos while designating Carlos Carrasco for assignment. This move reduces the club’s 40-man roster to 39 players.
Carrasco, 38, joined the Yankees on a minor league contract during the offseason after a series of injuries to key pitchers during spring training. His addition was timely, as the Yankees opened the season with Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and JT Brubaker sidelined due to injuries. Carrasco has since made six starts and two relief appearances this season, posting an ERA of 5.91 and a walk rate of 7%. However, his strikeout rate of 17.6% raised concerns.
The Yankees’ pitching situation has worsened since the beginning of the season. Alongside the injured trio, Marcus Stroman has now been added to the injured list. Clarke Schmidt avoided the IL despite facing flank soreness last week, but the team’s depth remains under strain.
With four off-days scheduled in the coming weeks, the Yankees may feel less pressure on their pitching staff, leading to their decision to part ways with Carrasco. In addition, left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough, who has stepped into a long relief role with 19.1 innings over nine outings this season, may have surpassed Carrasco on the depth chart. Yarbrough brings a respectable 3.72 ERA with a strikeout rate of 22.2% and a walk rate of 11.1%.
The current rotation now features Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren, and Schmidt. With the additional off-days, the team might choose to rely on a four-man rotation temporarily, allowing Yarbrough to potentially make a spot start. Allan Winans, who is currently stretched out in Triple-A, could also be considered for a recall to bolster the rotation.
The Yankees are likely to clarify their short-term plans in the days ahead. While Carrasco’s performance this season has been subpar, he may attract interest from teams in need of veteran pitchers capable of eating innings. Other experienced pitchers like José Ureña and Ian Anderson have recently moved between teams, underscoring the demand for seasoned arms as some clubs contend with exhausted bullpens.
Despite a successful career in the majors, Carrasco’s recent numbers have not matched his past accomplishments, which likely contributed to his minor league deal at the start of 2025. Since early 2023, he has pitched 225.2 innings across stints with the Mets, Guardians, and Yankees, posting a 6.14 ERA. His strikeout rate of 17.9% and walk rate of 8.1% are close to average, with a ground ball rate of 44.9%, indicating some ability to induce weaker contact.
This roster shakeup marks another chapter in an evolving season for the Yankees, highlighting both the challenges presented by injuries and the opportunities emerging from their current pitching landscape.