NEW YORK (AP) In the wake of Luis Severino’s arm injury, the New York Yankees made a flurry of roster moves to reinforce their pitching staff.
Right-handers Chad Green and Conor Mullee were called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and added to the bullpen before Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Rookie catcher Gary Sanchez was optioned back to Triple-A, and Severino was placed on the 15-day disabled list, interrupting his dreadful sophomore season.
Impressive as a rookie last year, the 22-year-old Severino is 0-6 with a 7.46 ERA in seven starts. He left Friday night’s 7-1 loss to the White Sox in the third inning and was diagnosed with a strained right triceps.
”I felt a little pinch in the second inning, but I didn’t think it (was anything) to worry about,” Severino said. ”It’s a little soreness, not too much.”
In a separate move, the Yankees acquired right-hander J.R. Graham from Minnesota for a player to be named or cash. Graham was optioned to Double-A Trenton.
General manager Brian Cashman said Severino has a minor injury and it was not the cause of his problems on the mound this season.
”He’s not pitching anywhere close to his capabilities,” Cashman said. ”It’s not health-related.”
Cashman said Severino will make at least one rehab start in the minors once he’s on the mend. First, the right-hander will not pick up a baseball for five to seven days.
”I felt good all this year,” Severino said. ”I’m going to figure it out, what I’m doing wrong.”
Neither manager Joe Girardi nor Cashman, however, would say whether Severino will definitely have a spot in the major league rotation once he’s healthy. The team could send him to the minors to work on his command.
”Let’s get him healthy first and then we’ll make those decisions, what’s the next step for him,” Girardi said.
In the meantime, New York must pick someone to take Severino’s turn Wednesday at Arizona. Green, who had been scheduled to start Saturday at Triple-A, and right-hander Luis Cessa are potential candidates.
Green was 2-3 with a 1.22 ERA in seven starts for the RailRiders. Cessa is 0-1 with a 4.18 ERA in six games at Triple-A, including five starts. He threw six innings of two-hit ball Friday night in the minors and would be on regular rest Wednesday.
Sanchez, one of the team’s top prospects, was called up Friday and went 0 for 4 as the designated hitter against White Sox ace Chris Sale. Sanchez was supposed to be the DH again Saturday against another left-hander, Jose Quintana, but the Yankees changed plans after Severino exited early and the bullpen had to pick up 6 1/3 innings Friday night.
Green and Mullee live next door to each other at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and took a car service to Yankee Stadium together on Saturday morning. Each was looking to make his major league debut.
Mullee, who did not have a nameplate above his locker yet, has overcome three elbow operations, including one Tommy John surgery. He played mostly middle infield in college at nearby Saint Peter’s in New Jersey.
”It’s amazing. Coming back, I just wanted to play again and hopefully stay healthy and see what happens,” Mullee said. ”I could have never really dreamed to be here today.”
Graham made one relief appearance for the Twins this year and is 1-1 with a 5.10 ERA in 40 major league games (one start) for Minnesota. He spent the 2015 season in the big leagues but has spent most of this year at Triple-A Rochester, going 0-2 with three saves and a 10.80 ERA in eight relief appearances.
To make room on their 40-man roster for Green, Mullee and Graham, the Yankees transferred three injured players to the 60-day disabled list: right-hander Bryan Mitchell, first baseman Greg Bird and outfielder Mason Williams.
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