Yankees Retain Reliever Hananer
The Yankees have decided to keep Triple-A reliever Bradley Hananer, who was on the verge of being promoted to the major league roster.
Hananer, 27, utilized an opt-out clause in his contract, but the Yankees responded by adding him to the 40-man roster on Saturday, giving him an immediate option. So, for now, he remains with the Triple-A team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he sports a 1.99 ERA and has struck out 50 batters in just over 40 innings this season.
Now in his seventh year in the minors, Hananer joined the Yankees as a free agent in December, after struggling with Triple-A Cleveland. At Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he’s often utilized in multi-inning appearances, reaching up to 37 pitches in a single inning while maintaining a low earned run average (WHIP of 1.156). He employs a four-pitch arsenal, and while his pitches may not be the hardest, he effectively generates swings and misses, especially with his sweepers.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Yankees are likely looking to bolster their bullpen, which could make Hananer’s situation a bit clearer.
Currently, the 40-man roster also features Yovany Cruz, Carvin Castro, and Yerry de los Santos, all of whom pitch for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
On another note, Saturday’s game against the Dodgers in the Bronx was postponed, leading to a split-admission doubleheader scheduled for Sunday. The first game is set to start at 12:35 p.m.
Fans holding tickets for Saturday’s game can use them for the rescheduled afternoon game or exchange them for a similar regular-season matchup. However, those tickets won’t be valid for the second game, which is slated for 7:20 p.m.
In other news, Max Fried, returning from an elbow contusion, made his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Manager Aaron Boone mentioned that Fried “looked really good” during his outing, where he threw 52 pitches over three innings, allowing five hits and two runs. Fried has adjusted his starting schedule and is expected to pitch again in five days.
Speaking of injuries, Giancarlo Stanton, who is dealing with a calf strain, has started doing “some running,” but he hasn’t worked on baserunning yet. Boone expressed hope that Stanton would be nearing a return, as the slugger hasn’t played since April 24.
