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Yankees on the 40-Man Roster Who Are Expendable

By Aaron Dortch

Jun 14, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Hicks (31) during batting practice prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Hicks (31) during batting practice prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 22, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Anthony Swarzak (43) reacts after giving up a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning of their inter-league game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Anthony Swarzak (43) reacts after giving up a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning of their inter-league game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Reliever – Anthony Swarzak

Anthony Swarzak doesn’t always pitch; but when he does, it’s because the Yankees are already losing.

Added on a minor-league deal over the offseason, Swarzak eventually found his way onto the Yankees club (forcing Tyler Olson off the 40-man) and maximized the $750,000 promised to him with a promotion.

It’s pocket change to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, but still a relatively healthy payout to a guy with a 5.68 ERA and four homers surrendered in 12.2 innings. Opponents have a .843 OPS against him with 12 hits (five for extra bases) factoring into their .261 BAA.

Swarzak, who had a 5.26 ERA in through 92.1 innings with the Korean Baseball Organization in 2015, was a low-risk signing that never materialized to the Yankees’ favor.

Rather than continuing to trudge the righty out there, the Yankees should allow their young prospects to develop with major league experience.

Hard-throwing right-hander Johnny Barbato, swapped by the Padres for Shawn Kelley in 2014, is a name that comes to mind. He ramrodded his way onto the Opening Day roster by flashing a 95 mph fastball and two various, sharp breaking pitches.

Unfortunately, the pitcher some scouts peg as a future MLB set-up man, collapsed after losing control of his slider and was demoted upon reaching a 5-plus ERA. Barbato has been working hard in Scranton to gain feel for his offspeed, often pitching multiple innings.

Barbato might not be the sexiest replacement, but Yankees fans clamoring for youth would rather deal with growing pains than aging players like Swarzak, who joins J.R. Graham and this next reliever in the roster’s junkyard…

Next: Here Comes Kirby Yates ... and There Goes a HR

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