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Yankees fans don’t need to be up in arms over Clarke Schmidt option

Thomas Carannante|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Clarke Schmidt #86 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 10, 2022 in New York City. Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 4-3. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Clarke Schmidt #86 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 10, 2022 in New York City. Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 4-3. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Let’s enjoy the New York Yankees series win over the Tampa Bay Rays, shall we? A comeback effort capped by a Jose Trevino game-winning homer, powered by a two HR game from Aaron Judge, with a little bit of boneheaded misplays by Taylor Walls. What’s to complain about?

Oh, the meaningless roster move after Wednesday night’s affair? Got it! A classic way to dampen the good mood. Come on, folks.

OK, it wasn’t entirely meaningless, but it doesn’t affect the status of this current Yankees team. And there are layers to the decision sending pitcher Clarke Schmidt down to Triple-A in order to make room for Albert Abreu, who was re-acquired after the Kansas City Royals designated him for assignment recently.

What impact does this have? Why do fans even care? Should they even care? Isn’t Schmidt better than Abreu?!

The difference here is that Schmidt has options remaining. He can be sent to and from Triple-A without the risk of another team scooping him up. Abreu has no options remaining, so that luxury doesn’t exist with him.

Additionally, don’t forget, Schmidt should be and likely is on an innings watch given his diminished workloads over the last two years (44.1 total innings over that span).

Yankees fans don’t need to complain about the Clarke Schmidt roster move

Some figured Ron Marinaccio would’ve been sent down, but he’s had a less stressful month of June than Schmidt if you take a look:

  • Schmidt in June – 10 innings pitched, 180 pitches thrown
  • Marinaccio in June – 8.2 innings pitched, 140 pitches thrown

It’s all about managing the workloads. Marinaccio threw 66.1 innings last year after his 2020 campaign was canceled due to the pandemic, which is more than Schmidt’s last two seasons.

It’s a game of musical chairs. Manny Bañuelos can’t get optioned; he would have to be DFA’d, and the Yankees likely don’t want to do that (at least yet).

Schmidt has a key role on this team, and he will be back. The Yankees have a ton of other innings limitations to worry about, specifically with Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino and Jameson Taillon.

https://twitter.com/BronxMuchachos1/status/1539988504561782784?s=20&t=AaBQHhHyoI9c6Gp4OXIGXg

And is it really the worst thing in the world that Schmidt gets to bypass the Astros? Let’s keep his confidence intact after he helped the Yankees to another clutch series win.

Rest up, big guy.

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