It looks like the Yankees probably ruined Ron Marinaccio ... again

After the New York Yankees were ruined by the Baltimore Orioles during Thursday's rubber match by a score of 17-5, reliever Ron Marinaccio was optioned to Triple-A for the second time this season. The first time, it was inexplicable. This time? It was totally justified.

But if the Yankees hadn't done it the first time, the right-hander probably wouldn't have been in this position. He was pitching incredibly well through the first week of May, and the team decided it'd be more worthwhile to get as much as they possibly could have out of a bad option in Dennis Santana.

This is a classic example of the Yankees' galaxy brain getting flustered by a simple decision. Yes, they would've had to DFA Santana and in favor of keeping Marinaccio on the active roster but ... that was objectively the best choice? Especially because they ended up DFAing Santana a month later anyway?

After dominating in Triple-A for a month, the Yankees recalled Marinaccio after getting rid of Santana (how the turn tables!). But Marinaccio didn't have the same luck this time around. Across 6 1/3 innings in June, the right-hander had a 5.68 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in those four games.

As Yankees fans know, the team simply can't afford that kind of production right now, even if it's in a small sample size. It explains why they kicked Victor Gonzalez to the curb on Friday, too. It's time to get it together as they prepare for the July 30 trade deadline.

Yankees News: Ron Marinaccio optioned to Triple-A after nightmare outing

But this isn't anything new for the Yankees. They ruined Marinaccio back in 2022 as well when they optioned him in the middle of the season while he was pitching great. Then they left him off the postseason roster when he finished the year strong (though he showed some cracks afrer his recall).

Then it all came crashing down in 2023. Marinaccio dealt with a shin injury that obviously impacted his play and appeared in only one game during the second half. During that time he was getting shelled at Triple-A and it looked like his career might've been over before it actually started.

But then he battled in spring training. He made the Opening Day roster likely due to injuries, but he proved himself, pitching to the tune of a 1.42 ERA across 12 2/3 innings. Sure, his 4.01 FIP suggested he wasn't as lights out as it seemed, but he was getting the job done. But sometimes it's not all about the metrics. And again, rebounding after what he experienced in 2023 was a considerable feat worthy of a reward.

Instead, one of the most capable relievers in the bullpen got sent to the wasteland in Scranton. Though Marinaccio pitched well there, it certainly didn't help his confidence, as manager Aaron Boone revealed the righty was angry when delivered the news in May. Then he came back when the bullpen badly needed help, but the damage was already done.

He should've never been in Scranton. The Yankees could've used him over the last month and a half when the bullpen warning signs were clear at every turn. And now they'll have another player to potentially replace when the trade deadline arrives.