New York Yankees Announce Roster Move After Brutal 6-1 Loss To Rangers

Yankees Option De Los Santos Hours After Scoreless Relief Appearance

The Yankees optioned right-hander Yerry de los Santos to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night — the same night he threw 3.1 scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers. New York lost the game 6-1, but de los Santos was not the problem. He allowed one hit, issued one walk, and struck out five. The move had nothing to do with performance.

The Yankees confirmed the transaction via X shortly after the final out: "Following tonight's game, the Yankees optioned RHP Yerry de los Santos to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre." For a team managing one of the deepest pitching staffs in the American League, the decision was purely logistical.

Who Is Yerry De Los Santos — And Why Does This Keep Happening?

De los Santos is 28 years old and in his second season with New York. He has also logged time with the Pittsburgh Pirates across four MLB seasons. In 2026, he owns a 1.69 ERA with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings over two appearances. The numbers are clean. The workload is the issue.

The pattern is consistent: de los Santos gets recalled, pitches with a high pitch count, and gets sent back down. Over his two outings this season, he has thrown a combined 98 pitches. Both times, the Yankees optioned him immediately after. As analyst Max Mannis noted on social media: "Yerry has pitched in two games for the Yankees this year, thrown a combined 98 pitches, and got sent right back down each time."

Why Did the Yankees Option a Pitcher Who Just Threw Five Strikeouts?

The answer is Ryan Weathers. The Yankees' left-hander was scratched from his scheduled Thursday start against Texas due to a viral infection. Weathers ran a 102-degree fever, vomited, and lost nine pounds in two days following his last outing. Paul Blackburn will start in his place Thursday. Weathers is expected back in the rotation Monday against Baltimore.

With Weathers unavailable and Thursday's game requiring bullpen coverage, the Yankees needed a fresh arm — not a pitcher who just threw 3.1 innings and 50-plus pitches. De los Santos was spent. The roster move creates space to recall someone with a full tank.

Kervin Castro is the most roster-ready option on the 40-man. At Triple-A Scranton/WB, Castro carries a 3.38 ERA in 13.1 innings with two saves. Yovanny Cruz is another name in play — he's posted a 1.23 ERA in 14.2 innings across 11 relief appearances for the RailRiders — but he would require a 40-man addition. The Yankees have open spots to make that call if they choose.

Yankees Still Lead the AL East at 25-12 Despite Roster Shuffle

The de los Santos option is a transaction, not a crisis. New York sits atop the AL East at 25-12, going 13-6 at home through 37 games. The bullpen has been a core reason. The Yankees' relief corps owns a 3.36 ERA this season, ranking among the top units in baseball. The staff ERA of 3.07 leads the American League.

Wednesday's 6-1 loss to Texas was a setback, not a trend. After Thursday's series finale against the Rangers, New York heads to Milwaukee for a Friday road series against the Brewers. The schedule shifts; the roster has to shift with it.

De Los Santos Will Be Back — That's the Point

The Yankees are running a deliberate Triple-A shuttle. They call up a reliever, use him in a high-leverage or high-inning spot, then option him back to Scranton to rest and stay sharp. De los Santos fits the profile: he can eat innings, misses bats, and has shown he can handle a major league hitter. A 1.69 ERA earns a return ticket.

This is modern roster management. The 162-game schedule demands it. Teams that win in October are often the ones that protect their bullpen arms in May. The Yankees have the farm depth — Cruz, Castro, and others at Triple-A — to rotate arms without degrading the quality at the MLB level.

De los Santos will get another call. The only question is how soon the Yankees need him again — and given Weathers' illness and a long summer ahead, the answer is probably sooner than later.