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With a big week of American League East action on deck, the New York Yankees are making a roster change.
Infielder/utility player Amed Rosario was on the injured list with a left shoulder sprain suffered on Aug. 8. Now that he’s ready to come back, it no longer made sense for the Yankees to carry three catchers.
With Ben Rice challenging Austin Wells for the starting catcher job at the moment, it was pretty obvious who the odd man out would be, and the Yankees made things official on their off day Monday.
The Yankees’ public relations department confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that 30-year-old J.C. Escarra had been optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Meanwhile, MLB.com reporter Bryan Hoch quote-tweeted the transaction and said the Yankees were making the move in anticipation of Rosario’s return from the IL ahead of Tuesday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rosario, who has played only right field for the Yankees so far after splitting time between second and third base with the Washington Nationals this season, should be a factor against left-handed pitchers this week. The Yankees will face Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet during their four-game series this week, likely on Saturday.
Escarra, meanwhile, has now been optioned for the second time in less than three weeks, after spending the first four months of the season on the active roster. Rice’s emergence as a catcher now that Aaron Judge is clogging the designated hitter role has cut into Escarra’s opportunity significantly.
Escarra making the roster out of spring training was a nice story after spending nearly eight years in the minors, but he produced just a .629 OPS in his first 40 games, and had one plate appearance after he was recalled on Aug. 10.
Unless someone gets injured, it’s hard to see Escarra making too much of an impact at the major league level the rest of the way.
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