The Yankees have claimed outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from the Braves, in line with bulletins from each golf equipment. The Yanks optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and transferred Giancarlo Stanton to the 60-day injured checklist because the corresponding 40-man transfer.
There was no earlier indication that Atlanta had designated De La Cruz for task, nevertheless it seems they quietly put him on waivers in latest days in an try to get him off the 40-man. It didn’t work, with the Yanks scooping him up. Atlanta’s 40-man roster rely drops from 39 to 38.
Atlanta signed BDLC to their roster within the offseason and he began the season within the majors with the Atlanta outfield in flux this yr. Ronald Acuña Jr. continues to be working again from final yr’s ACL tear. Jurickson Profar examined optimistic for a performance-enhancing drug early within the season and obtained an 80-game suspension. The membership signed Alex Verdugo to assist out however that deal acquired achieved so late that Verdugo needed to begin the season on non-compulsory task as a type of delayed spring coaching.
De La Cruz acquired 50 plate appearances with Atlanta however was punched out in 36% of them as he produced a dismal .191/.240/.213 line. He was optioned right down to Triple-A Gwinnett when Verdugo was prepared to hitch the massive league membership. The group later signed Eddie Rosario and optioned Jarred Kelenic. With Acuña slated to be again within the subsequent month or so and Kelenic accessible in Triple-A, De La Cruz didn’t have nice odds of getting again to the majors, which is definitely what prompted the membership to push him onto the waiver wire.
For the Yankees, they successfully had an open roster spot. Stanton has been on the 10-day injured checklist all yr as a result of issues in each elbows. He has been making an attempt to get wholesome however nonetheless isn’t prepared for recreation motion. Even as soon as cleared to get right into a lineup someplace, he’ll want a rehab task of some weeks to get into recreation form. His 60-day rely is retroactive to his preliminary IL placement, so he shall be eligible to be reinstated later this month if he’s in a position to get wholesome by then.
For now, they’ve used Stanton’s roster spot so as to add some additional outfield depth. Their massive league outfield group is at the moment sturdy, consisting of Aaron Decide, Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger and Jasson Domínguez. However De La Cruz has choices and there’s little hurt in stashing him in Triple-A to see how issues go.
As talked about, his 2025 is out to a brutal begin, however he’s been higher up to now. He stepped to the plate 574 occasions for the Marlins over 2021 and 2022 with a mixed .269/.318/.430 line and 103 wRC+ over these seasons. Nevertheless, a .333 batting common on balls in play helped him out lots there and his manufacturing has tailed off since. For the reason that begin of 2023, he has a .243/.285/.390 line and 81 wRC+. Strikeouts have develop into a rising downside, with a 28% charge of punchouts because the begin of 2024.
At the same time as he was struggling final yr, he was nonetheless in a position to be helpful in a platoon setting. A right-handed hitter, he put up a .285/.309/.425 line and 99 wRC+ versus lefties, so maybe that’s a part of the enchantment. Grisham and Bellinger are each lefties, although Grisham has reverse splits in his profession. Domínguez is a switch-hitter however has been weak to southpaws to date. He has a .277/.353/.529 line towards righties however simply .100/.239/.150 towards lefties.
For now, De La Cruz can get common taking part in time with the RailRiders and attempt to get in a great groove. If he succeeds or if the Yankees endure an damage, he may get discover himself getting one other crack on the majors.
Picture courtesy of Brett Davis, Imagn Pictures
