Yankees: NYY make shocking demotions after Wednesday doubleheader

The Yankees demoted three players, including 2018 ROY runner-up Miguel Andujar, to the Alternate Site.

The Yankees had some difficult roster decisions ahead of them this week, needing to clear a pair of players off their 30-man roster to get in line with a league-wide reduction. Without the need to get down to 26 at any point (MLB put the kibosh on that this week), this was the final big roster alteration of 2020.

Instead, the Yankees chose to outright three men to Scranton, and if this had happened prior to Wednesday’s doubleheader with the Phillies, we absolutely would not have believed you.

Thairo Estrada, who unfortunately hasn’t found his niche on the roster in 2020, usurped by Tyler Wade in terms of versatility, will be making the trip. Joining him? Nick Nelson, who followed his sterling debut against the Red Sox with a hard-luck stinker on Wednesday, as well as … Miguel Andujar.

Following last night’s game, the Yankees optioned INF/OF Miguel Andújar, INF Thairo Estrada and RHP Nick Nelson to the Alternate Site.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 6, 2020

The New York Yankees demoted Miguel Andujar on Thursday morning.

What’s the word for something that’s depressing, but also makes perfect sense?

Also, does a three-man demotion rather than two indicate that Aroldis Chapman’s slow return is around the corner?

We all wanted Andujar to emerge in 2020 hitting barrels off the left- and right-field walls, but by and large, his timing still felt off as soon as the simulated games ended.

Last year, while nursing a shoulder injury, he looked weak. This season, he just looked anxious.

Quite frankly, there were barely enough at-bats for Mike Tauchman and Gio Urshela in a world in which Andujar also gets his fair share. Both of those men are hitting the cover off the ball. What’s the use of trotting out someone who may be a left fielder when you have the patient Tauchman as an alternative?

If we didn’t make exceptions for Clint Frazier, why should we do so for Andujar?

Andujar was just not hitting in sporadic ABs and that would be the only justification to play him in LF. Add that Urshela and Tauchman are demonstrating last yr was no fluke did not give room for many ABs coming for Andujar.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 6, 2020

Unfortunately, the Yankees’ faith in Andujar’s bat has not been rewarded, and his trade value has now unintentionally been tanked, though the NYY tried to get him the requisite ABs.

In sporadic duty, Andujar hit just .071, and looked every bit of it.

But hey, things can change on you quickly in this game. Just ask Nick Nelson. On Saturday, we anointed him the new Mayor of Boston. On Wednesday, he was staring at incomplete double plays and bleeders in disbelief, as his ERA rose.

Thursday? Back to Scranton.

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The Yankees demoted three players, including 2018 ROY runner-up Miguel Andujar, to the Alternate Site.

The New York Yankees demoted Miguel Andujar on Thursday morning.

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