Yankees designate vet Carrasco for assignment

NEW YORK -- Veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, the club announced Tuesday. Yerry de los Santos was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres to take Carrasco's place on the roster.

Carrasco was signed to a minor league contract during the offseason to serve as rotation depth and not projected to be one of the team's five starting pitchers. But he broke camp in the rotation after injuries to Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt during spring training.

He appeared in eight games, starting six, and compiled a 5.91 ERA. He last pitched Sunday, giving up two runs on five hits over three innings out of the bullpen. The Yankees made the move before Schmidt started Tuesday against the San Diego Padres after being scratched from his previously scheduled start Saturday.

"Felt like we needed some extra coverage into today and tomorrow and, yeah, I mean, tough call," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We've toyed with it for a couple of days now and just felt like it was the right time."

Four off days this month, including two over the next nine days, give the Yankees flexibility to move forward with a four-man starting rotation. The Yankees could also have veteran left-hander Ryan Yarbrough or right-hander Allan Winans, currently with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, start games or take down multiple innings out of the bullpen.

Yarbrough allowed one run over four innings starting in Schmidt's place Saturday, his first start of the season. He's posted a 3.72 ERA in 19⅓ innings across nine games this season.

Winans has tossed 14 scoreless innings over four games (three starts) in the minors this season. He most recently struck out 10 of the first 11 batters he faced in a start on April 23 and followed that by tossing a season-high 4⅔ innings Wednesday. Winans recorded a 7.20 ERA in eight starts for the Atlanta Braves over the past two seasons.

"He's been throwing the ball really well and he's very much in play for us," Boone said. "Potentially in some kind of role here moving forward. But reports have been good."

Boone left the door open for Carrasco to return if he is not claimed on waivers or trade during the DFA process.

A highly respected veteran, the 38-year-old Carrasco owns a 4.18 career ERA across 16 major-league seasons, a career that began when he debuted for Cleveland in 2009 at 22 years old. He spent his first 12 seasons with Cleveland, finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2017. He was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2019 and returned to pitch after three months.

"I've always admired him from across the diamond and we got to see it up close," Boone said. "Just what a phenomenal human being that Carlos is and the way he carries himself and the class with which he carries himself. It really was a pleasure to be around him for these last couple of months. And who knows. Maybe he'll be back here."

De los Santos, 27, logged two scoreless innings for the Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader on April 21. He has recorded a 1.74 ERA in 10 relief appearances for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.

The Yankees also announced that infielder DJ LeMahieu's rehab assignment moved from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A. LeMahieu began the season on the injured list with a calf injury. He could be activated for his season debut this weekend when the Yankees face the Athletics in West Sacramento.

Additionally, right-hander Scott Effross (hamstring) began a rehab assignment with the Yankees' rookie-level team.