Yankees Place Swarzak on DL with Shoulder Issue, Call Up Heller

The New York Yankees announced Tuesday afternoon they have placed reliever Anthony Swarzak on the 15-day disabled list and will call up flamethrower Ben Heller to take his roster spot.

Just one day after allowing a game-winning three run homer to Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, the New York Yankees have placed pitcher Anthony Swarzak on the 15-day disabled list with what they are calling “rotator cuff inflammation.”

It seems much more likely that this the only way the front office can stop Yankees manager Joe Girardi from continuing to use Swarzak in crucial late-inning situations while the team fights to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Girardi’s affinity for the 30-year-old righty with the career 4.54 ERA is a little baffling. Swarzak has a 5.90 ERA and 6.28 FIP in 29 innings of work for the Yankees this season. While he has strong strikeout totals and limits walks, Swarzak has allowed an unacceptable 3.10 HR/9 in 2016.

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Yes, the Yankees bullpen is thing, but they can do better. Anthony Swarzak has no role in this team’s future. Luckily, the club has recognized that and promoted promising 25-year-old righty Ben Heller to take his place in the pen.

With a four-seamer that regularly touches 100 and a quality slider, Heller has the makings of a solid late-inning arm. Baseball America rated his fastball the best in the Indians minor league system before the season.

While he was seen as the third piece in the trade that sent Andrew Miller to Cleveland, Heller may be the first guy the Yankees got in the deal to make an impact in the Bronx. 

Heller has compiled a 1.69 ERA in 48 innings pitched between Double-A and Triple-A this year. He has struck out 10.6 batters per nine while limiting walks to 2.6 per nine. With strong numbers across the board and the stuff to back it up, there is every reason to think Heller can help the Yankees down the stretch.

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The New York Yankees haven’t had much luck with their stable of young relievers this season. They have a lot of quantity, but there has yet to be any quality on the baseball field.

That doesn’t mean they should stop trying of course. One of their top priorities in the last month-plus of the season should be auditioning young guys who can help in 2017, and the bullpen is one of their prime areas of need. It’s time to kick the Swarzaks of the world to the curb and let the kids play.