Breaking news: The Yankees activate favorite right-handed reliever off IL, designate Matzek for assignment
As the Yankees move beyond Tyler Matzek, the right-handed reliever immediately strengthens their bullpen.
To strengthen their bullpen, the Yankees reinstated Jonathan Loáisiga off the injured list on Friday. Due to a ruptured UCL, the right-handed reliever only made three appearances the previous season before being placed on the sidelines. The remainder of the season was missed by Loáisiga due to Tommy John surgery. He rejoined the Yankees on a one-year, $5 million free-agent contract with a club option for the same terms in 2026 after that disastrous walk year.
Over the course of seven seasons, all spent in New York, the 30-year-old has a career 3.44 ERA in 219.21 innings pitched. In 2021, Loáisiga had his greatest season, giving up just 17 earned runs (including three home runs) in 70.2 innings. During his minor-league rehab before returning to the Major Leagues, the Nicaraguan hitter struck out nine batters in 7.1 innings while limiting opponents to just one run and three hits. Despite performing well thus early this season, the Yankees bullpen has mostly lacked exceptional velo, and Loáisiga’s fastball, when healthy, has peaked out in the high 90s.
The Yankees sent Tyler Matzek in order to create way for Loáisiga. The 34-year-old has failed to establish himself after beginning the season on the injured list, giving up runs in three of his seven bullpen outings. As long as Ryan Yarbrough remains in the rotation, Matzek’s removal will leave Tim Hill as the Yankees’ lone left-hander in the bullpen.
Clayton Beeter, who has been recovering from right shoulder impingement syndrome, has been reinstated off the minor league injured list and sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees today said. According to MLB Pipeline, Beeter, who had three appearances with the Yankees the previous season, is presently the team’s 20th-best prospect. Because of his explosive fastball-slider combination, the Yankees declared this summer that Beeter would be switching to a full-time relief role.
